1998 Dodge Dakota Brakes Problems

The contact owned a 1998 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 25 MPH and attempting to slow the vehicle with the brake pedal depressed all the way to the floorboard, the vehicle failed to come to a complete stop. As a result, the vehicle careened off the roadway and into a ditch. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The occupants were all transported to an area hospital by EMT for treatment. The driver was treated for chest pain caused by the steering wheel; the contact was treated for a broken arm; the oldest rear seat occupant was treated for a facial injury, losing two front teeth; and the youngest rear seat occupant was treated for a concussion. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 97V170000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 5,000.

NHTSA ID

11549219

Incident

Dec 19, 1999

Mileage

5,000 mi

The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was restarted and operated as designed. During the failure, there were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Additionally, while depressing the brake pedal a clicking noise was present and the vehicle would not immediately stop. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 210,000.

NHTSA ID

11465684

Incident

Nov 1, 2021

Mileage

210,000 mi

I FOUND A LIST OF RECALLS ON PEP BOYS WEBSITE

NHTSA ID

11119297

Incident

Aug 6, 2018

Mileage

162,000 mi

THIS CAR HAS BEEN A SAFETY NIGHTMARE. FROM STEEL BRAKE LINES RUSTING THROUGH (AND THE VEHICLE LOSING IT BRAKES), TO UPPER BALL JOINTS ALMOST SEPARATING TO STEERING WHEEL DRIVE SHAFTS WHERE THE U-JOINTS ALMOST SEPARATED. THESE ARE NOT ITEMS THAT SHOULD FAIL LIKE THIS. I SPENT PART OF MY CAREER LOOKING AFTER GLOBAL PRODUCT LIABILITY FOR CUMMINS ENGINE AND I AM STUNNED AT THE POOR QUALITY CHRYSLER HAS USED IN CRITICAL COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ID

11053577

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING A COMBINE WAS APPROACHING IN ON COMING LANE TAKING UP PART OF MY LANE, APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR (NO BRAKES). I HAD TO GO OFF ROAD TO AVOID ACCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION FOUND BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH. REPAIRED AND WHILE BLEEDING LINES HAD ANOTHER RUSTED AREA RUPTURE DUE TO RUST ( 4 AREAS SO FAR). FEARFUL TO DRIVE UNTIL ALL LINES REPLACED......BUT TOO COSTLY!

NHTSA ID

10910437

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

Mileage

96,000 mi

BRAKES FAILED DUE TO COMPLETE RUST THROUGH OF LINES. HAVE HAD TO SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACE OTHER LINES AND HOSES DUE TO THEIR DEFECTIVE QUALITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10552261

Incident

Jun 15, 2010

Mileage

95,000 mi

APPROACHING STOP LIGHT WHEN HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY RUPTURED CAUSING A CONDITION OF NO BRAKES AND IMPACT WITH VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10460291

Incident

May 30, 2012

Mileage

79,000 mi

1998 DAKOTA BRAKE LINE (STEEL) RUSTED THROUGH AND RUPTURED RESULTING IN CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE (RIGHT FRONT). THE DEALER BLAMES THE FAILURE ON ROAD CONDITIONS IN WESTERN VIRGINIA (SALT). THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 80000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10399695

Incident

May 9, 2011

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 32 MPH WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP BUT THE BRAKES FAILED; AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES. THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE CALIPERS AND BRAKE PADS FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ABS COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,882.

NHTSA ID

10367056

Incident

Jul 1, 2010

Mileage

58,000 mi

THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE LINE ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK FAILED COMPLETELY AND SUDDENLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS (LIGHT BRAKING). UPON INSPECTION, ALL FRONT BRAKE LINES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE DISTRIBUTION JUNCTION AND FROM THE DISTRIBUTION JUNCTION TO THE FRONT BRAKES (LEFT AND RIGHT) WERE HEAVILY CORRODED. LAST WINTER, THE BRAKE LINE LEADING FROM THE DISTRIBUTION JUNCTION TO THE REAR BRAKES FAILED UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, HOWEVER; SOME BRAKING ABILITY REMAINED. THESE TWO FAILURES OVER A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME-FRAME LEAD ME TO BELIEVE IT MAY BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH ALL METAL BRAKE LINES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342760

Incident

Jul 7, 2010

Mileage

135,000 mi

SERVICE BRAKE HYDRAULIC LINES RUPTURED TWICE. ONCE AT 55,622 MILES ON AUGUST 13, 2007. THIS OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, ABOUT MID WAY BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE TRUCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE DEALER REPLACED 7 BRAKE LINES AND THE 2 REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS BECAUSE THE BLEEDER SCREWS WOULD NOT OPEN. TODAY, MARCH 5, 2010 AT STILL LESS THAN 60,000 MILES THE FRONT BRAKE LINES RUPTURED NEAR THE RADIATOR WHERE THEY CROSS BETWEEN THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE TRUCK. THIS OCCURRED ON A MAIN HIGHWAY WHILE BRAKING FOR A RED LIGHT. BOTH TIMES THE TUBING (METAL PIPING) CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNING SIGNS SUCH AS SLOW LEAKAGE, LOW FLUID LEVEL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10317151

Incident

Mar 5, 2010

Mileage

58,000 mi

BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295458

Incident

Aug 10, 2009

Mileage

92,357 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE COASTED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT BEFORE THE CONTACT COULD APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED AT LEAST THREE LINES AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT OTHERS MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A LATER DATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,249. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF UPDATE 09/24/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10233754

Incident

Jul 9, 2008

Mileage

89,249 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DECELERATING FROM 40 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED APPROXIMATELY 50-60 FEET. THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND AFTER REAPPLYING IT, THE BRAKES WORKED CORRECTLY WITHOUT SKIDDING. HIS WIFE ALSO STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN RAINY WEATHER. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,858 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000. UPDATED 01/17/08 *BF UPDATED 01/17/08 *TR

NHTSA ID

10213058

Incident

Dec 23, 2007

Mileage

73,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DECELERATING AT 3 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE LINE WAS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH RUST AND CORRODED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RUST WAS A NATURAL PHENOMENON AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 107,000. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10201091

Incident

Aug 18, 2007

Mileage

107,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 1998 DODGE DAKOTA, AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH IN DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL GAVE NO RESISTANCE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TAKE LONGER THAN USUAL TO COME TO A STOP. IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION CONTACT HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GRASS MEDIAN. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE PICTURES IF NEEDED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10178926

Incident

Dec 19, 2006

Mileage

131,000 mi

RECALL 00V193000 FOR THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE HAS BEEN ISSUED AND REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10117768

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

Mileage

98,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE FRONT END UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CHRYSLER SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. *AK ALSO FRONT END WAS ALIGNED AND THE BRAKE FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED. *TT *NM

NHTSA ID

10124139

Incident

Jun 3, 2005

PURCHASED TRUCK IN 1998 AND SINCE THEN THE LEFT FRONT CALIPER SEIZED AND THE ROTOR PADS AND CALIPER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER COVERED THIS UNDER WARRANTY THE TRUCK HAD ONLY 12000 MILES AND THIS OCCURRED IN 1999. SINCE THAT TIME THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER ALSO SEIZED IN 2002. THE MILEAGE ON MY TRUCK WAS 62260 MILES. THE CALIPER PADS AND ROTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AND BRAKE LINE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10110049

Incident

Jan 18, 2002

Mileage

62,260 mi

I BOUGHT MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK IN AUGUST OF 1998 IN MARCH OF 1999 BROUGHT THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR BECAUSE IT WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE BRAKE BECAUSE THIS WOULD OCCUR OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING AND AT TIMES THERE WAS AN ODOR THAT SMELLED LIKE THE BRAKES WERE BURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AND THE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CALIPER WAS SEIZING UP AND DAMAGED THE ROTOR. THE CALIPER, BRAKE PADS, AND ROTOR WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER THE WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10110046

Incident

Mar 23, 1999

Mileage

12,002 mi

MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA, VIN [XXX]. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, BEGINNING IN THE SECOND YEAR OF OUR LEASE. DURING THE PAST FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $9,000 ON VEHICLE REPAIRS INCLUDING A NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW ENGINE, NEW STARTER, NEW WHEEL BARING, NEW BRAKE CALIPER, NEW HEATER CORE AND NEW WATER PUMP. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND ALTERNATOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND TWO O2 SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOUR TIMES. WHILE THESE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COSTLY AND INCONVENIENT, NONE OF THEM HAS POSED A SAFETY CONCERN PER SE. I AM WRITING NOW TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR MOST RECENT VEHICLE FAILURE WHICH MOST CERTAINLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE. ON NOVEMBER 18, 2004, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN HIS FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BROKE OFF FROM THE AXLE. THE TIRE FELL ON ITS SIDE AND THE TRUCK LANDED ON THE TIRE. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND THE TRUCK SKIDDED TO A STOP IN THE LEFT TURN LANE. MY HUSBAND HAD NO CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. WHEN WE TOOK THE TRUCK TO OUR MECHANIC, HE FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS NEAR THE BREAKING POINT AS WELL AND REPLACED THAT AXLE AS WELL. WE ARE STILL DRIVING ON THE TWO FRONT TIRES, BUT WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE SHOULD GET AN ALIGNMENT AND PROBABLY HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED AS WELL. WE UNDERSTAND THAT DODGE HAS RECALLED THE 2000-2003 DAKOTAS FOR THIS SAME DEFECT. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR VEHICLE SHOULD ALSO BE COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. *NM UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10104743

Incident

Nov 18, 2004

Mileage

96,300 mi

DISCOVERED UPON VEHICLE INSPECTION; ABNORMAL WEAR TO FRONT TIRES, FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS, UPPER AND LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10098039

Incident

Oct 20, 2004

Mileage

88,088 mi

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN WHEN APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, THE MAIN BRAKE LINE RUNNING FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR BROKE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONSUMER CROSSED A RED LIGHT, BUT REACHED THE OTHER SIDE BEFORE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10083659

Incident

Jul 24, 2004

Mileage

62,000 mi

I AM ON MY THIRD CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA, I JUST HIT 70,000 MILES AND THERE SEEMS TO BE AN AWEFUL LOT OF BAD CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ON THIS VEHICLE. NOW THE DEALER TELLS ME THE BIGGEST SAFETY PROBLEM WITH MY TRUCK IS THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS (IT'LL COST ALMOST $1000), THESE ARE THE SAME AS USED ON THE DURANGO AND THEY HAVE HAD ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS ALSO.*AK

NHTSA ID

10066225

Incident

Apr 15, 2004

Mileage

70,000 mi

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE AND THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXCEEDED TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE HOSE FAILED. *AK THE BRAKE LINE WAS POSITIONED UP AGAINST THE MOVING SUSPENSION PART THAT WORE A HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10046216

Incident

Oct 28, 2003

Mileage

90,300 mi