1994 Dodge Dakota Owner Complaints

FRONT LEFT DOOR SNAPPED OFF. I CAN'T OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. ALSO, BOTH SEAT BELTS SNAPPED, THE AIR AND HEAT DOESN'T WORK, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, WHICH AFFECTED THE STEERING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THREE TIMED, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER AND THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER RATTLED. THERE WAS A ROUGH IDLE AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. ALSO, I HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. THE IDLER ARM IS IN THE PROCESS OF BREAKING, THE IGNITION BROKE AFTER THE KEYS BECAME STUCK, THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND THE BEARING AND BUSHING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10512159

Incident

Jan 1, 2007

DODGE DAKOTA FRAME ROTTING OUT TOYOTA RECALLED THEIRS THE TRUCK IN GREAT SHAPE AND I HAVE SEEN ALOT OF TRUCKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM COULD CAUSE DEATH IN CRASH.*TR

NHTSA ID

10384678

Incident

Oct 10, 2010

Mileage

235,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN ROAD, ABOUT TO TURN RIGHT, BUT AIRBAG DEPLOYED BEFORE I WAS OFF THE MAIN ROAD. HAD TO STOP IMMEDIATELY. HAD SLOWED DOWN TO APP. 10 MPH TO MAKE TURN. ROAD CLEAR. HAD MADE THIS TURN MANY TIMES BEFORE (ON WAY TO WORK). *TR

NHTSA ID

10362526

Incident

Oct 22, 2010

Mileage

109,580 mi

NIGHT DRIVING, SMELLED ELECTRICAL SMOKE IN CAB. HEADLAMPS WENT OFF THEN CAME BACK ON AFTER 5 TO 10 SECONDS. MOVED HEADLAMP SWITCH IN AND OUT BUT CONDITION STILL PERSISTED. LUCKILY I WAS LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM HOME ON DIVIDED HWY WITH NO TRAFFIC. IF LAMP SWITCH IS OFF THEN THERE IS NO SMELL OF ELECTRICAL SMOKE. WHEN LAMP SWITCH IS IN EITHER THE PARKING OR THE HEADLAMP POSITION, CAN SMELL ELECTRICAL SMOKE AND LIGHT WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS SECOND FAILURE IN 2 YEARS. LAMP SWITCH FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173803

Incident

Nov 1, 2006

Mileage

70,102 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN DRIVER SIDE COLLISION. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS PRE-IMPACT BRAKING. THE OCCUPANT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUFFERED OF HYPERTHERMIA DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED.

NHTSA ID

10173364

Incident

Oct 22, 2006

Mileage

180,000 mi

FRONT SEAT BOLT-DRIVER SIDE BROKE WITH SEAT GOING STRAIGHT BACK INTO BACK SEAT-REACHING FOR WALLET BOTH TIMES IT BROKE!

NHTSA ID

10122295

Incident

May 20, 2005

Mileage

169,900 mi

NO FAILURE JUST YET. EVERY SO OFTEN THE AIR BAG, ABS LIGHT COMES ON ONCE THAT HAPPENS THE FAN STOPS WORKING, THE POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK. NOW MY HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK AT ALL BUT MY PARKING LIGHTS WILL. I HAVE TRIED TO GET THE DEALER TO FIX IT UNDER A RECALL THEY WON'T DO IT. I KNOW IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

NHTSA ID

10121159

Incident

Apr 27, 2005

Mileage

161,000 mi

SUDDEN NEAR-COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE BOLT HOLDING MASTER CYLINDER IN PLACE TO HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR. ON 05-14-2005, MY 18 YEAR OLD SON COMPLETED HIS SHIFT AT WORK. HE WENT OUT TO OUR 1994 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP AND STARTED THE ENGINE. AS HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL HE HEARD A METALLIC NOISE AS IF SOMETHING HAD BROKEN. HE DROVE TO OUR NEARBY RESIDENCE AT VERY LOW SPEED. THERE WAS NO COLLISION, BUT HE REPORTED SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED BRAKE PERFORMANCE. AT OUR RESIDENCE, MY MECHANIC AND I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. I AM A 21-YEAR EXPERIENCED POLICE COLLISION INVESTIGATOR. WE FOUND THAT THE LEFT (DRIVER SIDE) BOLT HOLDING THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER TO THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR (AKA: HYDROBOOST) HAD BROKEN OFF. THE BOLT APPEARS TO BE A LOW GRADE STUD THAT IS PRESSED INTO THE FORWARD COVER OF THE HYDROBOOST UNIT. THE BOLT / STUD IS OF SMALL DIAMETER FOR SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT. IT APPEARED TO BE OVER-TIGHTENED AT THE FACTORY (MOST LIKELY), OR WORE OUT DUE TO METAL FATIGUE (LESS LIKELY AS THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000 MILES ON IT). THERE IS A SECOND BOLT HOLDING THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE HYDROBOOST. THE SECOND BOLT HELD IN PLACE, ALLOWING REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FALLING DOWN AND TO THE RIGHT AT ABOUT A 35 DEGREE ANGLE. HAD THIS DEFECT OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, OR WHEN PULLING A LOAD, A CATASTROPHIC COLLISION WOULD HAVE LIKELY OCCURRED. THE TWO BOLTS APPEAR TO BE TOO SMALL IN DIAMETER FOR ANY VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY A LIGHT PICKUP TRUCK. ALTHOUGH THIS VEHICLE IS A 1994 MODEL YEAR, IT IS STILL IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I LIVE IN A SEMI-ARID AREA, SO THERE IS NO RUST. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO NEVER BEEN IN A COLLISION AND IS PARKED IN A GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OTHERWISE EXTREMELY RELIABLE.

NHTSA ID

10120936

Incident

May 14, 2005

Mileage

51,000 mi

I HAVE A "PRISTINE" DODGE DAKOTA THAT I PURCHASED FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. IT CURRENTLY HAS 34,500 MILES ON IT AND I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE BALL-JOINTS/ UPPER & LOWER/BOTH SIDES. I HAVE HEARD OF RECALLS FOR DAKOTA BALL-JOINTS. DID ANY OF THE RECALLS COVER A 1994 MODEL ? - PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU. *JB

NHTSA ID

10106359

Incident

Dec 15, 2004

Mileage

34,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH A DEER APPEAR OUT OF NO WHERE AND WAS HIT BY CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. IT WAS BADLY DAMAGED AND KNOCKED OFF THE ROAD. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. STEERING WHEEL SEPARATED AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO DRIVER'S RIGHT LEG. DRIVER WAS HOSPITALIZED. VEHICLE HAD OLD ENGINE REPLACED. THE DAKOTA SPORT WAS TOTALED.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS INCORRECT AND SENT AN UPDATED VERSION WHICH IS AS FOLLOWS: THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND A DEER JUMPED ONTO HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE ROAD TO THE LEFT INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPED THE VEHICLE OVER. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE FROM UNDER THE DASH INJURING THE CONSUMER. *TC

NHTSA ID

10094568

Incident

Sep 19, 2004

Mileage

500 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND LOWER BALL JOINT ON RIGHT SIDE OF TRUCK BROKE . DID NOT WRECK. WHEEL FELL OFF OF TRUCK ALONG WITH AXLE END, BRAKE ROTOR AND CALIPER. SPINDLE ALSO BROKE . I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED SPINDLE AND AXLE BUT HAVE NOT YET PUT ALL BACK TOGETHER BECAUSE IM TRYING TO SEE IF MY TRUCK SHOULD BE IN WITH THIS BIG RECALL ON DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10104063

Incident

Jul 10, 2002

Mileage

110,000 mi

SRS AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO WORK WHEN APPLIED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *TC

NHTSA ID

10098997

Incident

Oct 28, 2004

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO RECLINE BACK. *AK

NHTSA ID

10055967

Incident

Jan 15, 2004

Mileage

120,000 mi

PAINT PEELING OFF OF ROOF AND HOOD.

NHTSA ID

10071263

Incident

Nov 15, 2001

Mileage

73,678 mi

WHILE WAITING AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL . *AK

NHTSA ID

10050382

Incident

Dec 10, 2003

WHILE WAITING AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10050380

Incident

Dec 10, 2003

I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE AT LEAST 3 GAS FUEL PUMPS FOR MY 94 DODGE DAKOTA FOR THREE YEARS IN A ROW. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DODGE DEALER EACH TIME AN IT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM EVERY TIME. I ONLY USE ONE GAS STATION WHEN I'M NOT TRAVELING AND JUST IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD . I HAVE USED THE SAME TYPE OF GAS 1993 PREMIUM AND GAS STATION AMOCO SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND HAS NOT CHARGED ME THIS TIME FOR THE WORK. BUT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND OUT WHY I'M HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF THERE IS SOME OTHER DEFECTIVE PART THAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM, OR FIND OUT IF THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE GAS FUEL PUMPS FOR THAT VEHICLE. I COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING ON YOUR SITE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10025400

Incident

Jul 3, 2003

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO RELEASE. THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO CUT THE SEAT BELT IN ORDER TO EXIT THE TRUCK. *JB *CB *NLM

NHTSA ID

10020243

Incident

May 18, 2003

Mileage

189,972 mi

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED IMPROPERLY. THE CONSUMER CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED UP, DUE TO WRONG INFORMATION PRINTED ON THE DIP STICK. *JB

NHTSA ID

10017520

Mileage

170,000 mi

WHEN THE CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT CAME APART. *JB

NHTSA ID

10017506

Incident

Mar 2, 2003

Mileage

170,000 mi

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ID

770303

Incident

Nov 10, 2001

SEVERAL MONTHS TO A YEAR, A MODULE IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS MODULE CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS HIGH/LOW BEAM, TURN SIGNAL, 4-WAY FLASHER AND WIPER MOTION. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT WHILE IN USE FOLLOWING THE OTHER COMPONENTS FAILING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS TS

NHTSA ID

8022958

WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 5 MPH DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER FACE AND LOST HER VOICE FOR 2 WEEKS DUE TO INHALING FUMES.*AK DEALER REPLACED AIRBAG, STEERING WHEEL AND CRUISE CONTROL AND STATED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING WAS CAUSE OF THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. *TT

NHTSA ID

8009922

Incident

Apr 26, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FLOAT FAILED. *TT

NHTSA ID

785957

Incident

Aug 15, 1998

FUEL GAUGE READING VERY ERRATIC. DEALER CHECKED WIRING FROM TANK TO GAUGE AND FOUND NO SHORTED WIRING. ALSO CHECKED OPERATIONS AND FOUND FUEL SENDING UNIT IN TANK HAS CONTACTS SHORTED CAUSING GAUGE TO READ VERY ERRATIC. THIS IS 5TH TIME SENDING WILL BE REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ID

564893

Incident

Feb 3, 2002