1999 Dodge Dakota Electrical Problems

OFTEN WHEN I START MY TRUCK THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WILL GO ALL THE WAY UP, THE GAUGE FOR THE BATTERY STAYS DOWN, AND WHEN IT DOES START, THE SERPENTINE BELT WILL SQUEAL, SOMETIMES IT WILL START AND IDLE, OTHER TIMES IT WILL NOT IDLE, UNLESS I KEEP MY FOOT ON THE GAS, AS SOON AS I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS IT WILL STALL, AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, EVERYTHING WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL AND IT RUNS FINE, BUT LATELY, ITS BEEN DOING IT MORE OFTEN, WHEN IT DOES THIS, THERE IS A FOUL SMELL COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I HAVE HAD IT SCANNED AND NO CODES CAME UP ON THE SCANNER. I DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, SO IF THERE IS A RECALL PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW A RECALL WORKS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE LAST TIME WAS 9/23/2019, WHEN I STARTED IT TODAY, IT RAN FINE.

NHTSA ID

11257872

Incident

Sep 23, 2019

Mileage

110,000 mi

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. SEVERAL TIME THE TRUCK WILL NOT START OR WILL SHUT DOWN A FEW MINUTES/MILES AFTER STARTING. THE TRUCK HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS EVEN 'KICK' STARTING HAS NO EFFECT. AFTER THE TRUCK SHUTS DOWN, 10 TO 15 MINUTES LATER IT STARTS UP WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN CITY TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712906

Incident

Apr 25, 2015

Mileage

160,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, EVERYTHING SHUTS OFF; MOTOR, BRAKES, STEERING. ODOMETER READS "NO BUS" AND NON OF THE GAUGES IN THE CLUSTER WORK. AFTER RESETTING THE COMPUTER BY UNPLUGGIN THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL AND VEHICLE COOLS, IT STARTS UP. THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN AS I HAVE READ FOR MANY OWNERS OF SIMILAR MODELS AND YEARS. IT CONCERNS ME BECAUSE I DRIVE CONGESTED HIGHWAYS TO AND FROM WORK. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND ACCOUNTED FOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10631404

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

93,540 mi

I OWN A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA V-8 MAGNUM 5.2L, IT ONLY HAS 138,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I BOUGHT IT IT ONLY HAD 76,600 MILES. IN THAT LITTLE TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS TWICE, AND THE RACK AND PINION, AND THE WATER PUMP, THE THERMOSTAT, THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THE TIE RODS, AND THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WRONG. WHY AM HAVING TO REPLACE THESE THINGS TWICE IN SUCH LITTLE MILEAGE? AFTER READING UP ON IT THROUGH THE INTERNET I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE PROBLEMS, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS, WHY IS THERE A RECALL ON THE 2000, & 1998 BUT NOT 1999? I AM OUT SO MUCH MONEY AND HAVE ALMOST WRECKED MY TRUCK TWICE BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS, ONCE WITH 6 KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME AND AGAIN WITH MY 3 KIDS. THIS NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BEFORE SEVERAL PEOPLE GET HURT OR WORSE, DIE!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10287467

Incident

Oct 11, 2009

Mileage

138,000 mi

THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT IN MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA STARTED STAYING ON AFTER STARTUP INTERMITTENTLY. THE LIGHTS STAYED ON MORE OFTEN AS TIME WENT BY. SHOP COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY BOTH LIGHTS WERE ON ALL THE TIME. VEHICLE STARTED STALLING AT STOP SIGNS AND WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS. SPEEDOMETER WOULDN'T WORK AT LOW SPEEDS--CAME ON ABOUT THE TIME DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED (20-25 MPH). SHOP REPLACED SPEED SENSOR. VEHICLE RAN FINE FOR 30 DAYS OR LESS. SAME SYMPTOMS ARE BACK. *NM

NHTSA ID

10150792

Incident

Dec 19, 2005

Mileage

55,000 mi

FRONT END STEERING MECHANISM HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK BOTH OF THE VEHICLE'S LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE STARTER ASSEMBLEY WAS REPLACED. THE BATTERY TERMINALS WERE ALSO REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10072006

Incident

May 13, 2004

Mileage

76,000 mi

EVERY TIME I USED THE LIGHTER THE FUSE WOULD BLOW, MY RADIO WOULD FAIL AND I WOULD HAVE TROUBLES WITH MY WIPERS. I CHECKED ALL FUSES AND DIDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT AND ONCE IN A WHILE IF I CLICK MY HIGH BEAMS ON AND OFF THE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS WILL EVENTUALLY COME BACK ON. I WAS IN NORTHERN MAINE AND I LOST MY POWER STEERING. I HAD TO WALK THROUGH THE WOODS TO A CABIN I COULD SEE HAD ITS HOUSE LIGHT ON AND KNOCK ON THE DOOR FOR HELP. ONCE MY TRUCK WAS FREED FROM BEING STUCK I HAD TO DRIVE 3 MILES BACK TO THE MOUNTAIN W/NO POWER STEERING. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER THEY SHOWED ME THAT THERE WAS SOME LONG SILVER ROD LIKE THING, WHICH HAD JUST BROKEN IN HALF!! I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT BECAUSE IT WAS STILL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. A WHILE LATER, MY BRAKE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $800. I SAID I JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY AT THAT TIME. LEE DODGE OF WESTBROOK MAINE CALLED AND SAID THEY COULD FIX THE PROBLEM FOR $150! I HAD AN ACCIDENT ABOUT JANUARY 2001 AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. I WAS RUN OFF THE ROAD IN A SNOWSTORM AND HIT A TREE. THIS PAST JUNE MY TRUCK WENT IN TO BE INSPECTED AND I WAS TOLD MY UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED!! EVEN I KNEW THAT AT 44K OR SO MILES IT WAS FAR TOO SOON FOR ME TO NEED THOSE PARTS REPLACED. I LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME BECAUSE I AM DISABLED. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY TRUCK MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NO LONGER CLOSE CORRECTLY, MY HOOD WOULD NO LONGER OPEN AND THE HEADLIGHT PROBLEM BECAME MUCH WORSE. BEFORE I HAD THE CHANCE TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT, I HAD AN ACCIDENT. I HAD PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVE AND MY BOYFRIEND PULLED OUT AFTER ME IN MY BROTHER?S CAR. WHEN HE PULLED OUT OF A DRIVE, I WENT TO PULL UP ALONG SIDE HIM, MY TIRES WERE SPINNING ON PILES OF WET LEAVES, MY WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND, MY GAS AND MY BRAKE WOULD NOT RESPOND. I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE FLOOR NOT EITHER GAS OR BRAKE... THE TRUCK THEN THRUST FORWARD AND HIT MY BROTHER?S CAR!

NHTSA ID

10071222

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

Mileage

62,000 mi

COMPUTER CONTROLS, LOUD SPARK KNOCK UNDER MODERATE ACCELERATION, UPDATED OSFTWARE ON PCM EXHAUST/EMISSION, LOUD POPPING SOUNDS (BAD CONVERTER) SUSPENSION, LOUD POPPING FROM RIGHT FRONT SIDE UPON SHIFTING, BRAKING, EXITING AND ENTERING VEHICLE, REPL RIGHT UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS, ALIGNMENT

NHTSA ID

10068837

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

Mileage

72,000 mi

ON 11/21/01 I TOOK MY DAKOTA IN TO CUMBERLAND AVE. GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. I USUALLY GO TO LEE AUTO MALL. I WAS IN A HURRY TO GET THE TRUCK INSPECTED SO I WENT TO CUMBERLAND GARAGE. I CAME UPON A REPAIR ORDER FROM CUMBERLAND AVE. GARAGE. ASIDE FROM SOME MINOR REPAIRS THEY HAD LISTED BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS AS NEEDING REPAIR. AT $298.74. I ENDED UP TAKING MY TRUCK TO LEE AUTO MALL IN WESTBROOK (ME.) THEY NEVER MENTIONED THE BALL JOINTS HAD A PROBLEM. NOTE THE DATE OF THE REPAIR ORDER FROM CUMBERLAND GARAGE AS BEING 2001. THIS MEANS LEE DODGE LET ME DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT WASN'T SAFE SINCE 2001! I BROUGHT MY TRUCK IN TO LEE DODGE THIS PAST SUMMER. I WAS TOLD BOTH MY BALL JOINTS AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED!THE COST WAS $900.00. I MENTIONED I KNEW AT JUST46K MLS. IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR A VEHICLE TO HAVE BALL JOINTS THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I SAID THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM USUALLY DIDN'T OCCUR UNTIL ABOUT 100K MILES. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS UNTRUE. ALSO NOTE WHEN CUMBERLAND GARAGE NOTICED MY TRUCK NEEDED BALL JOINTS REPAIRED MY TRUCK HAD ONLY ABOUT 37K MILES. 11/04/03 I HAD A MINOR ACCIDENT.THE SHORT OF IT : I LOST CONTROL OF MY TIRES. MY WHEEL WOULD TURN BUT MY FRONT TIRES WOULD NOT RESPOND AND MY REAR TIRES WERE STUCK/SPINNING ON PILES OF WET LEAVES. I STEPPED ON THE GAS WHILE TRYING TO TURN MY VEHICLE AND THE GAS DID NOT RESPOND. MY BREAK WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRUCK THRUST FORWARD AND HIT MY BROTHERS CAR. I HAVE HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE SLEEPING JUST THINKING ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME, SOMEONE I LOVE OR SOMEONE ELSE JUST BECAUSE LEE DODGE WANTED TO SQUEEZE MONEY OUT OF ME. OR BECAUSE CHRYSLER DID NOT WANT TO TELL THEIR CUSTOMERS THEY HAD PUT FAULTY PARTS IN THEIR TRUCKS. I SUPPOSE I SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER WITH REGARDS TO THIS MATTER. I AM VERY UPSET I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AT ANY TIME! DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ME? *AK

NHTSA ID

10047705

Incident

Nov 4, 2003

STARTER SHORTED AND CAUSED A FIRE ON THE WIRING FROM BATTERY TO STARTER

NHTSA ID

10046816

Incident

Nov 3, 2003

WATER PUMP FAILURE, AFTER REPLACEMENT OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER EXHAUST LEAK DETECTED, SLOW SPEED FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, GEAR STICKS FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR, ROUGH IDLING, ODOMETER READING FAILURE, ABS LIGHT STAYS ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS LIT, GAS TANK SENSOR FAILURE (READS EMPTY WHEN TANK IS FULL), WHEN DRIVING APPROX. 10 - 20 MPH ENGINE STALLS / SHUTS OFF, COMING TO STOP ENGINE SHUTS OFF, VEHICLE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKES APPLIED TO COME TO A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN (REAR BRAKES), ENGINE PINGS / KNOCKS IN NORMAL OPERATION AT SPEEDS FROM 30 TO 70+ MPH, AFTER THE ENGINE WARMS UP, ANTI-LOCK / ABS SENSOR OUT, FUEL GAUGE - SENDING UNIT MALFUNCTION, INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING, GASKET CRACKED / LEAKING, THERMOSTAT GASKET LEAKING, DRIVE BELT CRACKING / DETERIORATING, FUEL INDUCTION SYSTEM FAILING. PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. PURCHASED FROM HONDA NORTH DEALER.*JB

NHTSA ID

10010312

Incident

May 30, 2001

Mileage

36,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, RECOMMENDED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013990

STARTING THE IGNITION WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD. MECHANIC STATED BATTERY EXPLODED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY PROBLEM OCCURRED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011106

ENGINE STALLED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT - ON, ODOMETER READ "NO BUS" LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES, WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TOWED, PROBLEM TRACED TO 20AMP FUSE AND COMPUTER MODULE.*AK

NHTSA ID

734520

Incident

Oct 5, 2000

SPARK PLUG HAS CRACKED TWICE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

871864

ENGINE REPEATEDLY BREAKS #2 SPARK PLUG. DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION.*AK

NHTSA ID

727892

Incident

Jan 15, 2000

AN AUTHORIZED CHRYSLER LEGAL INVESTIGATOR IS TO INSPECT TRUCK TODAY 9/2/99. AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WAS THE RESULT OF THIS INCEDENT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY A PASSING MOTORIST. THE WAS ORIGINALLY REPORTED TO NHTSA ON 8/30/99 VIA TELEPHONE. *AK

NHTSA ID

710847

Incident

Aug 27, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER HAD NO BRAKES/ NO POWER STEERING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *AK

NHTSA ID

846138

Incident

Aug 27, 1999