2001 Dodge Dakota Driver assistance Problems

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

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

ACCELERATION WOULD OCCUR WHEN IN PARK POSITION. IT WOULD ALSO OCCUR AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS. THIS LEAD TO THE CADILLAC CONVERTER TO MALFUNCTION AND FAIL, NEXT THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT, THE O2 SENSOR, AND VARIOUS BELTS. MY TRUCK IS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA WITH ONLY 78,000 MILES, THE REPAIRS WILL REACH 2000.00 I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THAT A VEHICLE WITH THESE LOW MILES SHOULD NOT OCCUR. THE CADILLAC CONVERTER IS A CA EMISSIONS ONE, WHICH IS EXPENSIVE. THIS SHOULD HAD NEVER HAPPENED, MY TRUCK IS DRIVEN 10 MILES A DAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266155

Incident

Mar 12, 2009

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

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

I OWN A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 SLE THAT WE PURCHASED NEW. IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, AND WITH ONLY 49000 MILES ON THE TRUCK CURRENTLY, THE FOLLOWING FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED: (1) (FROM FEBRUARY 2004 TO PRESENT) THE FACTORY-INSTALLED EXTERNAL WIRING HARNESS (FOR TOWING A TRAILER) MELTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, SHORTING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. (2) BRAKES WOULD PULSATE ANYTIME BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER ATTRIBUTED THIS TO WARPING OF ROTORS AND REPLACED PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS. DEALER NOTED A SPRING ON DRIVER-SIDE CALIPER WAS MISSING AND REPLACED IT AS WELL. (3) THE HEATER/AC CONTROLS FAILED. (4) WENT FOR STATE INSPECTION AND INSPECTOR FAILED TRUCK DUE TO FAILURE OF UPPER BALL JOINTS AND BRAKES. THE SAME BRAKES I JUST HAD FIXED IN FEBRUARY. PREMATURE FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS ATTRIBUTED TO "TYPICAL PROBLEM FOR DAKOTAS/DURANGOS". WELL IF IT'S TYPICAL, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL?? THE DEALER HAD NO ANSWERS. FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF CALIPERS NOT RELEASING PROPERLY CAUSING THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS TO "GLAZE". DEALER OPTED TO PICK UP THE TAB FOR THE NEW ROTORS AND THE NEW PADS, ONLY AT MY REQUEST. THE NEW CALIPERS AND BRAKE LINES STILL COST ME $800. AGAIN I'M WONDERING WHY I'M PAYING FOR SO MUCH ON A TRUCK THAT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 49000 MILES. (5) UNKNOWN PROBLEM AT STARTUP WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SPUTTER. PROBLEM EXISTS UNTIL ENGINE IS WARM THEN GOES AWAY. TWO DODGE DEALERSHIPS AND NEITHER CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AS THERE IS NO COMPUTER ERROR CODE COMING UP. ALL ITEMS MENTIONED WERE PAID FOR BY ME UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. HAD ANY OF THESE ISSUES BEEN A RESULT OF NEGLIGENCE, OR LOTS OF MILEAGE, OR HAD THE DODGE DEALERSHIP(S) OPTED TO PAY FOR ITEMS THAT WERE THE OBVIOUS RESULT OF POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP, I WOULDN'T COMPLAIN. BUT, THE FAILURES RELATING TO THE BRAKES COULD QUITE POSSIBLY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH RISKS MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY WIFE, AND DODGE DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10082778

Incident

Jul 10, 2004

Mileage

40,687 mi

WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS BEING USED,MY 2001 DAKOTA QC WILL SURGE. THE TACHOMETER WILL JUMP A LITTLE AND THE VEHICLE WILL JERK SLIGHTLY. THE PICKUP HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 6 WEEKS WITH NO ANSWERS!*AK

NHTSA ID

10072978

Incident

Mar 10, 2004

Mileage

38,000 mi

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT ENGINE PROBLEMS. ALSO STATED THAT EVERY TIME IT OVEREXTENDS 4 RPMS WILL NOT SWITCH GEARS, TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND VEHICLE VIBRATED AND DIED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANY THING BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10040282

THE THROTTLE SENSOR FAILED TO RETURN TO NORMAL WHEN IT WAS RELEASED. *MR *TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10031903

FRONT AXLE ON 2001 DODGE DAKOTA UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SEVERAL SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITHIN ONE YEAR WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON UP TO 80 MPH. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10026400

Incident

Jun 16, 2003

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY FRONT AXLE BROKE. I ALSO HAD TWO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUCK WERE IT WOULD ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN TO 80 MILES A HOUR AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP WAS TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, EMERGENCY BRAKE AND PRESS ON THE BRAKES AND PRAY. I WAS OUT OF A CAR OVER THIRTY DAYS BETWEEN THE TWO TIMES TRYING TO REPAIR THE ACCELERATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023279

Incident

Jun 16, 2003

ALTHOUGH THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET THE VEHICLE WOULD SPEED UP TO ANOTHER SPEED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10020125

WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IN ACTIVATED VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018931

Incident

Aug 15, 2002

WHEN SLOWED TO NEAR STOP AS WHEN PARKING, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES AS IF ACCELERATOR HAS BEEN HEAVILY DEPRESSED -- FOOT IS ON BRAKE, NOT ON ACCELERATOR. . DOES NOT OCCUR EVERY STOP. NO WARNING WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED, VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN BEING PARKED,AND ALMOST RAN THROUGH BUSINESS STORE FRONT. OPERATOR TRIED PUTTING TWO FEET ON BRAKE = NO RESULTS...OPERATOR BARELY ABLE TO THROW INTO NUETRAL TO STOP VEHICLE. MASSIVE DAMAGE TO FRAME OF TRUCK. FORTUNATELY, NO PERSONS INJURED OR REAL PROPERTY DAMAGED. CONCERN IS FOR FUTURE DRIVING WHEN VEHICLE IS REPAIRED. THIS SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS. *AK

NHTSA ID

764443

Incident

Jul 17, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN DRIVING, ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS JERKED TO THE LEFT IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO TAKE CONTROL AWAY FROM THE DRIVER, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TIRES HAD NEVER BEEN BALANCED, A FRONT END MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES THAT NOW THE FRONT TIRES JUMP OR CUP DURING SHARP TURNS TO THE LEFT, THE REAR END WAS ALSO REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

566563

I WAS IN IOWA BUYING CATTLE, PULLING 24FT TRAILOR ON INTERSTATE HWY IN PROCESS OF PASSING 18 WHEELER WHEN ENGINE QUIT. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP IN IOWA NOV. 17, 2001. THE NAME OF DEALERSHIP, HARLAN AUTO PLEX. SHOP FOREMAN SUGGESTED WIRING HARNESS REPLACEMENT. REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER IN KANSAS INSISTED THE PROBLEM WAS DEFECTIVE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. 17 DAYS LATER AND 3 DIFFERENT THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS PLUS OTHER PARTS TRIED THE REGINAL MANAGER ALLOWED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE WIRING HARNESS. DODGE SENT TO THEM THE WRONG WIRING HARNESS AND TRUCK MOTOR HAD TO BE TORN DOWN AGAIN TO INSTALL CORRECT WIRING HARNESS. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN IOWA IN SHOPT 19 DAYS AND I LIVE IN TX. ON 12-3 I WAS NOTIFIED THE TRUCK WAS FIXED AS DODGE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE TRUCK OUT OF THEIR SHOP. I DROVE OVER 1,000 MILES AGAIN TO PICK THE TRUCK UP TO FIND IT TORN DOWN AGAIN. THEY HAVE NOW NOTIFIED ME THE TRUCK IS FIXED, BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW IF IT IS REEALLY FIXED AND WON'T KNOW UNTIL BACK ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. DODGE WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY OF THESE TRAVEL EXPENSES INCURRED NOR HELP IN ANYWAY GETTING THE TRUCK BACK TO TEXAS. *AK

NHTSA ID

755393

Incident

Nov 17, 2001

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WHEN IT IS IN IDLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. AK VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER SEVEARL TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

898318

Incident

Oct 1, 2001

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DE-ACTIVATE WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED. BRAKE WAS STEPPED AND RELEASED 3 TIMES, CRUISE CONTROL STILL FAILED TO DE-ACTIVATE. WAS ABLE TO FINALLY GET CRUISE CONTROL TO DEACTIVATE AFTER PUSHING IN BOTH CLUTCH AND BRAKE AT SAME TIME. CRUISE TAKES 3-5 SECONDS TO DEACTIVATE WHEN JUST CLUTCH IS PUSHED IN. TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ONBOARD COMPUTER NOT SHOWING ANY PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD CRUISE CONTROL IN OTHER CARS, THIS IS NOT THE WAY IT IT SUPPOSED TO WORK.*AK

NHTSA ID

752481

Incident

Jul 9, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED OR CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

891191

Incident

Jun 26, 2001