Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Dodge Dakota submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 34 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words
LOCKED VEHICLE IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE HIGH, STARTED GOING THROUGH FLAT PASTURE, EITHER BRAKES LOCKED UP OR FRONT PUMKIN TURNED UP AND LOCKED FRONT WHEELS UP, LOST CONTROL AND ROLLED ONTO DRIVER SIDE. *TR
DUE TO POOR CHOICE OF MATERIALS (I ASSUME) THE FRONT HUB AND SPINDLE ASSEMBLY WEARS. LEAVING FRONT BRAKE SLIDER PINS UNATTACHED TO CALIPER MOUNTING PLATE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE FRONT CALIPER WOBBLES IN IT'S PLACE, POSSIBLY EJECTING THE SLIDEPINS BECAUSE THEY "WOBBLE" IN THE KNUCKLE HOLES DESIGNED TO RETAIN THEM. THIS CAUSES EXCESS WEAR ON THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY, INCREASED WEAR IN BRAKES, AND STRESS ON THE HUB BEARINGS. HAVING READ THE "ALLDATA" DATA BASE, THERE IS A REDESIGNED KNUCKLE WITH IMPROVED SLIDE PIN SUPPORTS. THERE ALSO IS A REPAIR KIT INVOLVING THE USAGE OF "HELI-COIL" INSERTS TO SECURE BRAKE PAD CARRIER TO SPINDLE ASSEMBLY. (SLIDE PINS) I FEEL TOTALLY UNSAFE WITH THIS ARRANGEMENT. I PREFER TO HAVE THE RE-DESIGNED SPINDLE ASSEMBLIES INSTALLED FOR FREE BY DEALER WITH UP-DATED PART NUMBERS. THE DEALER WANTS $1000 PER SIDE FOR THE REDESIGNED UNITS. I THINK THIS IS ABSURD. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE BRAKE ASSEMBLIES IN PLACE IS THE WHEEL, ITSELF!! *TR
THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER BOLTS TO THE STEERING KNUCKLE ON A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA, 4WD. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE DESIGN, THE THREADS THAT HOLD THE BRAKE CALIPER MOUNTING STUDS CAN STRIP OUT, THEREBY LEAVING THE CALIPER TO FLOAT ON THE KNUCKLE. UNDER PROLONGED USE, THESE STUDS CAN BACK OUT, LETTING THE CALIPER FALL OFF, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE, THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR THE THIRD TIME NOW, ONCE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND TWICE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE THREADS STRIP OUT, AND THE MOUNTING BOSS SECTION IS SO SMALL THAT A LARGER THREAD CANNOT BE RETAPPED WITHOUT DANGER OF BREAKING THE HOLE OUT. AUTO PARTS SUPPLIERS SELL SLIGHTLY OVERSIZE, SELF TAPPING STUDS, BUT THESE DO NOT LAST LONG. THE STEERING KNUCKLE IS A VERY PRICEY PART (ON THE ORDER OF $600 JUST FOR THE PART) AND CONTINUING REPLACEMENT IS COST PROHIBITIVE. MY VEHICLE IS APPARENTLY NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, AS A SEARCH OF SALVAGE YARDS REVEALED NUMEROUS STRIPPED OUT THREADS ON VEHICLES WHERE THE STEERING KNUCKLE WAS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE. *TR
THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS WORE OUT COMPLETELY. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE WHEELS WILL FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. *AK *NM
CONSUMER WAS REPLACING UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS EVERY 35,000 MILES. ALSO, CONSUMER REPLACED THE IDLER ARM. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THE SUSPENSION PARTS. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANIFOLD PLENUM GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL INTO THE INTAKE. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE GASKET HIMSELF. *JB
MY 1997 DODGE DAKOTA-WITH 48OOO MILES FAILED SAFETY INSPECTION, DUE TO BAD BALL JOINTS AND UNSAFE STEERNIG. DURING REPAIR PROCESS I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND EVEN EXPECTED EVENT WITH THESE VEHICLES (WITH LOW MILEAGE) AND ALSO DURANGOS. IT IS SO COMMONPLACE THAT DODGE REPAIR PEOPLE EXPECT IT. OBVIOUOSLY TIS IS A SFATEY DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REMEDIED AT NO COST TO CONSUMER. IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THE PARTS FAIL; AND A CATASTROPHE HAPPENS TO SOME UN SUSPECTIG DRIVER,UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL AND PERMANENT QUALITY REPLACMENT OF THE PARTS. *AK
FRONT END FAILED. CONSUMER STATED FRONT END WAS ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSING. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT BALL JOINTS, INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS FAILED. *LA
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STEERING BOX PROBLEM. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS AND IDLER ARM. *AK CONSUMER IS KEEPING AN EYE ON THE FUEL FILLER TUBE BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO BE RUSTED. ALSO, BRAKE LINE IS ALSO RUSTED. *LA
PREMATURE FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS & LOWER STEERING COLUMN U-JOINTS. UPPER BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK
BALL JOINTS FAILED. *AK
I HAVE A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT WITH FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, A V8 ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I NOTICED MY FRONT TIRES WEARING ON THE INSIDE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER ON 12-20-01. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED LOWER BALL JOINT AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS. ON 1-31-03 I RETURNED TO THE DEALER COMPLAINING OF A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END, AGAIN I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED LOWER BALL JOINTS AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS. NOW I AM NOTICING THE TIRES WEARING ON THE INSIDE AGAIN AND THE DEALER TELLS ME IT AGAIN NEEDS UPPER BALL JOINTS BUT THAT THE NEW REDESIGNED PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THESE FAILURES HAVE HAPPENED AT TEN THOUSAND MILE INTERVALS, THE FIRST REPAIR WAS AT 46,261 THE SECOND AT 56,125 AND NOW IT HAS 67,261 MILES ON IT. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD AND IS USED AS A DAILY COMMUTER VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM AT 46,261 MILES IS EARLY FOR THIS TYPE OF FAILURE BUT I GUESS IT COULD HAPPEN HOWEVER TWO MORE TIMES IN 21,000 MILES IS PREMATURE FAILURE. I'VE WORKED IN THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR BUSINESS FOR TWENTY FIVE YEARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM ON MY OWN VEHICLES WHICH ARE METICULUSLY MAINTAINED. THIS IS DEFINATELY A SAFTEY ISSUE AS THIS CAN CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE CONTROL ARM FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE.*AK
THREADS ON SPINDLE WERE CORRODED AND STRIPPED.*MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE ON HIS VEHICLE. *CB *JB
FRONT END SUSPENSION FAILED, AND CAUSED THE THREAD ON THE TIE ROD TO BECOME WEAK. THE THREADS APPEARED CORRODED WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *CB *JB
POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED DURING COLD WEATHER. WAS SLUGGISH DURING SLOW IDLE. MOPAR MECHANIC SAID THAT COMPLETE REPLACEMENT WOULD COST OVER $1000 AND MAY STILL NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. *TT
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. CONSUMER STATES' WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IT FILL LIKE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS KICKING BACK. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA# 13411-01-V-153-000: CLOCK SPRING MATERIAL, COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING RIBBON AND CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT THE DRIVER AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL BECOME DISABLED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL BE ON. CONSUMER STATES HAS THE SAME PROBLEM HIS VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
WHILE CHANGING LANES ON A HIGHWAYPOWER STEERING FAILED WITH NO WARNING. SHAFT BROKE BEHIND THE PULLEY DUE TO FLUID NOT PASSING THROUGH THE SYSTEM, RESULTING IN THE STEERING WHEEL STFFENING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.AK
WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE DROPPED, TIE ROD HAD BROKEN AND GONE THROUGH RIM OF WHEEL. DEALER REPLACED TIE ROD.*AK *SLC
STEERING IS UNRESPONSIVE IN CERTAIN SPOTS. NO MOVEMENT IN CERTAIN TURNS CAUSES WHEELS TO FLOAT. DEALER FOUND JOINTS CORRODED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. *AK
WHEN STARTED TO TURN THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND. A FEW DAYS LATER, POPPING STOPPED, BUT THERE WAS A 2 TO 3 INCH PLAY IN STEERING BEFORE CAR WOULD EVEN START TO TURN IN THAT DIRECTION. FELT LIKE STEERING COLUMN WAS GOING TO FALL ON GROUND, AND CONSUMER FELT UNSAFE. *AK *SLC
PRIOR TO EXP. OF WARRANTY, (36000 MILES) VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP FOR A COMPLETE INSPECTION. WAS INFORMED BALL JOINTS AND IDLER ARM WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT. PREVIOUS OWNER, (A PERSONAL FRIEND) AND MYSELF NEVER '4 WHEELED' THE TRUCK. NORMAL CITY/HIGHWAY USE. VIEWED INTERNET BULLETIN BOARDS ON DAKOTA MAINT PROBLEMS, AND FOUND OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH EARLY BALL JOINT/IDLER ARM FAILURES. 36,000 MILES UNDER NORMAL USE IS FAR TO EARLY FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. I FEAR THERE ARE MANY DAKOTA'S OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
BRAKES WORN OUT PREMATURELY.(ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)YH
52000 MILES AND I HAVE REPLACED THESE ITEMS: BELT TENSIONER, A/C COMPRESSOR, 3 SETS OF FRONT TIRES (THE TIRES ARE WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE-THE TRUCK HAS BEEN ALIGNED EACH TIME THE TIRES WERE REPLACED), 2 SETS OF ROTORS, 2 BRAKE CALIPERS, 4 SETS OF BRAKE PADS, THE STEERING KNUCKLE THAT BROKE INTO THREE (3) PIECES WHILE THE TRUCK WAS GOING 65 MPH, AND NOW I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP BECAUSE THE TRUCK JUMPS FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHILE THE TRUCK IS IN MOTION. ALL OF THESE REPAIR COST HAVE BEEN PAID BY MYSELF. DEALER SAID THERE HAS BEEN NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DODGE DAKOTA I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT21575R15 )
DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD END BROKE, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. ALSO, BALL JOINTS LOOKED WORN OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NO SUMMARY
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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