Various problems with 2003 Dodge Dakota. There were backfires at times, the pedal would barely move at stop signs, when backing out, the vehicle would stay in second gear for a long period of time and the consumer would have to let off of the gas pedal then shift into high gear, sometimes the vehicle wouldn't shift into overdrive, then as soon as it started to misfire, the vehicle would drop to overdrive, the cruise control was inoperative, there was a whine and or howl in the rear differential around 50 mph, the engine light would never come on, sometimes the shift lever would be placed in park and the vehicle would start, at times when shifting to reverse or drive, the vehicle would not move and the would have to be jerked around on the shift lever, the heater controls were inoperative, and there were noises when the lights on the radio were turned on. The valve on the transmission was change and helped the vehicle, but sometimes when the vehicle was shifted up or down in gear it would be a problem.

- Eldorado, WI, USA

I have been working with Dodge Chrysler daimler to resolve a problem with our cruise control. The safety issue is that you are never sure how the cruise control will respond. Sometimes you notice cars and truck whizzing by and you're holding up the traffic. Based the dealers repeated attempts to diagnose and fix the problem and the manufacturer's bulletin on how to try to remedy the problem by "re training the computer", I believe the real fix goes back to the computer program and sensors used in the system. Can you please check into this issue for me and let me know what your advise is? copy of part of the correspondence to dealer follows: Dodge country of appleton 4400 West college avenue as you can confirm we have had our 2003 Dodge Dakota in three or more times now to try and fix the cruise control. [xxx] there are basically two main symptoms: 1) unexpected shift into high gear when the vehicle is on cruise control - these events do not seem to coincide with any specific road condition. 2) non - responsive cruise control - the vehicle speed drifts down 10 mph or more off of set point on a very gradual incline with no response at all by the cruise control. Once you reach level road the speed will very slowly creep up over what seems like several miles. This does not happen consistently or repeat under any specific road condition. Sometimes at 60 - 70 mph on both gentle and steep inclines the cruise works fine. Speed may only drop of one or two mph and the engine doesn't even shift into a higher gear. Yet under identical conditions, sometimes at the same speeds of 60 - 70 mph the cruise will respond by kicking into the next higher gear and other times the cruise will not respond at all let the speed drop down 10mph. Too slow a speed is just as dangerous as too fast a speed. Another person I asked with an identical vehicle indicated similar problems. Updated 07/26/2012 information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Appleton, WI, USA

Cruise control loses speed up long inclines.

- Portales, NM, USA

Vehicle (1)shifts harshly, (2)does not upshift smoothly/upshifts at excessive RPM, (3)stalls when making low-speed left-hand turns, (4)idles roughly, (5)fails to maintain speed in cruise control, (6)downshifts harshly after losing speed in cruise control, (7)transmission gear indicator did not indicate actual gear vehicle was in, (8)vehicle failed to shift from reverse to park, and from park to reverse, and (9)vehicle emergency brake failed to release, then failed to hold.

- Attleboro, MA, USA

While driving with the cruise control engaged the vehicle suddenly began to accelerate. The consumer had to tap the brake pedal to get the vehicle to decelerate. About two miles later the vehicle began to accelerate again.

- Dexter, MI, USA

Consumer states while driving with cruise control on vehicle began to accelerate. Consumer tapped the gas pedal, and there was no response. Consumer reset cruise control, and 2 miles later vehicle accelerated again while in cruise control.

- Dexter, MI, USA