2001 Dodge Dakota Transmission Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION ERRONEOUSLY SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC SHIFT TRANSFER CASE HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V077000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558393

Incident

Dec 13, 2013

Mileage

81,000 mi

NO CRASH, NO INJURIES. 2001 DODGE DAKOTA CREW CAB, COLUMN SHIFTER SHIFTS OUT OF PARK WITH OUT PRESSING BRAKE WHILE THE KEY IS IN THE ON POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369604

Incident

Dec 8, 2010

Mileage

175,000 mi

1. THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE ON MY VEHICLE WILL ONLY OCCASIONALLY ENGAGE WHEN THE SELECTOR IS SET TO 4-WHEEL DRIVE. IF ENGAGED IT ALWAYS DISENGAGES SUDDENLY AND/OR RE-ENGAGES AT RANDOM TIMES. IN OTHER WORDS, IT GOES IN AND OUT OF 4-WHEEL DRIVE RANDOMLY AND ON ITS OWN WHEN THE SELECTOR IS SET TO 4-WHEEL DRIVE. 2. THE PROBLEM BEGAN DURING THE WINTER OF 2008-2009 AND HAS CONTINUED TO THE PRESENT. THIS HAS CAUSED UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS AND SLIDING ON ICE AND SNOW COVERED STREETS WHEN THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE SUDDENLY GOES OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH. I HAVE NOT YET HAD AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT BUT HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF VERY SCARY INCIDENTS AND NEAR MISSES. 3. ON JULY 7, 2009 I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. AFTER 2 DAYS OF DIAGNOSIS HE REPLACED THE CONTROL MODULE BUT STILL COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH HIS DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER FOUND THE COMPONENTS WORKING CORRECTLY INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH OTHER. HE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ON LINE AND FOUND IT SHOULD BE RELATED TO A SAFETY RECALL FOR DAIMLER CHRYSLER. HE PRINTED OUT THE RECALL INFORMATION FOR ME, WHICH I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION. 9/19/09 I TOOK IT TO BELLEVUE DODGE, 120 116TH AVE NE, BELLEVUE, WA 98005 WITH THE RECALL PAPERWORK. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT RELATED TO THE PREVIOUS RECALL ITEM. SINCE THIS IS SUCH A DANGEROUS PROBLEM I FELT A REPORT IS IN ORDER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284597

Incident

Jan 2, 2009

Mileage

100,000 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

I ALSO HAVE A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA I BOUGHT IT USED IN 2004 AND SOMETIMES THE GEAR SHIFT DOES NOT GO WHERE THE INDICATOR SAY IT IS. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242302

Incident

Dec 12, 2004

Mileage

75,000 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 ELECTRIC SHIFT TRANSFER CASE DID NOT FULLY ENGAGE INTO GEAR WHEN THE CONTACT MOVED THE TRANSFER CASE SELECTOR SWITCH. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND CALLED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. ONE WEEK LATER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD TO RESCHEDULE DUE TO A LACK OF PARTS. THE REPAIR WAS RESCHEDULED FOR MAY; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT NO REPAIRS WERE DONE ON SATURDAYS. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,250.

NHTSA ID

10220913

Incident

Feb 9, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND WHEN HE RETRIEVED IT, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HE BELIEVES THAT THE RECALL REPAIR CAUSED THE CLOCK SPRING TO FAIL. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $197 TO REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,970. UPDATE 04-02-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT UNTIL AFTER HE PICKED THE VEHICLE UP FROM HAVING A RECALL PERFORMED. UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10220529

Incident

Feb 26, 2008

Mileage

62,970 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTED IT INTO DRIVE, WITHOUT APPLYING HIS FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10219213

Incident

Dec 19, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

POWER TRAIN, MANY TIMES WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR IS SHIFTED INTO A GEAR, IT IS NOT ACTUALLY IN THE GEAR SELECTED. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10214203

Incident

Nov 23, 2007

Mileage

81,366 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

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

ON MY 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB, THE VEHICLE HAD A LONG STUTTER OR PAUSE ONCE THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED, FROM A STOP. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC BECAUSE I EXPECTED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE, WHICH IT DID NOT. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP FORWARD, MAKING ME FEEL LIKE SOMEONE REAR ENDED ME. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. I WAS TOLD MY WHOLE INTERNAL TRANSMISSION WAS BAD! I FIND THIS TO BE RIDICULOUS FOR A 2001 VEHICLE, AND DANGEROUS!*JB

NHTSA ID

10134823

Incident

Aug 30, 2005

Mileage

83,250 mi

ABS & BRAKE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ON OUR 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB WITH 43,000 MILES. TOOK TO NORWIN DODGE FOR SERVICE. THEY FOUND THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL (REAR END) WAS COMPLETELY RUINED. SINCE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRENTLY OUR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE WAS IN EXCESS OF $1,600.00. ALSO SAID THAT ENGINE LIGHT WAS DUE TO A MODERATE EVAPORATION LEAK AND REPLACED GAS CAP. THE TRANSMISSION OF THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 4000 MILES!(FORTUNATELY THIS WAS COVERED UNDER WARRENTY), BUT A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AFTER ONLY 4000 MILES? ALSO HAD VEHICLE BACK TO BE CHECKED AFTER TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT BECAUSE IT WOULD HESITATE AND THEN SHIFT HARD. WE WERE TOLD THAT THAT IS NORMAL AND HOW DODGE TRNAMISSIONS SHIFT? WE TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY. WANT TO REGISTER FORMAL COMPLAINT AND MAKE OTHERS AWARE OF POOR QUALITY OF DODGE VEHICLES AND POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS USED?

NHTSA ID

10130145

Incident

Jul 25, 2005

Mileage

43,155 mi

DT: WHILE DRIVING HE NOTICED HE HAD A HARD DOWN SHIFT FROM 2ND GEAR TO 3RD GEAR. THE NEXT DAY IT WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD. GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10122017

Incident

May 13, 2005

Mileage

58,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST CONSUMER $2,000 TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10113663

Incident

Mar 3, 2005

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE, DAKOTA, QUAD CAB, 4X4. SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRENTY EXPIRED(36000MI.), I DEVELOPED A POPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING OVER BUMPS. SENSE THEN IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. I HAD IT INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS OK, JUST TYPICAL TRUCK NOISE DUE TO BUMPS. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BALLJOINTS, I HAD IT RE-INSPECTED (MANY MILES LATER) ONLY TO FIND THAT I AM LUCKY THAT A WHEEL HAS NOT CAME OFF (BAD JOINTS). ALSO, IF THE TRUCK SETS OVERNIGHT (OR 1 OR MORE DAYS)WHEN YOU FIRST CRANK THE TRUCK AND PUT IN GEAR(REVERSE) THE TRANSMITION WILL SLIP. TOOK TO THE DEALER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRENTY THEY SAID IT WAS TYPICAL THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WOULD DRAIN DOWN AND THAT YOU HAD TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL FOR A FEW SECONDS TO LET THE CONVERTER FILL BEFORE PUTTING IN GEAR. I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM!*AK

NHTSA ID

10104128

Incident

Sep 9, 2002

I BOUGHT MY TRUCK WITH 5,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION HITS THE REV LIMITER FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WHEN PASSING OR GOING AROUND VEHICLES UNDER THE SPEED OF 30 MPH. FROM MY RESEARCH THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF DAKOTA OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I'VE TAKEN MINE TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT. MY WARRANTY RAN OUT AND I GOT TIRED OF TAKING IT TO THEM. I NOW HAVE 55,000 MILES ON MY DAKOTA AND IT STILL HITS THE REV LIMITER EACH TIME I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR FROM A STOP OR AT 30MPH. THE ONLY TIME IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR IS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. AFTER THAT, IT HITS THE REV LIMITER EVERYTIME. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM?? THERE'S BEEN NUMEROUS TIMES I HAVE ALMOST HAD A WRECK DUE TO THE TRANNY NOT SHIFTING TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. ONE DAY I MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10102483

Incident

Oct 1, 2001

Mileage

54,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10086906

Incident

Sep 11, 2001

Mileage

11,000 mi

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE WENT OUT OF GEAR, ROLLED BACKWARD, AND HIT A TREE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10072026

Mileage

40,000 mi

VEHICLE SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN WHILE DRIVING. (NAR) *PH

NHTSA ID

10071636

Incident

Jan 13, 2004

Mileage

68,611 mi

2001 DODGE DAKOTA SLIPPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE GEAR AND WAS CIRCLING OUT OF CONTROL.*MR THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STRUCK A CONCRETE MEDIAN AND STOPPED. THE DRIVESHAFT AND OTHER PARTS UNDER THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THE GEAR SELECTOR JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. THIS VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO MAROONE/DODGE SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED WHERE IT SAT TO THIS DAY. CONSUMER STATED IT WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM SINCE THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS. THEY HAVEN'T OBTAINED NO INFORMATION ON THEIR VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE A/C ONLY WORKED ON HIGH DUE TO A FAULTY BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. THE POWER STEERING MADE NOISE INTERMITTENTLY. THE GAS CAP WAS LOOSE WHICH CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE DRIVER SEAT HANDLE CAME APART *PH *NLM

NHTSA ID

10046278

Incident

Sep 2, 2003

Mileage

24,620 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

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING,SLIPPING,POOR ACCELARATION. PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED ABOUT NOISE IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING. BAD IDLE AND POOR FUEL ECONOMY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10037222

Incident

Sep 3, 2003

Mileage

24,000 mi