Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Dodge Dakota submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 48 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 48, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE A GEAR WAS LOOSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME, WHERE THE TIE ROD AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAS ALOT OF PLAY GETS WORSE ON HIGHER SPEEDS FOUND TO BE THE UNIVERSAL JOINT ON THE SHAFT SHOULD BE A RECALL VERY DANGEROUS CAN CAUSE LOSE OF CONTROL. *TR
THE STEERING IN MY 2001 DAKOTA QUAD-CAB HAS BECOME VERY STIFF TO TURN. IT COMES AND GOES, BUT CONCERNS ME SINCE MY WIFE SOMETIMES DRIVES MY TRUCK AND I'M NOT SURE IF SHE COULD TURN THE WHEEL IF SHE NEEDED TO IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS THE CULPRIT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT HAS A BUSHING THAT FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. TRUCK VEERED INTO A DITCH AT 30MPH. I CALLED DEALERSHIP TO PURCHASE THIS PART AND FOUND OUT THAT IT IS ON A BACKORDER OF OVER 100. WENT TO SEVERAL AUTO RECYCLERS AND USED PARTS STORES AND FOUND THAT EVEN THEY HAVE THE PART BACKORDERED. THIS SHOWS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IF THERE ARE SEVERAL BACKORDERS AND THE PARTS IS A REQUIRED TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE. I AM SURPRISED THAT THERE ARE NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON THIS ITEM. *TR
INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON THE STEERING COLUMN NEAREST THE STEERING BOX HAS UNIVERSAL JOINT THAT FAILED. CAUSED INTERMITTENT STICKINESS IN STEERING, BEFORE JOINT COMPLETELY FAILED. *TR
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.
RIGHT TIE ROD END FELL OUT. THE BALL JOINT FELL APART. I HAD JUST DRIVEN FROM WASHINGTON STATE TO NEW YORK. HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED JUST BEFORE LEAVING. IT HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED TURNING A CORNER. NO CRASH NO INJURY. *NM
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY FRONT END DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I TOOK MY TRUCK TO MY MECHANIC TO CHECK IT OUT. HE GOT IN IT TO TAKE IT FOR A RIDE. WHEN HE TURNED THE WHEEL, THERE WAS A CLUNK. WE GOT OUT AND LOOKED, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS TURNED TO THE RIGHT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS STRAIGHT. HE SAID IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THE TIE ROD. IT TURNS OUT, THE THREADS HOLDING THE TIE ROD TOGETHER, STRIPPED AND IT CAME APART. HE SAID I WAS LUCKY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY THAT THE WHEEL PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAME OFF AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. I STILL HAVE THE TIE ROD. I CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ASKED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WON'T REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T BRING IT TO A CHRYSLER DEALER. I WAS AT MY MECHANICS, WHAT WAS I GOING TO DO? I THINK THEY JUST WANT TO COVER IT UP. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE STRIPPED TIE ROD ON THE DRIVER SIDE, AND REPLACED THE RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD END BECAUSE IT HAD PLAY IN IT. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, THE TIE RODS SEPARATED. THE STEERING WAS ERRATIC AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT END WANDERED ALL OVER THE ROAD. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE TIE ROD HAD SEPARATED AND THE THREADS WERE STRIPPED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE LEFT INNER TIE ROD, LEFT TIE ROD END OUTER AND RIGHT TIE ROD END OUTER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN INFORMED. UPDATED 06/27/06. *JB
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
STEERING WHEEL AND TRANSMISSION DO NOT LOCK WHEN KEY IS REMOVED. I FOUND THIS OUT WHEN A 2 YEAR OLD GIRL WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE PARKED VEHICLE AND PULLED THE TRANSMISSION LEVER INTO GEAR. THE KEY SWITCH WAS IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND THE KEYS WERE REMOVED. *JB
APPROX. 2 MONTHS AGO I HAD UPPER BALLS JOINTS REPLACED UNDER RECALL, THE DEALSHIP NOTED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND TIERODS WERE WORN AS WELL, WAS QUTOED APPROX. $700.00 TO BE FIXED. TODAY MY DAIUGHTER WAS STARTING TO PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WITH HER 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, THE TIEROD FELL OUT OF PLACE CAUSING THE TRUCK TO STOP. LUCKLY MY DAUGHTER WASN'T DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT ON A VERY BUSY STREET!!! I WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE IS A RECALL ON THE UPPER BALL JOINTS BUT NOT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND TIERODS, IT IS A FACT THAT THERE ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THESE PARTS, ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO BE KILLED BECAUSE OF THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS?? THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME I PURCHASE A CHRYSLER PRODUCT IF THESE MATTERS ARE NOT DEALT WITH WHEN PROBLEMS WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS ARE PRESENTED!!
I BEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH A NUMBER OF FRONT SUSPENSION AND ESPECIALLY FRONT BRAKE PROBLEMS WHICH BEGAN ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP ABSOLUTELY REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE MY PROBLEMS. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. IF THERE HAD BEEN HEAVY TRAFFIC IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. I AM ABOUT O REPLACE MY THIRD SET OF FRONT BRAKE PADS AS THEY ARE UNEVENLY WEARING ON THE ROTORS. I HAVE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END CONSTANTLY, AND AT 30 MPH AND ABOVE HEAVY SOUND OF "CLUNKING."
CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT UPPER BALL JOINT/TIE RODS WERER WORN OUT. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V596000; DAIMLER CHRYSLER ISSUED AN UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT WHEN TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR, RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL.*AK ALSO, INNER TIE ROD WORE OUT, FAILED STATE INSPECTION DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. SIDETO SIDE PLAY IN TIRE WHEN JOCKE DUP. DEALERSHIP STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK
I HAVE HAD A CRUNCHING TYPE NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS, 18 MONTHS AGO MY TRUCK WENT IN FOR A NEW HEATING CORE TO THE DODGE DEALER AND I MENTIONED IT AND THEY SAID THEY TOOK A QUICK LOOK AND IT WAS PROBABLY MY SHOCKS MAKING THE NOISE. IT HAS MADE THE SAME NOISE SINCE THEN AND I HAVE NOT REPLACED MY SHOCKS. I RECENTLY TOOK MY TRUCK INTO REPLACE THE SHOCKS AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE BALL JOINTS ARE THE PROBLEM NOT THE SHOCKS. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM ON DODGE DAKOTAS AND IT IS WELL KNOWN. HE SAID IT IS BOUND TO FAIL AND COULD CAUSE DEATH. 2 TIMES IV HAD THE FRONT END DRIFT SEVERLY TO THE RIGHT AND HE SAID THIS IS THE PROBLEM>*AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED IN REVERSE UNEXPECTEDLY CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER OR MOVE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STEPPED OUT TO LOOK AT FRONT WHEELS AND NOTICED THAT EACH WHEEL WAS FACING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIE ROD BROKE OFF.*AK THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR INSPECTION TWICE, WAS TOLD BY DEALER THERE WA SNO WAY TO TELL IF TIE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE DUE TO RUST. *AK
2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB WAS SERVICED ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR CLUNKING IN THE FRONT END WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS AND DURING TURNS. SEVERAL PARTS WERE REPLACED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT DEALERSHIP INSISTED THAT BALL JOINTS AND CV JOINTS WERE FINE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT NO OTHER COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN FILED AND THAT THERE WAS NOT A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM BECAME APPARENT WITHIN THE FIRST 17,000 MILES AND CONTINUES TO PERSIST.*AK
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE 4X2 DAKOTA'S ARE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. MY 2001 RT HAS ALWAYS MADE A POPING SOUND WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS AND IS STARTING TO "WANDER" AND PULL TO THE LEFT. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN VERY HARD ON TIRES. LAST TIME IN, DEALER SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. OF COURSE THAT WAS JUST BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. ALL DAKOTAS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THIS RECALL, NOT JUST THE 4X4 MODELS.*AK
FRONT END VIBRATION AT 65MPH. HAVE REPLACED ALMOST EVERY COMPONENT IN THE FRONT END, INCLUDING RACK AND PINION. THE VIBRATION HAS NOT GONE AWAY AND THE DEALERSHIP BLAMES THE TIRE COMPANY, AND THE TIRE COMPANY BLAMES THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
I HAVE 44,000 MILES ON MY 2001 QUAD CAB DAKOTA 4X4 AND THE STEERING HAS GOTTEN REALLY BAD. IT CLUNKS AND POPS ON TURNS AND BUMPS SO BAD TO THE POINT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THERE IS NO REASON THIS NEW OF A VEHICLE AND LOW MILEAGE SHOULD HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT SINCE MY WARRANTY IS UP AND THE DEALER WANTS $930 TO REPLACE THE RACK & PINION STEERING WHICH MIGHT NOT BE BAD.*AK
I OWN A DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 2001 5.9 V8 THE BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS SUCKED. THE FRONT ROTORS WARPED OVER AND OVER AGAIN I'M FORCED IN BUYING A BIGGER KIT THAT WILL COST ME $3,000. THE REAR END LEAKS AND THE DEALER SAYS ITS NATURAL. THESE TWO PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN WITH ME FOR 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER DODGE AGAIN. I THINK THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING NOW AND THE STEERING PUMP IS GOING TOO. THE TRUCK HAS 66,000 MILES NOW. IT LOOKS NICE BUT HP , BRAKES AND OVER ALL PERFORMANCE SUCKS. IF I WAS IN THE CREATIVE END WORKING FOR DODGE I COULD IMPROVE THEIR VEHICLES GREATLY. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE INNER TIE ROD END CAME OUT OF THE SOCKET AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TURNED TO THE LEFT. THIS RESULTED IN VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A CONCRETE PHYLUM. THE INNER TIE ROD , FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT, FENDER, BUMPER, BLINKER AND RIM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO WHEN MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN DRIVER'S SIDE INSIDE RIM WAS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE ANY COMPONENT UNTIL THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE.*AK
UPPER BALL JOINT AND LEFT RIGHT TIE ROD END FAILURE. *PH *LA
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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