2000 Dodge Dakota Fuel system Problems

MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING RIGHT AND IT IS VERY SLUGGISH IN FREEWAY AND WHILE WE IDLING. *TR

NHTSA ID

11327049

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

Mileage

250,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, THE FUEL TANK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED AND CAME TO THE CONTACT'S HOUSE. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FUEL TANK WAS STRAPPED TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11255267

Incident

Sep 3, 2019

Mileage

60,000 mi

PURCHASED THIS 2000 DODGE DAKOTA , ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON STATING LARGE LEAK IN EVAP SYSTEM. P0455. FUEL LEAK AT GAS CAP. NO WAY TO FIX THIS, ODOR IS STRONG SMELL THE GAS LEAKING OUT. UNABLE TO PASS NYS INSPECTION! *TR

NHTSA ID

10515800

Incident

Apr 30, 2012

Mileage

41,000 mi

TRUCK FUEL LEAK. 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB PURCHASED NEW DECEMBER 1999; MILEAGE 66,000 + ; EXTENSIVE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON VEHICLE, ALSO GARAGED WHEN NOT IN USE; TRUCK IS NOT 4WD AND IS ONLY DRIVEN OVER PAVED ROADS. . STARTED SMELLING FUEL IN GARAGE, THEN COULD SMELL FUEL WHEN TRUCK PARKED IN OPEN, FINALLY COULD SMELL FUEL WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH WINDOWS CLOSED AND AIR / FAN NOT ON RECIRCULATE. WENT TO DEALER, FOUND FUEL DRIPPING FROM VEHICLE TANK. DEALER SAYS IT IS A MOLDED FUEL LINE FROM THE TANK, AND IT IS BEING REPLACED NOW. THIS IS THE SECOND FUEL LEAK IN THIS VEHICLE!! JUST OVER 2 YEARS AGO, THE TRUCK INTERMITTENTLY QUIT WHILE DRIVING,AND IT TOOK 4 VISITS TO 3 DEALERS TO GET THE FUEL PUMP / FILTER DIAGNOSED AS THE PROBLEM. THAT REPAIR LEFT A FUEL LEAK WHICH REQUIRED 2 SUBSEQUENT TRIPS TO DEALER [ AND ONE OTHER REPAIR FACILITY] TO GET REPAIRED. DRIVER / OWNER IS 60+, WITH EXTENSIVE DRIVING EXPERIENCE, HAVING OWNED 3 TRUCKS, AND AT LEAST 10 OVER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN THE US, JAPAN, AND GERMANY, AND IS A PILOT BY TRAINING. DRIVER / OWNER HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED A FUEL LEAK IN A PREVIOUS VEHICLE; HE ALSO THINKS THAT HIS EXPECTATIONS ARE NOT OUTRAGEOUS , AND THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.*JB

NHTSA ID

10184319

Incident

Mar 6, 2007

Mileage

66,300 mi

WHEN THE TRUCK IS OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES OR MORE, IT TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS FOR THE ENGINE TO START. THIS STARTED WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 5 YRS OLD WITH ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON IT. IT WILL START IMMEDIATELY IF IT HAS JUST BEEN TURNED OFF. I SUSPECT A LOWERING OF GAS LINE PRESSURE WHEN THE ENGINE IS OFF. *NM

NHTSA ID

10147795

Incident

Jun 28, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

AT APPROX. 8K MILES, PULSING AND SHIMMY STARTED IN FRONT END. HAD TO RESURFACE ROTORS. HAD TO DO AGAIN LATER AT ABOUT 35K. NOT NORMAL. AT 15K REPORTED FRONT END CREAKS/GROANS DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM. AT 35K MORE OF THE SAME, DEALER REPLACED FRONT STABILIZER/SWAY BUSHING. AT 38K MILES, REPLACED LOWER STEERING COLUMN. HELPED SOME BUT STILL CREAKING WHEN STEERING AT LOW SPEED. AT 53K ASKED AGAIN ABOUT STEERING GROAN. DEALER SAYS HE COULD FIX FOR ABOUT $1000 (OF COURSE OUT OF WARRANTY NOW! AND I'VE BEEN ASKING ABOUT THIS SINCE 15K MILES). ALSO AT 53K, REPLACED LOWER BALL JOINTS LEFT SIDE AND FUEL PUMP. AT 59K BACK IN THE SHOP TODAY TO REPLACE RIGHT BALL JOINTS WHICH CAUSE VEHICLE STEERING TO "WANDER" AND HAVE BADLY WORN INSIDE RIGHT TIRE. QUALITY OF VEHICLE IS LOUSY AND THEY WON'T ADMIT IT OR STAND BEHIND IT. THE ROTOR AND FRONT END PROBLEMS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY IMPAIR THE DRIVERS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10064580

Incident

Apr 5, 2004

Mileage

15,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN 3RD GEAR IT WENT TO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE CHANGED TO 4TH GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER 6 TIMES FOR REPAIRS. THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO WARPED ROTORS. FAULTY WHEEL BEARINGS CAUSED A POPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE LEFT TURNS. *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID

10031721

Incident

Jul 27, 2003

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED. 40,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. BALL JOINTS SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THIS. DEALER WANTS $1,200.00 TO CHANGE THEM. TRUCK HAS ALREADY HAD NEW FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, NEW SWAY BAR BUSHINGS, NEW DRIVER SEAT CUSHION, NEW FUEL INJECTORS, NEW ELECTRIC MOTOR IN RIGHT REAR WINDOW. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO "RAM TOUGH". MAY HAVE TO GO BACK TO "LIKE A ROCK". OLD PICKUP 1979 CHEVROLET NEVER HAD BALL JOINT PROBLEMS, MUCH LESS ANY THING ELSE MAJOR. THANKS RICK WORSFOLD. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023770

Incident

Jun 25, 2003

Mileage

40,000 mi

THERE WAS A STRONG GAS SMELL IN CAB WITH ALL WINDOWS CLOSED. I CLOSED THE VENT, BUT IT WAS STILL VERY STRONG AND GETTING WORSE. NO FUEL LEAKS FOUND. THIS HAS OCCURRED 5 TIMES. SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTENT AND NOT DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH RE/FUELING, OR FUEL TANK LEVEL. I WAS TOLD IT WAS POSSIBLY THE ORVR. SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD COMBINATION FOR A EXPLOSION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10008499

Incident

May 10, 2002

Mileage

35,000 mi

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

764018

Incident

Jul 2, 2002

BAD ROTORS AFTER 12,000K,DEALER WILL NOT COVER. LOW IDLE AND ENGINE STUDDERING AT 400 RPM AFTER 2 PCM RECALLS FOR REPROGRAMING, DEALER CAN'T FIND PROBLEM WITH IDLE. PROBLEM WITH THE BAFFLES IN THE GAS TANK, YOU CAN FEEL THE FUEL MOVING AROUND WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP AT ABOUT 3/4 FULL TANK. CONDENSATION IN OIL FILLER CAP. SOUNDS LIKE I BOUGHT A 2000 DAKOTA. I'VE FOUND COUNTLESS ENTRIES OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. NHTS NEED TO GET ON CHRYSLER ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS BEFOR SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT. SPECIALY THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES.*AK

NHTSA ID

758538

SUBJECT: DAKOTA EXT. CAB 4X4. W/ 3.9L FUEL INJECTED ENGINE. DAIMLER CHRYSLER LEADS CONSUMERS TO BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE WOULD AVERAGE 18 MILES PER/GAL. HIGHWAY DIVING. I NOW HAVE 5400 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND THE BEST HIGHWAY MILEAGE I'M ABLE TO OBTAIN IS 13 MILES/PER GAL. AND ABOUT 10MI./PER GAL. CITY ON AN AVERAGE WINTER DAY. I'VE HAD THIS TRUCK INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THEY FIND NOTHING OUT OF SPECS WITH THE ENGINE OR IGNITION. IS ANYONE OTHER THAN MYSELF EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH THERE VEHICLE AND WHY IS DAIMLER CHRYSLER ALLOWED TO USE FALSE DOE-EPA INFORMATION TO MARKET THERE TRUCKS? I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS SUBJECT.*AK

NHTSA ID

739577

WHENEVER VEHICLE STOPS CONSUMER HEARS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. DEALER SAID IT WAS FUEL IN THE TANK. CURRENTLY, DEALER CLAIMES IT IS FUEL WHICH IS NORLMAL. *AK THE CLUNKING NOISE IS LOUD AND CAUSES VIBRATION OF THE VEHCILE. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND THE IMPACT OF VIBRATION ON THE VEHICLE. THE REAR SEAT BACK WAS LOOSE ON BOTTOM. *YH

NHTSA ID

877235

Incident

Jun 27, 2000

FROM THE START OF TAKING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN STOPPING VEHICLE, FROM ANY SPEED, RIGHT AFTER IT STOPS, ABOUT 1/2 SECOND, A LOUD THUD CAN BE HEARD AND FELT. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS BETWEEN HALF FULL AND FULL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURE AGREED IT WAS FROM THE FUEL TANK. MANUFACTURE CLAIMS IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SUGGESTS TO ONLY FILL TANK HALF FULL. MANUFACTURE CLAIMS DUE TO LACK OF BAFFLE IN TANK, UPON STOPPING. GAS SLOSHES AROUND CAUSING INTERNAL INTERNAL PARTS TO HIT INSIDE OF TANK. THEY HAVE NO PLANS ON CHANGING THE DESIGN OR COMING UP WITH A REPAIR. THEY SAY THIS IS NORMAL. THEY DID REPLACE THE TANK ONLY AND THE CONDITION IS STILL PRESENT. I ASKED FOR SOMETHING IN WRITING FROM THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURE AS TO THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. THEY BOTH REFUSED TO PUT ANY THING ABOUT SAFETY IN WRITING. THE ONLY THING THEY DID, IS SAY IT IS NORMAL. I AM A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE, PART OF MY JOB IS TO CONDUCT SAFETY INSPECTIONS FOR OSHA COMPLIANCE AND ACCIDENT INVESTAGATIONS. I AM ALSO PART OT THT NATIONAL AIRCRAFT CRASH RESPONSE TEAM, AND AN ENGINEER. ENOUGH SAID? ISN'T THE VIOLENT MOVEMENT OF GASOLINE IN THE PRESENTS OF OXYGEN AND METAL COMPONENTS A GOOD POSSIBILITY OF AN EXPLOSION OR JUST THE WEAR FACTOR OF CONSTANT CONTACT AGAINST THE TANK EVERY TIME YOU STOP A POTENTIAL FOR A LEAK ? I EXPLAINED TO BOTH OF THEM THE POTENTIAL AND THE ONLY RESPONSE WAS LAUGHTER. I ALSO INFORMED THEM OF MY EMPLOYER AND BACK GROUND. I ALSO TOLD THEM I WOULD CONTACT THE NHTSA, ONLY MORE LAUGHTER. HELP PLEASE. *AK

NHTSA ID

719347

Incident

Nov 12, 1999