1988 Dodge Dakota Owner Complaints

RE: STEERING RECALL AS ISSUED... NHTSA ACTION # PE96003 FOR DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLE. RECALL WAS FOR STEERING BOX "OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION" STEERING. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD A ISSUE WITH A WANDERING VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR MANY YEARS. DEALER COULD NEVER FIND A PROBLEM. I FOUND THE STEERING RACK AND PINION MOUNTING POINTS STRESS FRACTURED, WELD NUT MOUNTS PULLED AWAY. VISUAL CRACKING AROUND AREA AT THE BACK OF THE CROSS MEMBER. DODGE SAID RECALL WAS ONLY FOR THE STEERING GEAR BOX MOUNTS. WHY WAS THE RACK AND PINION MOUNTS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL? ENTIRE RACK ASSEMBLY WAS LOOSE ALL THESE YEARS BECAUSE OF A "DEFECT IN WELDING" FROM THE FACTORY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223107

Incident

Mar 10, 2008

Mileage

118,100 mi

DECORATIVE END COVERS CAME OFF OF WHEEL NUT. WHEEL NUT CATCH 1/2 " OF THE END OF LUG BOLTS. *BF *TC

NHTSA ID

10105398

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT DESCRIBED IN RECALL RECALL NUMBER 88 V 074 (WHEEL, LUGS, NUTS). THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10012494

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN EXHAUST LEAK. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10012004

Incident

Feb 28, 2003

Mileage

47,950 mi

AFTER MARKET BRAKE PAD RIVET FAILURE CAUSING SEPARATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

754766

Incident

Nov 17, 1999

SPARE TIRE MOUNTING CABLE CORRODED, CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO SEPARATE FROM UNDER BODY MOUNT, AND ALLOWING SPARE TIRE TO FALL IN THE STREET.

NHTSA ID

9002915

Incident

May 22, 2001

GEAR LEVER DOES NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE INTO PARK AND SOMETIMES GETS STUCK IN PARK. *AK

NHTSA ID

731111

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE THREE TIMES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED IN 1988. THE BUCKLE JUST CAME APART WHEN TRYING TO SNAP THE LOCKING MECHANISM IN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. ALSO, PASSENGER REAR BELT BUCKLE BROKE THREE TIMES. AK

NHTSA ID

845255

Incident

Aug 1, 1999

CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE UNDER THE TRUCK RUSTED OUT, LOST THE TIRE. MANUFACTURER NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

825164

VEHICLE ON RECALL. ACCORDING TO DEALER, WAS TOLD TO BRING VEHICLE IN & LEAVE IT. WOULD TAKE ONE DAY TO FIX. TOOK VEHICLE & LEFT IT. RETURNED TO PICK IT UP & WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS REPAIRED ON RACK & PINION DUE TO A BROKEN PART UNDER VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

824224

Incident

Jun 12, 1998

STEERING COUPLING BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AFTER RECALL REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

535119

Incident

Apr 20, 1998

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#96V094000) RACK AND PINION STEERING. CALLED DEALER & TOOK VEHICLE IN TO THE MECHANIC. WAS TOLD NEEDED TO WAIT FOR SPECIAL WELDER & WOULD NOTIFY OWNER. RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE. CALLED BACK TO DEALER. MECHANIC AGAIN SAID NEEDED TO WAIT WITH OTHER VEHICLES FOR WELDER SPECIALIST TO DO THE REPAIRS ON STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ID

822785

Incident

Apr 9, 1998

BOLTS TO RACK AND PINION BROKE LOOSE CAUSING DAMAGE TO RACK AND PINION AND BUSHINGS DUE TO CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, REPLACEMENT IS FAILING DUE TO BOLT LOOSENING.

NHTSA ID

531426

BELTS POPPED ON RIGHT FRONT TIRE (GOODYEAR WRANGLER HT- TIRE SIZE P235/75R15- DOTMKHLTH2R392)CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND JACKNIFE RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED BEHIND TRUCK. NLM

NHTSA ID

605621

RECALL 96V094000. DLR REFUSES TO SERVE RECALL BECAUSE TRUCK WAS DIRTY. *AK

NHTSA ID

818678

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL ON THE RACK AND PINION MOUNT; MANUFACTURER RECALL # 688, NHTSA RECALL#96V094. THE RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS DAMAGED DURING RECALL REPAIR, SO HE NOTIFIED THE SERVICE MANANGER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED HIM THAT THE LOWER STEERING COUPLER HAD GONE BAD. OWNER HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A ANOTHER MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T NEED REPLACING. OWNER THEN CONTACTED THAT MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SEVRICE LINE . *AK

NHTSA ID

818093

Incident

Oct 22, 1997

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

520263

Incident

Sep 22, 1996

WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING RACK AND PINION FELL OFF . *AK

NHTSA ID

807398

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA ID

515151

Incident

Feb 24, 1997

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR RACK&PINION SYSTEM HE NOTES THAT REPAIRS WERE MADE BUT THE PROBLEM BECAME WORST

NHTSA ID

808903

CONSUMER BELIEVES POWER STEERING UNIT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ON STEERING/GEAR ATTACHMENT, INCOMPLETE REMEDY.

NHTSA ID

514763

CROSSMEMBER LOOSENED, CAUSING RACK AND PINION GEAR TO SEPARATE/CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING CORNERS.

NHTSA ID

514626

Incident

Dec 12, 1996

RACK AND PINION STEERING MOUNT RECALL; HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET RECALL WORK DONE ON HIS VEHICLE. DEALER CONTINUES TO SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

807199

Incident

Nov 7, 1996

DEALERSHIP WILL NOT MAKE APPOINTMENT, KEEPS PUTTING OFF, CONSUMER BACK; SAID RECALL WAS NOT HIGH PRIORITY FOR REPAIRS. RECALL #96V094000. *AK

NHTSA ID

808567

Incident

Jan 24, 1997

VEHICLE IN FOR A FREE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, WAS INFORMED BRAKES/FUEL LINES WERE RUSTED & CORRODED; LATER WAS INFORMED THAT DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BRAKES OR FUEL LINES. *AK

NHTSA ID

807145

Incident

Jan 1, 1997