Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Dodge Dakota submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 52 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 52, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STOP. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUSTING AND CORROSION OF THE METAL BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
I WAS GOING TO MOVE THE TRUCK OUT OF THE GARAGE WHEN MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. HAVING RECENTLY REPLACING ALL OF THE BRAKES, I WAS SURPRISED AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION SAW FLUID SQUIRTING OUT ONTO ENGINE FIREWALL. HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A GARAGE WHERE THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT THE STEEL BRAKE LINES HAVE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND NEED TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM, TO THE TUNE OF $800. AS THE TRUCK HAS RATHER LOW MILEAGE AND IS LIGHTLY USED I AM SHOCKED WITH THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT PUMPED THE BRAKES CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES THAT WERE CONNECTED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
I HAVE PURCHASED SEVERAL TIRES FOR THIS VEHICLE, AND THE PROBLEM IS MAINLY IN THE FRONT. I HAVE HAD IT ALIGNED AS REQUIRED AND IT CONTINUED TO EAT THE TIRES IN A VERY FEW MONTHS. I RECENTLY (WITHIN THE LAST 6 - 8 MONTHS) HAD THE BRAKES, ROTORS, IDLER ARM, BUSHINGS AND OTHER ITEMS REPLACED THAT DEALT WITH THE STEERING AND THE BRAKING OF THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, IT WILL POP, AND WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES IT WILL GRAB, RELEASE THEN GRAB AGAIN. THE BRAKES ARE NOT MAKING A NOISE AND I KNOW WHEN NEW BRAKES ARE INSTALLED THAT THEY HAVE TO ALLOWED TO MAINTAIN THEIR FIT, HOWEVER, ONCE THEY MAINTAIN THEIR FIT, THEY SHOULDN'T START GRABBING. WHEN I HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKES IN A HURRY THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND IT CONCERNS ME THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP IN TIME. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 4 OR 5 YEARS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, SMOKE EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO DEFECTIVE CALIPERS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES RUPTURED BEHIND THE FUEL TANK DUE TO CORROSION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A LOT OF SALT WAS NOT USED ON THE ROADWAYS, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MARYLAND. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000. UPDATED 9/27/11 *CN UPDATED 10/007/11
2003 DODGE DAKOTA, 2WD, 5 SPD MANUAL, V6. AT SPEEDS FROM 15 MPH AND UP THE BRAKE SYSTEM SEEMS TO FAIL AS THE TRUCK JUMPS AND SKIDS VERY RAPIDLY. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, TRAFFIC CAME TO A HALT QUICKLY, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AS THIS JUMPING AND SKIDDING OCCURED. ALL PARTS ON THE TRUCK ARE FACTORY AND HAVE NOT BEEN MODIFIED. I AM CONCERNED AND WONDERING IF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION CLUNKING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE, OVERHEAT, AND LOCK UP. THE STOPPING DISTANCE WOULD ALSO INCREASE. THE DEALER STATED THAT WET CONDITIONS AND HIGH SPEED BRAKING CAUSED THE ROTORS TO WARP. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE IDLES HIGH AND ROUGHLY WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE ROUGHLY. THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 20 SECONDS, BUT THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES FOR THESE ISSUES, BUT THE FAILURES STILL PERSIST. ALL THE SENSORS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE IS BECOMING WORSE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS THREE TIMES AND THE CONTACT REPLACED THEM FOUR TIMES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,655 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 11/06/08. *LJ THE ROTORS AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER THAT WAS NOT LETTING THE REAR BRAKES EVER WORK. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS BUILT TO DRAIN INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR. THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCEPT UPDATES. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 11/06/08. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE THE BRAKE HOSE WAS ABNORMALLY POKING THROUGH THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 46,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT FAILS INTERMITTENTLY AND THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR DISPLAYS SPORADICALLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V322000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH) AND DAIMLER CHRYSLER RECALL NUMBER B32. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, WHICH WOULD COST $500. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NHTSA WAS THE AGENCY THAT ISSUES RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF
BRAKE VIBRATION AT 40,000 MILES BRAKE ROTORS RUSTED THROUGH TO FRICTION SURFACE CAUSING LARGE PITS AND RAISED AREAS. ROTORS REPLACED. *JB
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I OWN A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB SLT. AND I HAVE RUN INTO A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK THAT PEOPLE I KNOW SAY THEY HAD VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME MAKE OF VEHICLE. TO START WITH MY TRUCK ONLY HAS ABOUT 62,184 MILES ON IT, FOR A 2003 MODEL TRUCK, THAT IS CONSIDERED LOW MILEAGE. THE PROBLEMS I HAVE RUN INTO IS AS FOLLOWS: BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUB BEARING SETS HAVE PREMATURELY FAILED, IN PARTICULAR, THE RIGHT FRONT HUB TRIED TO LOCK UP ON ME AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK, I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THAT HUB BUT STILL NEED TO REPLACE THE LEFT FRONT BEFORE IT LOCKS UP:SECOND IS THAT THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAS NO PROVISIONS FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, I.E. NO GREASE ZIRCS FOR THE BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS,UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS, WHEEL BEARINGS, ETC...CAUSING RAPID WEAR AND FAILURE:THIRD BIG ISSUE, I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS DUE TO WARPAGE. THE BRAKE CALIPERS WERE BUILT WITH SOME TYPE OF COMPOSITE PLASTIC PISTONS THAT DISTORT DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD UP IN THE BRAKES. WHICH IN TURN CAUSES UNEVEN PAD CONTACT, THAT THEN CAUSES EXCESSIVE HEAT, ACCELERATED PAD WEAR, BRAKE FADE, ROTOR WARPAGE, AND AN AWFUL "SQUEAL" WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY BRAND NEW BRAKE PADS ARE ACTUALLY CRACKED NOW BECAUSE OF A COMBINATION OF THE CALIPERS AND THE HUBS GOING BAD: FOURTH ISSUE IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVER "REV" IN THE HIGHWAY PASSING GEAR ESPECIALLY WITH THE OVER DRIVE AND CRUISE CONTROL ON. WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND YOU GIVE IT A LITTLE MORE GAS TO GET AROUND SOMEBODY, THE ENGINE RPM'S SHOULDN'T GO UP TO SOMETIMES AROUND 7000, THAT IN TURN COULD CAUSE PREMATURE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH DAIMLER-CHRYSLER ABOUT THESE CONCERNS BUT THEY JUST KEEP GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND AND NOT ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS. I STILL HAVE THE OLD PARTS ALSO.
ON SEPTEMBER 8 2006 MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS DRIVING HOME. WHILE CLIMBING A HILL THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISS FIRE AND THE TRUCK WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. WHEN I CRESTED THE HILL THE VEHICLE STALLED AND I LOST POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. THERE WAS NO TRAFFICE SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SEEN THAT THE VACUUM LINE WAS ROTTED IN HALF. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT RUN. I SPLICED THE LINE AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME. I WAS THEN LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE VACUUM BOOSTER FOR THE BRAKES HAS RUST ON IT. I CALLED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE LINE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPING ON A 2003. THEY ASKED ME THE MILAGE AND I TOLD THEM IT HAD 45000 MILES ON IT. I WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A CHRYSLER DEALER AND HAVE IT CHECKED SO THEY COULD SEE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO RICHLAND COUNTY CHRYSLER IN RICHLAND CENTER WI. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AS SEE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND TOLD ME THAT YES THE VACUUM LINES ARE ROTTED AND THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER IS RUSTING. THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND CHARGED ME $80.00 TO LOOK AT IT. I HAVE THE OLD VACUUM LINES THAT ARE ROTTED AND I ALSO HAVE THE RUSTED VACUUM BOOSTER.
WENT TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THERE WAS NO HOLDING OF THE BRAKE. TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AND IT WAS FOUND THAT ON BOTH WHEELS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LININGS HAD FALLEN OFF THE BACKING PLATES. REPLACED THE BRAKE LININGS IN BOTH WHEELS. *JB
DT: CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BRAKES MAKING NOISES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP SIX OR SEVEN TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE MADE NOISES WHEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INSPECTOR TO INVESTIGATE THIS VEHICLE. NO PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN FOUND WITH THE BRAKES. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THIS TIME. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK
EMAIL FM MR. ROBIN SUGGS (NC) RE AN OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM WITH HER 2003 DODGE DAKOTA PICK UP TRUCK.*MR THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE CONSUMES ABOUT 2 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED IT WAS NORMAL. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS A COSMETIC DEFECT AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ABS LIGHT PARKING BRAKE LIGHT' NO FUSE READ IN MILEAGE INDACATOR BOX FLASHING ALL AT THE SAME TIME. *AK
DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB PICKUP 2003, BRAKE FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. *BF THE CONSUMER HIT A PARKED VEHICLE ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE, THE PEDAL SIMPLY COLLAPSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE DEALER CHECKED OUT THE BRAKES AND STATED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS, HOWEVER ON THE THIRD OCCASION THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MIDAS WHO TOLD THE CONSUMER THERE WAS INTERNAL FAILURE WITHIN THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND IT WAS A WARRANTY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED BY THE DEALER. *JB
I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 DODGE DAKOTA 4.7L V-8 QUAD CUB. AT APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES, I NOTICED A SHUDDER IN THE TRUCK WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IT BECAME WORSE WITH MILEAGE, AND AT 15,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE FELT UNSAFE WHEN STOPPING DUE TO HORRIBLE SHAKING AND SHUDDERING. IT ALSO FELT I HAD LESS STOPPING POWER AND DISTANCE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY ADVISED I HAD WARPED BRAKE ROTORS. THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS AT MY EXPENSE. APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES LATER, THE VEHICLE SHOWED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK, SAME DIAGNOSIS. I ASKED THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WHY THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. SHE TOLD ME "DODGE IS USING JUNK PARTS". I ASKED WHY THEY DIDN'T PUT BETTER PARTS ON IF THEY KNEW THIS AND SHE SAID THAT WAS UP TO CHRYSLER, NOT THE SERVICE DEALER. APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES LATER I HAD TO TAKE MY TRUCK BACK AGAIN, FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. AGAIN, WHEN I ASKED WHY THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN, I WAS ADVISED "JUNK PARTS". I CONTACTED DODGE VIA THEIR WEBSITE EXPLAINING MY PROBLEM AND THEY ADVISED ME TO USE A DIFFERENT SERVICE DEALERSHIP. EVEN WITH THE NEW ROTORS, MY TRUCK FEELS IT HAS INADEQUATE STOPPING POWER. AFTER REVIEWING DODGE DAKOTA OWNERS WEBSITE, I SAW THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP DODGE OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. DODGE IS CLEARLY USING INADEQUATE BRAKES FOR THEIR TRUCKS, SACRIFICING ON STOPPING ABILITY AND QUALITY. DODGE DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THE OWNERS SAFETY. PLEASE HELP DODGE TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR INADEQUATE EQUIPMENT. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE ANY OTHER INFORMATION OR DOCUMENTATION TO ASSIST WITH RESOLVING THIS ISSUE.*AK
I'VE HAD PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS WITH MY BRAKES. I DON'T THINK THAT THEY WORK AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD. AND THEN ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO I ASSUMED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY ROTORS BECAUSE WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THERE WAS A SHIMMING IN THE FRONT END. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DODGE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS OKAY BECAUSE IT WAS A NEW TRUCK. I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS AND THIS TIME THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT HE KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT BEFORE THEY EVEN CHECKED THE ROTORS. THIS TIME THEY TURNED THE ROTORS AND THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT NOW IT IS DOING THE SAME SHIMMING AGAIN. THE TRUCK NOW HAS A LITTLE OVER 15,000 MILES ON IT AND I FEEL THAT THERE SOULD NOT BE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM THIS SOON. *JB
REPEATEDLY AND FREQUENTLY WARPING BRAKE ROTORS, WHICH CAUSE POOR STOPPING.*AK
MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB HAS HAD THE BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES WITH NO SEVERE USE. AND ALSO THE BALL JOINTS ARE WORN OUT AT 35,000 MILES. THESE PARTS SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER ON A LIGH USE VEHICLE.*AK
NO EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE JUST REGULAR DRIVING.UNUSUAL ROTOR WARPPING ON MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA SO FAR HAS COST ME OVER $800 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS MY COMPLAINT IS ON THE POOR ENGINEERING OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM.WORST VEHICLE I EVER OWNED SHOULD OF STAYED WITH TOYOTA!*AK
MY TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 25000 MILES AND THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE WARPED AND CAUSE TERRIBLE VIBRATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. *NM
AFTER 10,000 MILES ON MY 2003 DAKOTA, I HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS (ALL 4) TURNED BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED. DEALER DID IT FOR FREE. AT 20,000 MILES THEY ARE WARPED AND NEEDED TURNING AGAIN. DEALER NOT PAYING I HAVE TO PAY THEM. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH ROTOR PROBLEMS, IT APPEARS THE BRAKES AREN'T MADE FOR A TRUCK THIS SIZE BUT FOR A SMALLER VERSION OF IT. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY DODGE
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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