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 2005 Dodge Dakota. While driving 45 mph, an odor of power steering fluid emitted through the air vents. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and noticed power steering fluid leaking from the bearing of the power steering pump. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact was a certified mechanic and diagnosed that the seal of the bearing and power steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 195,000. The VIN was not available.
Hello, I recently purchased a one owner 2005 Dodge Dakota, which has less than 35,000 miles and has been very well maintained. The car fax came back clean for accidents etc, but I have found, that both the front and rear sections of the chassis had to be replaced on driver and passenger sides and most of the front suspension had to be replaced too. Due to excessive deep rust. To the point of the nut holding the left outer tie rod end disintegrated. The straight side rails of the chassis are excessively deep rusted. As well as the oil pan and rear axle housing (which are original). The dealership had to cut off the front suspension components and replace all bushings and most of the front suspension components. Due to excessive rust and wear. My truck has barely been on the road for its year and has had minimal exposure to road chemicals such as salt etc. These components rotting away to this extent with such low mileage regardless of age indicates the use of poor quality materials being used during assembly and posing a potential safety issue to consumers. I opened a case# 57271603 with Chrysler and the agent told, that even if the case was moved up for review. It would be sent back due to the age of the truck. Which I disagree with, as the front suspension components should not have rotted and disintegrated so badly and the chassis should not have had to have extensive repairs in less than 35,000 miles. I would think, that this poses a potential safety issue for anyone buying trucks using the same chassis and components from the same vendor, if they are not manufactured at a Dodge plant. Ultimately it should be the car manufacturer's responsibility, that the parts they are using are quality and will not pose potential safety risk to consumers. Please let me know, if further information etc. Is needed. Thank you
Loud popping noise when making either a left or right turn. After researching, this looks to be a defect in the steering column intermediate shaft & shaft bolts (parts associated). Investigation: PE05-056 was upgraded to an engineering analysis (EA06-004). Since you are aware of this mechanical defect. I would like an approved recall for parts & labor to be paid for by manufacturer to correct this defect that could cause major bodily harm to myself, passengers and other vehicles on the road. I bought the truck brand new with 9 miles in May 2005. It has 77,800 original miles.
Issue I am fighting now. At speeds between 55 - 75 intermittently the truck will begin to vibrate. If you take your foot off the gas it gets worse. If you then apply the brakes the steering wheel begins to shake almost violently, and the brake pedal pulses. If I slow down to about 30 mph it stops and may happen again quickly or may not happen again for a while. I have replaced the rotors and calipers and tie rod ends and gotten an alignment. Still the issue exists. I have new Michelin tires. I have also already had to replace lower ball joints and front wheel bearings. I have replaced the rotors and calipers 3 times already on this truck. It has less than 13000 miles on it. No one seems to be able to figure out what the problem is. I will never, ever buy another Chrysler / Dodge product. This was my first and will be my last.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle began to spin out of control without warning. The vehicle was able to come to a stop. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 77,140.
- Paris, TX, USA
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The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, she lost control of the vehicle as it spun in circles. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a ditch. There were no inuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,140.
I am a tall driver standing 6'9" even with the seat all the way down and all the way back. After inheriting the 2005 Dodge Dakota SXT quad cab pickup truck from my step father that pasted away in October of 2013. I was driving along and my right knee hit the key while in the on position knocking into the auxiliary position turning the truck almost completely off. All the check engine lights came on the ac shut off turned over to heat and started getting very hot inside the truck. We when to the local Dodge dealer they hooked up of a machine that gave them a code that said our computer was out of factory spec's. the guy said if we wanted it to be looked at to be diagnost.we would have to pay $198 to have them Sep up an appointment for us to bring it in and put it on the "big computer" and if the computer in the truck can be restored to factory spec's that would be done with T the $198. The same guy said if they can't get it back to factory spec's and we need a new brain computer for our truck which my step father purchased new in 2005 from a different dealer. The guy said the new computer would cost us $2000 since this first incident it has happened four other times with the same thing happening each time. I am disabled and can't afford this headache off these issues.
I bought this 2005 Dakota new. I have spent thousands in repairs and there is always something wrong with it. I've also never seen anything rust like this truck. This particular issue I am fighting now. At speeds between 55 - 75 intermittently the truck will begin to vibrate. If you take your foot off the gas it gets worse. If you then apply the brakes the steering wheel begins to shake almost violently, and the brake pedal pulses. If I slow down to about 30 mph it stops and may happen again quickly or may not happen again for a while. I have replaced the rotors and calipers and tie rod ends and gotten an alignment. Still the issue exists. I have new Michelin tires. I have also already had to replace lower ball joints and front wheel bearings. I have replaced the rotors and calipers 3 times already on this truck. It has less than 65K miles on it. No one seems to be able to figure out what the problem is. I will never, ever buy another Chrysler / Dodge product. This was my first and will be my last.
Summary: On certain pickup trucks equipped with four-wheel antilock brake systems (ABS), the ABS electronic control unit (ECU) may cause a loss of front to rear brake balance, and the rear brakes could lock up prematurely during certain braking conditions. Read more: www.motortrend.com/cars/2006/Dodge/Dakota/recalls/#ixzz2wrbpvczs consequences: This could result in a loss of vehicle control and cause a crash without warning. Read more: www.motortrend.com/cars/2006/Dodge/Dakota/recalls/#ixzz2wrbuoz4H this is happening to my 2005 Dodge Dakota 4X4 and they just keep telling me there is no recall number for your 2005 even tho the exact same thing is happening to their 2006.
Steering is tight when trying to turn. Looses it's power assist. Per trindle auto repair service the intermediate steering shaft and joints rusted. This was a safety hazard, I could have lost the ability to steer the vehicle. According to trindle they have had to replace other intermediate steering shafts because of severe rust. The cost of the repair $378.95.
Have had to replace tie rod ends, sway bar link rods, and now lower control arms to keep the truck safely on the road. The dealer says this is normal. I have never had to replace these items on a vehicle with less than 100000 miles.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering felt loose. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the trans cooler line failed and was leaking. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were approximately 85,000.
I was traveling 55-60 mph on the highway in a straight line with the cruise control engaged when I hit a dip in the road and the truck literally jumped off the highway. It completely left my lane and drove itself out of control across traffic and to the right into a ditch. It caused front end body damage (moderate) and scared me to death. I have since disconnected the cruise control from my truck. Now over the last 12 months the trucks front end shakes and rattles and is difficult to corner, acts if it will jump off the road. This front end of the Dakota should be recalled before it kills many people.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. While driving approximately 40 mph, a loud noise emitted from the steering column followed by a sudden loss of steering control. The contact continued to drive and was able to regain control of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the intermediate steering shaft would need to be replaced. There was a closed investigation pertaining to the defect under NHTSA action number: EA06004 (steering:column). The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, was unable to provide any assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the power steering stopped functioning when he made a left turn. The vehicle then became difficult to steer. The vehicle was driven to a mechanic and the contact was informed that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 72,100.
I noticed that the steering started getting sloppy and started popping. Now if you hit a bad patch of road it wants to jump out of road getting scary. I am disabled and depend on my truck to get back and forth to 4 different doctors. I live on social security and cant afford repair bills on parts that should not be wore out. Please help!
I have a 2005 Dodge Dakota 4X4 club cab, I recently started having irratic steering problems with my truck with only 40,000 miles on, this Dodge has had alot of front end problems with low mileage, from upper and lower ball joints, tye rod ends and hubs wareing out. I have not been involved with any accidents because of the problem, the problem is turning the vehicle wants to over turn, when turning corners or on curves on highway. Which I am sure can be dangerous to all.
Steering column intermediary shaft failure. Shaft joint froze reducing steering capacity while driving on highway. Attempted 1 repair to lubricate joint, replace belt, and adjust tensioner at cost of $300. Problem subsided then returning with even greater failure requiring replacement of shaft at $500. Dodge chaulks it up as normal wear and tear. Total repairs on vehicle bought in 2005 and has recorded 84K miles(about 14K) now exceeding 4K with $800 recouped by Dodge. Have part in possession.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. While driving approximately 5 mph, the contact heard a loud popping sound and the steering wheel became unstable. The contact stated the sound was also heard when the steering wheel was turned while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure and recommended the manufacturer be contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and stated there were no other complaints and did not provide any further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Windber, PA, USA