2001 Dodge Dakota Engine Problems

TAKATA RECALL EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET FAIL OVER TIME AND ALLOWING MORE FUMES AND ENGINE NOISE DOOR PINS NONE REPLACEIBLE AND WEAR OUT OVER TIME CAUSE DOOR DAMAGE

NHTSA ID

11196799

Incident

Mar 12, 2019

HELLO MY I AM DISAPOINTED THIS IS THE 3RD CAM SHAFT SENSOR ILL HAVE TO REPLACE AFTER MUCH RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON ERROR ON WHOEVER DESIGNED THIS IN RESULT CAR CAN SHUTSOWN WHILE DRIVING LEAVING YOU WITH NO CONTROL OR PERHAPS WHEN STARTING VEHICLE WILLLL NOT STAY RUNNING WHY ISNT THERE A RECALL TO FIX THIS POBLEM FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD

NHTSA ID

11165444

Incident

Dec 18, 2018

Mileage

189,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING IN A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD AND I HEAR A VERY DISTINCT TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, AFTER I LOOKED AT THE AREA I NOTICED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS AND HEAT SHIELD WERE BROKE . THIS CAN CAUSE EXHAUST FUMES TO COME INTO THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AND SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF.

NHTSA ID

10743528

Incident

Dec 3, 2014

Mileage

176,000 mi

MY DODGE DAKOTA WITH THE 4.7 ENGINE RACES ALL THE TIME. WHEN I FIRST START IT, IT RACES AND IT ALSO DOES IT WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. WHEN I GO FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER I HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL UNTIL IT STOPS RACING AND THEN PUT IT IN EITHER REVERSE OR FORWARD. IT ALSO DOES THIS WHEN I COME TO A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT IT RACES AND I HAVE TO PUSH HARDER ON THE BREAK PEDAL TO KEEP IT FROM GOING FORWARD UNTIL IT COMES DOWN TO NORMAL SPEED. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I CAME CLOSE TO HITTING THE PERSON SETTING IN FRONT OF ME FROM THE ENGINE RACING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10679068

Incident

Mar 7, 2014

Mileage

179,000 mi

ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN TURNING RIGHT AT 90 DEGREE ANGLE AND MUST BE PUT INTO PARK AND RESTARTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632135

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON. THIS WAS DUE TO THE FAN CLUTCH NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE IS BROKEN IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND SO IS NOT REPORTING OIL PRESSURE ACCURATELY. THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR THIS. *KB

NHTSA ID

10413463

Incident

Jul 17, 2011

Mileage

215,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CENTRAL TIMING MODULE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART THE IGNITION LIGHTS FLASH WHEN HE REMOVED THE KEY, THE HORN BLOWS, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD GET THE PART BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WILL ARRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 179,000.

NHTSA ID

10353690

Incident

Jul 10, 2010

Mileage

178,000 mi

THE HEAT QUIT WORKING IN OUR 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. IT WOULD NOT WORK ON ANY OF THE BLOWER SETTINGS. I BEGAN LOOKING UP POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE FUSE, AND IT STILL DIDN'T WORK. I ALSO REPLACED THE RESISTOR. WHILE LOOKING ONLINE FOR OTHER OPTIONS, I REALIZED THAT MANY VEHICLES FROM DODGE FROM THAT YEAR AND SURROUNDING YEARS HAD A COMMON PROBLEM. EVERYONE HAD MENTIONED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED. SURE ENOUGH, I WENT AND CHECKED AND IT WAS MELTED JUST BEFORE WHERE THE RESISTOR PLUGS IN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332102

Incident

Feb 15, 2010

Mileage

110,000 mi

COOLANT WAS LEAKING NEAR CAP, COULD NOT REPLACE BECAUSE DEALER CLOSED ,DEALER ONLY PART,TRIED DUCT TAPE FOR TEM. FIX UNTIL DEALER OPENED, DID NOT STOP LEAK, WAS STILL WET AT CAP GAVE CAP A TWIST TO INSURE TIGHTNESS,,, PLASTIC HOUSING SUFFERED MAJOR FAILURE, SPLIT APART AND COVERED ME WITH SCALDING COOLANT,2ND DEGREE BURNS ON 10% OF ME.. BEWARE IF YOU HAVE THE 2.5 L ENGINE THEN YOU HAVE THIS SETUP. ALL DODGE NEEDED TO DO IS MAKE THAT THIN PLASTIC PIECE OF JUNK A BIT THICKER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10327661

Incident

Apr 12, 2010

Mileage

114,349 mi

MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED BUT THE DAY I WAS GOING TO BRING IT IN THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AND THE MOTOR IS NO MORE GOOD. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS GOOD AND IT WAS GOING ON FOR A WHILE. MY FATHER CHANGED THE HEAD GASKETS BUT IT DID NOT HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263914

Incident

Mar 8, 2009

Mileage

85,000 mi

STUDS ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD BROKE CAUSING EXHAUST GASES TO ENTER THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10241047

Incident

Sep 2, 2008

Mileage

106,711 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE SALES LOT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THEY FILED BANKRUPTCY AND WERE CLOSED DOWN. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR ONE ISSUE UNDER THE RECALL, BUT ANOTHER ISSUE HAD TO BE REPAIRED FOR $700 AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE SHE WAS THE SECOND OWNER, SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,289. UPDATED 09/10/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED EVEN AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, HE IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE GEAR SHIFT. UPDATED 09/11/08*JB

NHTSA ID

10236858

Incident

Jul 12, 2008

Mileage

85,289 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN SHUTTING OFF AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE DOOR HINGES BEGAN COMING APART ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, AND THE MIDDLE OF THE DOOR ALSO BEGAN TO RIP. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE CONTACT WELDED THE DOOR IN PLACE; HOWEVER, IT HAS BEGUN TO COME APART AGAIN AND WILL NOT REMAIN LOCKED. THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS ALSO COME OFF TRACK. THE CONTACT HAD TO ADD GLUE TO SECURE THE WINDOW IN PLACE. IN APRIL OF 2008, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE RELATED TO THE EMISSION PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK. THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED. THE CONTACT HAS PHOTOS. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,997. UPDATED 05/28/08 *BF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP WAS LOOSING PRESSURE AND THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW HOSE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/27/08

NHTSA ID

10225056

Incident

Oct 7, 2006

Mileage

10,000 mi

2001 DODGE DAKOTA AND THE NOT ABLE TO BE REMEDIED AND INADEQUATE 4.7L ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221174

Incident

Sep 16, 2007

Mileage

88,400 mi

ENGINE STALLING AND / OR FAILURE SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING SOMETIMES AT STARTUP. I HAVE HAD THIS 2001 DODGE DAKOTA FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AT ANYTIME. EACH TIME I WOULD TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC THE TRUCK WOULD BE RUNNING GOOD AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THEY HAVE SCANNED THE ENGINE AND FOUND NO FAULTS. I HAVE READ OF MANY CUSTOMERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEMS AND I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL BY THE CHRYSLER CORP. ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10208952

Incident

Nov 3, 2007

Mileage

55,000 mi

HEATER CORE HAS GONE OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME CAUSING HOT COOLANT TO BE LEAKED ON MY FEET IN THE CAB AND FOGGING THE WINDOWS SEVERELY WHILE DRIVING. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL YEAR DAKOTA. RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS THAT ONCE YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM THEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN FREQUENTLY WITH NO FINAL FIX. I FEEL THIS IS DANGEROUS AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE A PERMANENT FIX. MY FIRST FAILURE WAS AT 58K MILES AND NOW MY SECOND IS AT 69K. *JB

NHTSA ID

10187709

Incident

Apr 12, 2007

Mileage

69,035 mi

I BOUGHT A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD A MONTH AGO. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, TIMING CHAIN, WATER PUMP AND NOW THE TRANSFER CASE HAS GONE BAD. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 55000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT ON THE TRUCK AND HAVE PAID THE REPAIR SHOP OVER $1500 IN REPAIR COSTS. THEY ONLY TIME THAT I HAVE GOT TO DRIVE THE TRUCK IS TO THE REPAIR SHOP EXCEPT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, A TRUCK WITH LOW MILES LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT THIS TIME PUT THEY COULDN'T MAKE ANY PROMISES. WE PAID FOR EVERYTHING ELSE TO GET FIXED AND I REFUSE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING ELSE. I PAID $10,000 FOR A TRUCK THAT I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE, I'M ACTUALLY SCARED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. APPARENTLY DODGES ARE PIECES OF CRAP TO PUT IT POLITELY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184715

Incident

Feb 8, 2007

Mileage

55,000 mi

BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED AND THE TEMPERATURE AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGE STARTED TO FLUCTUATE AND ENGINE KILLED OVER. NOW, REPAIR SHOPS ARE STATING THAT THEY ARE NOW SEEING THIS PROBLEM QUITE FREQUENTLY FOR THE 4.7L DODGE DAKOTA ENGINES BECAUSE OF THE OIL PAN PROXIMITY TO THE ENGINE. REPAIR SHOPS STATED A NEW/REBUILT ENGINE IS NEEDED: ~$3,500-$5,000 JUST FOR THE ENGINE AND ~$1,000 FOR LABOR! *JB

NHTSA ID

10184330

Incident

Mar 3, 2007

Mileage

94,500 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK. THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A NOISE, AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 48,900. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE COIL SPRING CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE HEAD GASKET . THE MECHANIC STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10180625

Incident

Jan 4, 2007

Mileage

48,985 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED, THE DEALER NOTICED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE SWITCH AND CLEANED IT WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. UPDATED 11/30/2006 - THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS A VACUUM LEAK. THE WHEEL CYLINDER LOCKED UP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10172527

Incident

Aug 25, 2006

Mileage

33,400 mi

LOSS OF ENGINE COMPRESSION, WHICH RESULTED IN THE #3 CYLINDER MISFIRING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYING ON AND NOT ABLE TO RESET. VEHICLE WAS AT THE MECHANICS SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS. AFTER RECEIVING VEHICLE BACK, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. WHEN THE PROBLEM OF THE #3 CYLINDER MISFIRE WAS DETECTED, IT WAS CAUSED BY 2 VALVES BEING BENT, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC WAS DUE TO A CARBON BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. VEHICLE IS AND ALWAYS WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND NEVER HAD ANY SORT OF MECHANICAL PROBLEM. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND PURCHASED NEW IN 2001, ONLY HAD 63,000 MILES ON IT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT, THE 4.7L ENGINE IS KNOWN FOR A CARBON BUILD UP AROUND 50,000 MILES OR SO AND THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD WAS NOT AN UNCOMMON ONE. WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT WAS ONE OF THE KINKS THAT DODGE NEVER COULD CORRECT. GEE THANKS! I CORRECTED THE PROBLEM MYSELF, HOWEVER, I TRADED IT IN ON A 2006 TOYOTA TUNDRA. IT'S NO WONDER WHY THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY IS IN SUCH POOR SHAPE! *NM

NHTSA ID

10169148

Incident

Sep 23, 2006

Mileage

63,213 mi

2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUADCAB BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO, FROM THIS DATE, 09/15/06. BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ON. AFTER CHARGING ME $500.00 + FOR A TUNE-UP, CLEANING THE INJECTORS, AND REPLACING AN OXYGEN SENSOR, THE DEALERSHIP STILL COULD NOT MAKE THE TRUCK RUN SMOOTHLY. THEY ENDED UP TELLING ME THAT IF I LEFT IT WITH THEM FOR A WEEK OR SO THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS PROBABLY GOING TO ENTAIL THEM REMOVING THE HEADS AND WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF $1,000.00. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT MY FRONT END NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED. I JUST PUT THE TIRES ON LAST SUMMER, HAD ALL THESE PROBLEMS CHECKED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC. FRONT END DID NOT NEED ALIGNING BUT THEY DID DETERMINE THE PROBLEM WITH RUNNING ROUGH. SEEMS THAT DUE TO A CARBON BUILD-UP INSIDE THE CYLINDER, SOME CARBON ACTUALLY GOT INTO THE #3 CYLINDER AND CAUSED THE VALVE TO BEND SLIGHTLY. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND IT ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NEVER RAN IT HOT, WITHOUT OIL AND ALWAYS MAKE SURE I MAINTAIN MY MAINTENANCE ON IT. LAST YEAR, MY FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED, AT $900.00 WHICH IN TURN RUINED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. THE DEALERSHIP THEN TOLD ME THAT THE BOOTS IN THE CALIPERS WERE DRY ROTTED. I LIKE THE TRUCK BUT IT SEEMS AS IF SINCE I PAID IT OFF 3 YRS. AGO, I HAVE HAD SOME SORT OF MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH IT EVERY YEAR SINCE THEN. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE TO ANYONE, UNLESS THEY WERE A MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT A LOT OF IT IS DUE TO POOR WORKMANSHIP. WHAT A SHAME, IT IS NO WONDER WHY THE U.S. AUTO INDUSTRY IS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10168334

Incident

Aug 15, 2006

Mileage

62,950 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, A WHISTLING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE HOOD. UPON CHECKING, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE HOSE CONNECTED TO THE INTAKE PLENUM WAS BROKE AND HAD SPLIT AT THE END ALONG THE MOLD MARK AND WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THERE WAS ENOUGH SLACK TO CUT BACK TO A GOOD SECTION OF THE HOSE AND IT WAS REATTACHED. A WEEK LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT HOSE WAS ALSO SPLIT AT THE END. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP CUT THE HOSE BACK TO A GOOD SECTION AND REATTACHED THE HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED BUT THE CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - AS OF 9/15/06 THE HOSE THAT ATTACHES TO THE INTAKE PLENUM HAS STARTED TO CRACK AGAIN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10167499

Incident

Jul 5, 2006

Mileage

32,976 mi

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

JUST BOUGHT A DAKOTA TRUCK 2 WKS AGO, SECOND DAY ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND CAR KEPT STALLING WHEN DRIVING, IT COMPLETELY TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT ALSO DOES NOT CHANGE GEAR; IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET GOING. THIS HAPPENED 1/18/06. ON 2/10/06 I NOTICED AN IDLING SOUND RIGHT AFTER BREAKING AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO STOP. VERY UNSAFE DRIVING WITH CHILDREN. UNCERTAIN OF ITS BRAKES AND THE COMPLETE SHUT OFF OF TRUCK & OR STALLING WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO CHRYSLER AND WANTED TO CHARGE $170. FOR DIAGNOSTIC WORK 2 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT IT. WHY HAVEN'T THEY RECALLED THESE TYPE OF UNSAFE VEHICLES? *NM

NHTSA ID

10150205

Incident

Jan 20, 2006