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.
Front driver side tire and hub assembly completely broke free from the vehicle this is a follow up from my first intial report to Chrysler and also NHTSA phone conversation in which I did a report to both and paid $2500 which I still have receipt of paying to have fixed...father had a 2000 Dodge durango which had the same recall that my didn't have as Chrysler stated...
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the entire rear step bumper was corroded. While driving approximately 60 mph, the driver's side portion bar fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 50,279.
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph both front tires locked up and the steering became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician replaced the brakes and upper ball joints. The failure continued to occur after the vehicle was repaired. The technician stated that the front calipers had to be replaced. The contact stated the vehicle was repaired four times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated while driving 35 mph he heard a clicking sound near the front suspension on the drivers side. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic who was unable to identify the problem. The contact noticed NHTSA campaign id number 04V596000 (suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint) and called the manufacturer. The manufacturer stated due to the VIN the vehicle was not a part of the recall. The contact stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The failure mileage was 66,000.
- Newark, CA, USA
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Truck has been driving like something was grinding against my front right wheel for a week or so, I didn't think anything of it, it had just become an annoyance. Id look under the wheel and everything looked okay and in shape, no damage was being done. The other day I drove a short distance and heard a pop, like something had popped near the wheel, I pulled over and could see no damage. I continued to drive and noticed that the grinding had stopped and my wheel seemed to be functioning correctly. I arrived to my destination with no problem. When I left the destination to return home, I started feeling heavy pull to the right on my steering wheel, if I let go of the steering wheel I would have gone into a ditch or the woods or another car. I then started noticed smoke coming from my right wheel, I was a few blocks away from home and figured I could make it, I started noticing my brakes were not working too well, and anytime id push on the brakes more smoke would arise, I went the 3 stop signs to my house and pulled in, ran around and saw that behind my wheel had caught on fire, took about 5 minutes to put the fire out with water and some cat litter we had lying around. It was so hot that it wouldn't cool down for about 45 mins to an hour. We would throw water on it and it would sizzle. I quickly removed the tire to prevent any damage to it. I noticed it had started to melt the plastic boot cover on the suspension. When you looked at the wheel you could see it had snapped off on the bottom half, causing the whole wheel to tilt inward which then caused a full on grind of the wheel and the brakepads and whatever else is down there causing such friction that it caught on fire. I then did research online and found that their had been a recall for this exact issue... :(
I have had several alarming failures with my Dodge Dakota quad cab. It is a 2002 V6 auto transmission pw pl. I have had the ball joints replaced because of the recall, my transmission has failed (twice), my front hubs & spindles completely disintegrated and could have killed my family, my water pump has failed and had to be replaced, the driver side taillight seems to fail often, the vacuum hoses have all had to be replaced because of the cheap rubber used by the manufacturer fail by cracking and causing all sorts of leaks causing engine lights, loud noises under the hood, and horrible gas mileage. I have done everything possible to be proactive in my maintenance of the vehicle. I have had the major repairs done professionally. I do not understand how a 2002 vehicle can have so many potentially fatal problems and be ignored. I have searched high and low for quality bulletins but cannot find anything. My gas mileage is now down to 14 mpg and the truck is falling apart.
2002 Dodge Dakota quad cab both upper and lower control arm bushings failed on both sides. The consumer stated she heard a noise every time she went over bump. When the vehicle was taken to a local garage, they could not find a problem. Finally, after not being able to take the noise any longer, the consumer took the vehicle to another establishment where they discovered the problem.
Multiple suspension component failures please reopen investigations into Dodge Dakota/durango products. Stabilizer bushings have been replaced three times, upper ball joints failed and were replaced, steering input shaft failed and replaced once.
Problems with front suspension and brakes on 2002 Dodge Dakota. The front suspension squeaked and was unable to be duplicated, the brakes were noisy upon application and was also unable to be duplicated, noise would come from the shock absorber when stopping and when going over bumps, noise was coming from the left front upper ball joints on left turns and when going over bumps, the left caliper made a sticking sound and the wheel bearing was replaced, the drive belt made sounds, and the brakes pulsated.
The truck has had sever problems with acceleration and stalling. It also makes a clunking noise when turning the vehicle. There have been numerous amounts of problems with at leat 15 days total in the shop.
Brake rotors are warped. Started at approximately 20,000 miles. Way to early to be warped. Have read of many others with same problem. Also heard noise from front suspension, thought it might be ball joint or suspension problem, but dealer stated that it is ok. Read quite a bit about ball joint problems on same vehicle.
Noisy and unpredictable sound coming from suspension. Warning light remains on. Stalls and surges unpreditabley. Reduced gas mileage. Eratic electronic behavior, stops and restarts. Even has eratic alarm responses.
The vehicle stalled while driving. The vehicle experienced the following: Knocking in the suspension(4 attempts to fix), the vehicle pulled to the right, the driver door had a wind noise and water leaked, the tailgate handle was loose on the right side, the lower steering column coupled, and the upper control arm bolts were found loose.
My 2002 Dodge Dakota quad cab 4X4 sport has had suspension problems, and brake problems. The upper and lower control arms and ball joints have been bad from day one. I now have 35,000 miles and the pounding and noise have not stopped. This seems to be a very common problem. Why not a recall?
Front end linkage. Transmission won't shift out. Front end has a popping noise again ( same as before) transmission won't shift out and causes the motor to rev up considerably.
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- Hamilton, OH, USA