2002 Dodge Dakota Visibility Problems

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 24, NEAR CLARKSVILLE, TN, AT 2015 HOURS, MY HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. AFTER A SPAN OF 15-20 SECONDS WITH NO LIGHTS, I HAD TO UNSAFELY PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AFTER WHICH MY HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER ON AND OFF, FOR SPANS OF 1-3 SECONDS. FROM THE TIME OF THE FIRST INCIDENT TO NOW, MY HEADLIGHTS, INTERNAL LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE ALL INOPERABLE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE DURING BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS, OR LIMITED VIABILITY DUE TO LIGHT. FROM MY RESEARCH THIS IS AN EXTREMELY FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH DODGE DAKOTA AND DODGE DURANGO OWNERS, WITH VEHICLES MADE BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 01' - 03'. I CONTACTED DODGE ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE, AND THEY WERE UNWILLING TO HELP OR FIX THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM IT WAS UNSAFE, AND THAT MY SITUATION WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I HONESTLY BELIEVE, IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN TO A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER, OR TO A DRIVER IN A SITUATION OF BAD WEATHER OR LATE AT NIGHT. IT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURIES OR TRAGIC LOSS OF LIFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509445

Incident

Dec 2, 2012

Mileage

175,000 mi

MY WINDSHIELD IS BEING SCRATCHED BECAUSE OF DRY WIPER BLADES CONTACTING THE INITIAL DRY GLASS BEFORE THE WASHER PUMP ENGAGES, THEN THE BLADES WILL OSCILLATE ABOUT 6 TIMES BEFORE EVEN A DRIBBLE OF WATER WILL SHOW UP. THE LINES WERE PRESSURIZED AND JETTED BOTH WITH AIR AND WATER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE PUMP. THE VISIBILITY IS GOOD WHEN IT RAINS. NEW ARMS AND BLADE ASSEMBLIES WERE INSTALLED. VISION IS NOT SAFE AT 25MPH. AT 55MPH WHEN THE PUMP IS ENGAGED IT SEEMS THAT WATER IS BEING SIPHENED AND A BETTER COVERAGE OF THE GLASS OCCURS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10317461

Incident

Dec 2, 2008

Mileage

85,000 mi

THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM SINCE APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES ON THE NEW VEHICLE. SINGLE OWNER/REPORTING COMPLAINT. HEATER BLOWER FAN HAS STOPPED WORKING NUMEROUS TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE BLOWER FAN ITSELF. THE NEXT TIME THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FAILED AND CONSUMER REPLACED PAYING OUT OF POCKET. A THIRD TIME THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FAILED AND AGAIN THE CONSUMER REPLACED IT PAYING OUT OF POCKET. THE FAN NOW OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY AND IF YOU WIGGLE THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTING TO THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR THE FAN WILL COME ON AND OPERATE ON 3 OF THE 4 SPEEDS. CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THE HARNESS CONNECTOR REVEALS THAT THE HARNESS CONNECTOR IS MELTED AS IS THE WIRING AT THE CONNECTOR. CONTACT WITH TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS REVEALS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN CONCERN AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS A REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE PART# 5017124AB. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND SHOULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN GIVEN THAT THE HARNESS FAILURE CAN PREVENT THE HEATER FAN FROM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND CAUSE IMMEDIATE VISIBILITY CONCERNS AS WELL AS POTENTIAL OVERHEATING OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A FIRE. DEALERS ADVISE THIS IS A FREQUENTLY SEEN CONCERN YET NO ASSISTANCE FROM MANUFACTURER IS AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10260482

Incident

Feb 1, 2003

Mileage

8,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEATER FAN RESISTORS MELTED AND THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE HEATER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER FURTHER STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. A YEAR PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE HEAT RESISTORS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10214886

Incident

Jan 8, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER ON THE FLOORBOARD OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE AIR CONDITION WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONDENSATION LINE WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AS OF AUGUST 9, 2007, THE DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,160 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,963.

NHTSA ID

10198942

Incident

Aug 6, 2007

Mileage

17,160 mi

A PART INSIDE THE HEATING SYSTEM FAILED; THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN THREE YEARS THAT THIS PART HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE HEATING SYSTEM TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD WILL NOT WORK. PART WAS REPLACED AGAIN; SERVICE COMPANY SAYS THAT THIS PART FAILS OFTEN. THE PART NUMBER IS 5174618-AA DESCRIBED AS A RESISTOR.*JB

NHTSA ID

10182839

Incident

Feb 15, 2007

Mileage

16,700 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY IN RAINY WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHERS FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V216000, REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10176067

Incident

Dec 13, 2006

Mileage

38,000 mi

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA (WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES, WHICH I BOUGHT BRAND NEW) AND I WAS HAVING WATER POOL ON MY PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR AFTER IT RAINS, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SEAL ON MY REAR WINDOW WAS FAULTY. I REPLACED MY BACK WINDOW AND NOW THE WATER IS GONE. I HAVE ASKED SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN DAKOTA'S AND THEY HAVE ALL SAID THAT THEY HAVE HAD WATER EITHER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OR DRIVERS SIDE AT SOME POINT. I HAVE EVEN BEEN TO ONLINE FORUMS TO SEE IF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE US HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEM TO BE VERY COMMON. CHECK OUT WWW.DODGEDAKOTAS.COM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10154047

Incident

Jan 20, 2006

Mileage

29,800 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEATER FAN MECHANISM STOPPED WORKING, RESULTING IN NO HEAT OR DEFROST. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE REPAIRS MADE, BUT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10144994

Incident

Aug 30, 2005

Mileage

51,000 mi

DT: WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED THERE WAS ABNORMAL OPERATION OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HORN, AND LIGHTING SYSTEM. ALL OF THEM CAME ON AND OFF ALL BY THEMSELVES. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO A DEALER BUT PLANNED TO DO SO. THE CONSUMER WAS REFERRED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND HE COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. NO CORRECTIONS OR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS OCCURRED. THIS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. NHTSA RECALL 03V389000 WAS ISSUED BUT IT WAS FOR THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES ONLY-THE CONSUMER HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10136176

Incident

Sep 2, 2005

Mileage

81,000 mi

'RECALL CAMPAIGN' DODGE DAKOTA 2002, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. *BF THE CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR 10:00 AM HE ARRIVED AT 9:30 AM AND AT 11:20 AM THE DEALER STILL HAD NOT PERFORMED THE RECALL. AFTER WAITING FOR ALMOST 2/12 HOURS THE CONSUMER REQUESTED HIS VEHICLE BACK WITHOUT THE RECALL BEING PERFORMED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10115120

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD WINDSHIELD WASHER DOES NOT OPERATE. THIS RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY, AND AFFECTED THE CONSUMER'S VIEW WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT LOCATE OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10114878

Incident

Jan 17, 2003

Mileage

20,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT AS WELL, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER STATED NO RECALL.*AK RECALL CAMPAIGN; NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V596000 DEALING WITH UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V216000; DEALING WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS SERVICED AND HAD AT LEAST ONE FAILURE SINCE THE REPAIR. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V389000 DEALING WITH THE DASH WIRING HARNESS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. *TC

NHTSA ID

10106751

Incident

Jan 3, 2005

Mileage

43,500 mi

THE MODULE CONTROLLING MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA'S HEADLIGHT'S, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOT LIGHTS FAILED. SYMPTOMS ARE SHOCKINGLY CLOSE TO THOSE OF THE RECALL (I DO HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION). HEADLIGHTS FAILED, BRIGHTS FAILED, WIPERS FAILED. ONLY TURN SIGNALS HORN AND CAUTION LIGHTS REMAIN. DEALER REFUSES TO ADMIT IT IS RELATED TO RECALL. SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME! WHAT DO I DO ABOUT THIS!?*AK

NHTSA ID

10096032

Incident

Oct 18, 2004

Mileage

69,000 mi

A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BW AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10093972

Incident

Jul 20, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA A RECALL 04V21600 ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TWO MONTHS AGO. TWO MONTHS LATER, DEALERSHIP STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO CONDUCT THE RECALL. THIS DEALERSHIP IS THE ONLY ONE IN TOWN. THE NEXT DEALERSHIP IS ABOUT 350 MILES AWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10089990

Incident

Aug 30, 2004

DEFROSTER WOULD NOT WORK ON A COLD MORNING.THE DEFROSTER WOULD NOT WORK DUE TO THE RESISTER BEING BURNT OUT, AND YOU HAD A HARD TIME SEEING OUT THE WINDSHIELD, AND NO HEAT WAS GETTING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10080626

Incident

Jan 10, 2004

Mileage

46,040 mi

RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK MADE BUZZING NOISE WHEN LOCKED, WHICH IS STARTLING WHEN AUTO-LOCK ENGAGES ON ACCELERATION. DEALER REPAIRED, AND AS I LEFT PARKING LOT, IT BEGAN AGAIN, AND WAS REPAIRED. ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER, LEFT REAR LOCK DID THE SAMETHING AND WAS REPAIRED. OF COURSE, THE DEALER DID NOT BELIEVE ME UNTIL I TOOK TIME OFF OF WORK TO TAKE IT TO THEM. I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE ALL REMAINING MOTORS, BUT THEY REFUSED SINCE IT WAS STILL IN WARRANTY AND NOT BROKEN YET. TWO MONTHS LATER, REAR DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC WINOW DID NOT WORK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026106

Incident

Jul 9, 2003

Mileage

27,455 mi

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES ARE STICKING/GRABBING. UNABLE TO DUPLICATE-NO PROBLEM FOUND PER DEALER. *SCC

NHTSA ID

568506

AFTER LESS THAN 10000 MILES THE WINDSHIELD IS PITTED TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING WITH A GLARE CONDITION OR AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS RAINING. I DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 400 MILES PER WEEK AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS CONDITION SHOULD NOT MANIFEST ITSELF FOR ANOTHER 70000 MILES OR SO. I HAVE CONSIDERED THAT I LIVE IN A SOMEWHAT SANDY AREA OF THE COUNTRY AND THAT SAND IS USED ON THE ROADS DURING THE WINTER HOWEVER, AFTER COMPARING THE WINDSHIELD TO OTHER VEHICLES WITH MUCH HIGHER MILEAGE FROM THIS SAME AREA, IT APPEARS THAT THE GLASS USED IS "SOFT." I HACE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVNG IN THE RAIN, THE PRECIPITATION MAKES A VERY HIGH PITCHED NOICE WHEN HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONDITION OF THE WINDSHIELD AT PRESENT DOES NOT POSE AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY THREAT BUT I DO FEEL THAT THE GLASS USED MAY BE OF "CHEAP CONSTRUCTION'" THEREBY PERHAPS CREATING A HAZAROUS CONDITION SHOULD AN OBJECT STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD. *AK

NHTSA ID

757845

Incident

Feb 1, 2002