This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while traveling 45 mph, the front brakes seized and smoke was seen from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repairs. The failure and the current mileages were 105,000.
While stopped parking and taking vehicle out of gear, brakes failed and pedal went to the floor. This is a special order vehicle that included 4 wheel ABS. After brakes failed and fluid leaked out of rear brake lines neither the ABS or "brake" warning lights were indicated on the dash control panel. I am concerned that a brake line failed and no indication of failure showed on the control panel. With the failure not under any stopping function (vehicle was already stopped) and there was no report of failure with the control panel this is a very important safety issue if brakes fail while driving and first notice is complete loss of pedal will cause accident or at least loss of confidence and or control of vehicle. I am the original owner of this vehicle and have all records of repair over the history of the truck. I am very concerned that a brake line failure took place at all. I have owned dozens of vehicles over my driving life and have had vehicles with well over 200,000 miles with no brake line failures. If this is not a defect in design or workmanship, then the defect has to be in inferior material quality that should not be allowed in this important function required for operating a vehicle.
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the front driver's side brake seized unintendedly and the vehicle began to pull toward the same direction. The contact maneuvered to the side of the road, where the engine was turned off. The vehicle resumed normally after waiting thirty minutes. The failure occurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer five three times for the identical failure. The repairs performed on the vehicle consisted of replacing the entire front braking system, such as; both rotors, calipers, and brake lines. Also included in the repair was the replacement of both front brake pads and master cylinder. The failure recurred two weeks after the repair was performed. The vehicle had not been repaired for the most recent failure. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.
Its poor quality of Dodge. This is 1 of countless brake problems. If I could afford to get rid of pickup I would. Applied brakes after coming home from hospice where my mother is with stage 3/4 breast cancer. Applied brakes at traffic light, lucky no cars infront of me, rolled though light, pulled into shopping center to stop. At 60000 front right caliper burst replaced both front. Have replaced Ranger that had 105000 miles with no problems, replaced brake shoes once, turned rotors at 92,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Marmaduke, AR, USA