2001 Dodge Dakota Other / unspecified Problems

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN NEW, I INSTALLED A CURT MANUFACTURING TOW HITCH. I TAKE GREAT CARE OF MY VEHICLES. I TOW ONLY ON RARE OCCASIONS, PROBABLY 6-10 DAYS A YEAR. RECENTLY, I NOTICED EXTREME CORROSION ON THE SIDE SUPPORTS AND MAIN TUBE OF THE TOW HITCH. I HAVE NO OTHER CORROSION OF THIS SORT ON MY VEHICLE. THE SIDES SEEM TO BE CORRODING IN SHEETS (STEEL) AS IF IT WAS A PLYWOOD. IT IS TOTALLY UNSAFE TO TOW ANYTHING WHILE IT IS IN THIS CONDITION. IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CURT HAS A LIFETIME WARRANTEE. I CONTACTED THEM AND SENT PICTURES. I BELIEVE IT MAY BE INFERIOR STEEL OR COATING FROM FACTORY. ANYWAYS, THEY DENIED MY CLAIM. I WANTED A REPLACEMENT. I HAVE ORIGINAL RECEIPT AND INSTRUCTIONS. I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHERS MY HAVE THIS, AND IF NOT ADDRESSED COULD LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC TOWING ACCIDENT AS EVERYTHING TOWED CONNECTS ONLY TO THIS ACCESSORY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10364040

Incident

Oct 15, 2010

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

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. ONE HEADLIGHT BULB FAILED. THE VEHICLE MANUAL INSTRUCTS ONE TO REMOVE TWO BOLTS TO ACCESS THE BULB. THIS BULB IS SUBJECT TO THE WEATHER AND HAS RUSTED. I NEED TO REPLACE THE BOLTS. DODGE INDICATES THAT THE BOLT IS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY AND IS PART OF THE HEADLIGHT UNIT. THIS UNIT IS $250.00. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ABSURD AMOUNT TO PAY FOR A BOLT WHICH IS REQUIRED TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITH FUNCTIONAL HEADLIGHTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10206866

Incident

Oct 24, 2007

Mileage

63,000 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

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON MY VEHICLE WITH MOPAR PARTS. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS AND HAVE PUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. THE ROTORS ARE ONLY LASTING IN THE AREA OF 10 - 15000 MILES. I SPOKE WITH MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE HAS TOLD ME THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE DODGE DAKOTA AND I BETTER GET USE TO REPLACING THEM OR GET USE TO DRIVING WITH WARPED ROTORS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10144667

Incident

Apr 1, 2003

2001 DODGE DAKOTA FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF VEHICLE. *BF THE CONSUMER WONDERED IF THE WHEEL FALLING OFF COULD HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS BEING DEFECTIVE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10108561

Incident

Jan 3, 2005

WHEEL SHEARED OFF COMPLETELY FROM THE HUB WHILE DRIVING.*MR NO ONE WAS ABLE TO OFFER ANY EXPLANATION AS TO HOW THE WHEEL COULD HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE HUB. CONSUMER FELT CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE COVERED THE $398.41 REPAIR BILL. *PH *JB *JB

NHTSA ID

10044175

MY BALLJOINTS SNAPPED WHILE TURNING IN MY SONS SCHOOL ONE MORNING , RESULTING IN MY FRONT WHEEL AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY FALLING OFF COMPLETELY FROM MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 TRUCK IN DECEMBER 2002. I HAD 1000 MILES PASSED FACTORY WARRENTY

NHTSA ID

10028932

Incident

Dec 3, 2002

Mileage

71,342 mi

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH (POSSIBLY)THE BALL JOINTS. WHILE HE IS DRIVING THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND THAT GETS WORSE WHEN TURNING ON CURVES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND IS UNABLE TO HELP. TS OTHER PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: THE VEHICLE WILL SLIDE/SKATE OVER ANY BUMP/UNEVEN SURFACE AND CORNER, NOISE IN FRONT END/PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL/PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON-FOUND EVAP LEAK, BAD GAS CAP, REAR BRAKE DRUMS ARE HOPPING, ABS LIGHT ON, INTERNAL MAIL RELAY AND VALVE PLUG SHORTED, AND FRONT INNER BRAKE PAD SPRING CLIPS BENT OUT OF SHAPE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTS THE FOLLOWING: REFUND OF THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, LESSEN THE BANK PAYMENTS FOR THE TIME OF USE, AND APPLY A REFUND TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW DODGE RAM. SCC

NHTSA ID

8021895

A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. CONSUMER NOTICED SIX LUGS: NUTS HAD BROKEN OFF. ALSO, BRAKE DRUMS HAD BROKEN OFF, LYING ON SIDE OF WHEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

8002557

LABLE LOCATED ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS IMPROPERLY LABLED FOR A 16' TIRE, INFORMATION ON LABLE GIVES PSI FOR 15" RIM, NOT FOR 16' TIRE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

888866

Incident

May 22, 2001

WHILE DRIVING LUGS: NUTS ON FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF WHICH CAUSED TIRE TO SEPARATE FROM AXLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

880989