2001 Dodge Dakota Airbags Problems

MY SON WAS DRIVING A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN 2001. HE LOST CONTROL ON A GRAVEL ROAD AND WENT OFF THE EDGE OF A DITCH. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND HE WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT. HIS PASSENGER WAS INJURED, BUT SURVIVED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS IN HORRIBLE SHAPE, AND THERE IS NO WAY AN AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED......UPDATED 11/14/17 *BF *TR

NHTSA ID

11015883

Incident

Feb 13, 2016

Mileage

170,000 mi

UNIT ONE WAS TRAVELING EAST ON GREENBRIER ROAD IN THE INSIDE LANE. THE DRIVER OF UNIT 1 STATED IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY AND HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE. DUE TO VEHICLE HYDROPLAINING UNIT 1 CROSSED THE CENTER LINE AND ENTERED THE WEST BOUND TRAFFIC LANES UNIT 2 WAS COMING WEST ON GREENBRIER IN THE INSIDE LANE UNIT3 WAS TRAVELING WEST ON GREENBRIER IN THE OUTSIDE LANE UNIT1 CROSSED IN FRONT OF UNIT2 COLLIDED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF UNIT1 UNIT1 FISHTAILED COUNTER CLOCKWISE AND CAME TO REST ON THE WEST BOUND SIDE OF GREENBRIER UNIT2 FISHTAILED CLOCKWISE AND WAS STRUCK BY UNIT 3 THE DRIVER OF UNIT3 STATED HE ATTEMPTED TO AVOID UNIT 1 BY SWERVING TO THE LEFT AND COLLIDED WITH UNIT 2 AS IT SPUN TOWARDS HIS VEHICLE THE AIR BAGS IN UNIT ONE BEING MY VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY AND PASSENGER WAS BADLY INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536524

Incident

Aug 13, 2013

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I WAS NOT MOVING, JUST STARTED VEHICLE. LIGHT HAS REMAINED ON FOR 5 DAYS WITH MY NORMAL DRIVING. HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10522399

Incident

Jun 19, 2013

Mileage

98,762 mi

CLOCKSPRING IN STEERING COLUMN. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON, THE CRUISE CONTROL, HORN AND RADIO STOPPED WORKING. A NEW CLOCKSPRING WAS INSTALLED AND NOW EVERYTHING WORKS FINE. UPDATED 06/10/13 *BF

NHTSA ID

10512127

Incident

Mar 17, 2010

Mileage

105,000 mi

A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS FROM THE FRONT MIDDLE TO PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10498007

Incident

Jan 22, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 58 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DEER. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH IMPACT TO CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DISAGREED AS THE FRONT BUMPER WAS PUSHED INTO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 291,000. .... UPDATED 03/08/13 *BF UPDATED 03/13/13

NHTSA ID

10494920

Incident

Jan 10, 2013

Mileage

291,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW IT COMES ON EVERY TIME I TURN THE WHEEL, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT DIRECTION. THERE SEEMS TO BE A RECALL FOR THE 2000 MODEL YEAR, BUT NOT MY YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10473823

Incident

Aug 20, 2012

Mileage

29,350 mi

2001 DODGE DAKOTA: CLOCKSPRING FAILURE LEADING TO NON FUNCTIONING HORN AND AIR BAGS: HISTORY: NORMAL USE, VERY LOW MILEAGE (27000) SYMPTOMS: ON-STEERING-WHEEL HORN AND SPEED CONTROLS FAIL, THEN AIRBAG SYSTEM CAUSE: FAILURE IN CLOCKSPRING. PREVIOUS RECALLS FOR DODGERAM, DAKOTA AND DURANGO COVER THIS IN OTHER MODELS, BUT NOT MINE ALTHOUGH MY DAKOTA WAS BUILT IN ONE OF THE RECALL-EFFECTED PLANTS DURING THE MDH TIME RANGE: SEE RECALL #982 REPAIR: REQUIRES REPLACING CLOCK SPRING $180 "STREET PRICE" FOR PART PLUS LABOR. COMMENT: INTERNET SEARCHES SUGGEST THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DAKOTA TRUCKS OUTSIDE THE AFOREMENTIONED RECALL. IT MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO INCREASE THE RANGE OF COVERAGE OF MODELS, VIN'S AND MDH'S SUBJECT TO RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10382936

Incident

Feb 4, 2011

Mileage

27,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB BRAND NEW AND UNTIL THIS DATE, I HAVE ONLY HAD ONE ISSUE. THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR QUIT AND WAS REPLACED IN 2008. ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2010, MY CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT. THINKING IT WAS WEAR AND TEAR, I WAS NOT IN A RUSH TO FIX IT. THEN THE HORN QUIT WORKING. WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, I TOOK IT IN TO BE SERVICED. MY CONCERN IS THAT I HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AS A PREVIOUS RECALL, BUT MY VIN # IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT PERIOD. MY MECHANIC SAYS IT IS THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE PART IS EXPENSIVE. LOOKING ONLINE, IT APPEARS DODGE IS NOT MAKING GOOD. MY VIN # MATCHES THE OTHER COMPLAINTS. AFTER CONTACTING DODGE (11/10/10), I WAS OFFERED A 50% REFUND ON REPAIR WORK. THIS SAYS TO ME THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH OTHER MODELS/YEAR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE NO MATTER HOW OLD THE VEHICLE IS. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH DODGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365241

Incident

Oct 1, 2010

Mileage

236,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE YET THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WAS ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PART WAS BEING RE-DESIGNED DUE TO THE COMMON FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 86,000. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ

NHTSA ID

10350000

Incident

Jun 15, 2010

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE DOOR LOCKS,AIR BAG, HEAD LIGHTS, AND WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE CMT MODULE AND THE CLOCK SPRING MODULE.THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,990 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ID

10343618

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

Mileage

72,990 mi

THE HORN QUIT THE CRUISE CONTROLS QUIT WORKING. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ARE ON AIR BAGS ARE DEAD THE CLOCK SPRING IS BAD IN ALL THE 2000 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 'S ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER SAID SOUNDS LIKE YOU GOT A PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10292356

Incident

Jun 11, 2007

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000. UPDATED 6/18/09 *CN UPDATED 06/22/09 *JB

NHTSA ID

10268766

Incident

Apr 26, 2009

Mileage

63,000 mi

NEED TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING SO THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD WORK. THIS COST ME $201.64 AT A MECHANICAL SHOP. THIS ITEM HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR MODEL YEAR 2000 QUAD CAB DAKOTA TRUCKS. I'M WONDERING IF CHRYSLER ACTUALLY CHANGED THE CONFIGURATION FOR 2001 TRUCKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10264139

Incident

Mar 31, 2009

Mileage

68,865 mi

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HIS 2001 DODGE DAKOTA HOME AT NIGHT, ON A COUNTRY ROAD, AROUND AUGUST 5, 2008 AND THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF. WHEN HE GOT HOME, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WENT HAYWIRE, THE HORN CONTINUED TO HONK, THE DOOR LOCKS BEGAN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING, AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. WE FOUND OUT THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE (CMT) AND CLOCK SPRING HAD FAILED AND WAS TOLD THE TRUCK WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WE HAD BOTH REPAIRED FOR $530. I WAS TOLD THAT RECALLS EXISTED ON SEVERAL DODGE VEHICLES BUT NOT ONE OF THEM SPECIFIED OUR TRUCK. I CONTACTED DODGE AND THEY JUST SAID IT WAS NOT MY TRUCK SO I WAS OUT OF LUCK. I THEN DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ON-LINE AND FOUND SEVERAL FORUMS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR OF TRUCK, PLUS SEVERAL OTHERS, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY HELP FROM DODGE EITHER. THIS IS A REALLY SERIOUS MALFUNCTION AND COULD OF CAUSE A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. I JUST NEED DODGE TO OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM AND REIMBURSE US FOR THE REPAIRS WE HAD. ALSO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM ON ALL DODGE VEHICLES, BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243372

Incident

Aug 5, 2008

Mileage

125,000 mi

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY OR STAYS ON. HORN WORKS ONLY SOMETIMES. DEALER SAYS I NEED A NEW CLOCKSPRING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242035

Incident

Aug 19, 2008

Mileage

95,000 mi

CLOCK SPRING - NO HORN - NO DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG HAVE REPLACED 2 SETS OF FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS AND LINES ON THIS TRUCK DUE TO FRONT BRAKES LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING. NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223473

Incident

Oct 10, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND O/D LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE STEERING COLUMN AND SUGGESTED THAT A DODGE DEALER MAKE THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 176,225 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,725.

NHTSA ID

10201774

Incident

Aug 6, 2007

Mileage

175,725 mi

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4.7L QUADCAB AND MY HORN, CRUISE AND AIRBAG ALL STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE SEEN A RECALL FOR THIS MATTER ON 2000 VEHICLES, BUT NOT 2001. I AM NOW OPERATING WITHOUT AN AIRBAG. *TR UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR THE CONSUMER STATED HE IS ALSO WITHOUT A HORN AND HAS NOT REPLACED IT DUE TO COST. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

NHTSA ID

10200234

Incident

Aug 17, 2007

Mileage

78,000 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUALLY GOES ON AND OFF. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCHING ONLINE, IT LOOKS LIKE THE CLOCKSPRING IS DEFECTIVE. APPARENTLY THE AIR BAG WON'T DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT DODGE REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. HOWEVER, THERE ARE RECALLS ON OTHER YEAR DODGE TRUCKS - BUT NOT THE 2001 DAKOTA, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE BUILT AT THE SAME FACTORIES IN THE SAME YEAR AS THE OTHER MODELS THAT DID GET ISSUED A RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10186798

Incident

Mar 23, 2007

2001 DODGE DAKOTA PICK UP, LOSS OF STEERING, RESULTING IN A OFF THE ROAD CRASH AND ROLLOVER WITH INJURIES. (ONE MOMENT LATER COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DEATHS.) *JB

NHTSA ID

10154253

Incident

Mar 24, 2006

THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WERE THE FIRST ITEMS TO QUIT WORKING AND THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT A RECALL FOR THE VERY SAME PROBLEMS WERE ISSUED FOR 2000 DODGE DAKOTAS AND 2001 DODGE RAMS. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN DECEMBER OF 2000 SO MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2000 EVEN THOUGH IT IS A 2001 MODEL. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT DODGE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM THAT EXISTED THAT CAUSED SAFETY RECALL #982 TO BE ISSUED. DUE TO THIS FAILURE, MY TRUCK NOW HAS SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE AIR BAG AND THE HORN NOT FUNCTIONING. THE CRUISE CONTROL IS MORE OF AN INCONVENIENCE ISSUE THAN SAFETY. MY TRUCK FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE THE HORN WILL NOT BLOW. I HAVE SCHEDULED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ON 1/13/06, BUT I FEEL THAT DODGE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AT LEAST PART OF THE REPAIR SINCE THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF CLOCKSPRING FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147354

Incident

Nov 1, 2005

Mileage

96,000 mi

FAILURE OF CLOCKSPRING ON 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK AND AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS PART - RECALL NUMBER 982. PART WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PICTURES OF REPLACED PART INDICATE DEFECT IN PART BUT DODGE WILL NOT PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF PART. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID

10141934

Incident

Oct 20, 2005

Mileage

69,500 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING RECALL ON CLOCKSPRING. CONSUMER 2001 DODGE DAKOTA AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, HORN DID NOT WORK AND CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK. *TS THE CONSUMER LEARNED THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH SAME DEFECTIVE PART AS THE OTHER YEAR MODELS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10143207

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASHBOARD STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF, BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DODGE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIRBAG LOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS ITEM IS NOT COVERED BY ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY OR EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM DODGE. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT AIRBAG FAILING TO DEPLOY IN ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES INVOLVED WITH IT. THE AIRBAG IS A SAFETY FEATURE IN THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURING COMPANY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS AND ANY DAMAGES CAUSED BY FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER AND DODGE CORP. THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT, IM A VERY UNSATISFIED CUSTOMER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10137341

Incident

Sep 15, 2005

Mileage

45,716 mi