2003 Dodge Dakota Tires & wheels Problems

TO WHOM IT CONCERNS: I AM REQUESTING THAT THE DOT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF A TIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATION OR SIDEWALL DELAMINATION OF COOPER TIRES (COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY) MODEL DISCOVERER RTX, SIZE P245/70R16, DOT UT9H 2BM 1818. I PURCHASED A SET OF 4 TIRES (DISCOVERER RTX, 245/70R16) ON NOVEMBER 14, 2018 FOR MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. ON DECEMBER 9, 2018, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE PURCHASING THE COOPER TIRES. I SUDDENLY HEARD A NOISE SIMILAR TO DRIVING ON GROOVED PAYMENT OR RUMBLE-STRIPS. HOWEVER, THE ROADWAY WAS SMOOTH AND CLEAR. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND CHECKED THE TIRES. THE RIGHT-REAR TIRE WAS TORN (SHREDDED) ALL-AROUND BETWEEN THE TIRE SHOULDER AND TREAD, RESULTING IN TWO SEPARATE PIECES. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I FOUND A PORTION OF THE SIDE WALL WHERE THE OUTER AND INNER SECTIONS WERE NOT ADHERED (OR NOT GLUED) TOGETHER LIKE THE REST OF THE TIRE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE OTHER 3 TIRES MAY ALSO BE AFFECTED. CAN YOU LOOK INTO THIS TO SEE IF THIS TIRE SHOULD BE RECALLED? I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THESE TIRES. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11160970

Incident

Dec 9, 2018

Mileage

267,965 mi

ON SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014, DURING A TRIP FROM SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA TO LARAMIE, WYOMING, WE SUFFERED TWO BLOWOUTS OF GOODYEAR WRANGLER TIRES IN SIZE P265 70 R16. IN EACH INSTANCE THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE TIRES WERE WELL MAINTAINED AND PROPERLY INFLATED. AT 10:00AM, TRAVELING 65MPH ON INTERSTATE 35, NORTH OF DES MOINES, IOWA WE SUFFERED THE FIRST BLOWOUT. THERE WAS A LOUD WHUP, WHUP, WHUP NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY REDUCE SPEED AND PULL OVER. WE DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. WE HAD THE DAMAGED TIRE REPLACED IN AMES, IOWA AT A GOODYEAR DEALER. AT OUR NEXT STOP, I CHECKED THE AIR PRESSURE IN ALL 4 TIRES. THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS AT 32 PSI. I INFLATED THE LEFT REAR TIRE TO 40 PSI TO MATCH THE OTHER 3 TIRES. WHILE TRAVELING 75 MPH ON INTERSTATE 80, EAST OF LARAMIE AT 11:00PM WE SUFFERED THE SECOND BLOWOUT. AGAIN THERE WAS A LOUD WHUP, WHUP, WHUP NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. I REDUCED SPEED AND ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE WHICH SENT THE TRUCK INTO A WILD FISHTAIL SKID. WE CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AND THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED INOPERABLE. WE GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK AND SURVEYED THE DAMAGE. IT WAS THEN WE DISCOVERED THAT A PORTION OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE INNER TUBE OF THE TIRE WAS EXPOSED BUT STILL INFLATED. AFTER THE CRASH I WAS MADE AWARE OF A RECALL BY GOODYEAR OF THEIR WRANGLER TIRES. WHILE THE TIRES DESCRIBED ABOVE DO NOT FALL INTO THE DOT NUMBERS OF THE RECALL, I WOULD ASK THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE FURTHER AND BROADEN THE RANGE OF RECALL AS THE BLOWOUT THAT CAUSED OUR CRASH APPEARS TO BE THE SAME AS THE BLOWOUT THAT CAUSED A CRASH IN TEXAS THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF TWO COLLEGE STUDENTS ON AUGUST 01, 2011. *TR

NHTSA ID

10576087

Incident

Mar 29, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

ORIGINAL DATE OF PURCHASE 9/18/2010 ORIGINAL TIRE: DUNLOP ROVERS LT 265/70R16 LOAD RANGE C DA8D633V2709 GOODYEAR/MR. TIRE AUTO CEDAR BRIDGE AVE STORE # 1014 BRICK NJ 08723 (732)477-3480. CUSTOMER ID# [XXX] $892.82 ON JULY 14, 2011 I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO MAIN STREET IN TOMS RIVER WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED, AND A FEW SECONDS LATER THE RIGHT TIRE ALSO EXPLODED. I DROVE ABOUT 100 FEET TO A PARKING LOT TO LOOK AT THE DAMAGE. ON THE INSIDE OF BOTH TIRES THERE WAS A LARGE GASH ABOUT 5 INCHES LONG ON ONE TIRE AND ON THE OTHER TIRE THERE WERE 2 DIFFERENT GASHES ABOUT 4 AND 5 INCHES LONG. I PUT A SPARE ON ONE WHEEL AND HAD A HARD TIME GETTING THE 2ND WHEEL OFF SO I HIT IT WITH THE LUG WRENCH. I TOOK THAT TIRE TO A NEARBY STS AND BOUGHT A CHEAP TIRE $171.00 AND PUT IT ON AND DROVE HOME. TWO DAYS LATER, SATURDAY JULY 16, 2011, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO GOODYEAR WHERE I PURCHASED THE TIRES LESS THEN A YEAR AGO. THEY TOLD ME BECAUSE THE BACK OF THE RIM WAS SCORED IT MUST NOT HAVE EXPLODED, IT MUST HAVE BEEN CUT IN A CARWASH. THEY CHARGED US $85.41 FOR 2 NEW TIRES. THEY TOLD US THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE ROAD IT HAD TO HAVE HAPPENED AT A CAR WASH. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN TO A CAR WASH SINCE I HAVE HAD IT SEVERAL YEARS. I HAD THEM REPLACE THE 2 BAD TIRES WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER SR-A?S BUT I STILL HAVE 2 DUNLOP TIRES ON THE BACK OF MY TRUCK. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY, AND MY FAMILY?S SAFETY, DRIVING ON THESE TIRES. I HAVE A PICTURE OF ONE TIRE AND I HAVE PICTURES OF THE INSIDE OF THE RIMS. GOODYEAR KEPT BOTH TIRES. I AM A FORMER MECHANIC, FRONT END SPECIALIST, FOR 22 YEARS, I AM A RETIRES US ARMY VET, AND CURRENTLY WORKING AS SHERIFF'S OFFICER, AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN TIRES THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10413230

Incident

Jul 14, 2011

Mileage

86,702 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA WITH BF GOODRICH TIRES, LONG TRAIL, DOT# AP72F821, SIZE P265/70/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES FAILED STATE INSPECTION DUE TO ABNORMAL TREAD WEAR. PREMATURE TREAD WEAR ON THE TIRES INCREASED THE RISK OF A TIRE BLOW-OUT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14,721. UPDATED 10/21/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/20/09*JB

NHTSA ID

10283445

Incident

Sep 2, 2009

Mileage

38,000 mi

IN LATE FEBRUARY 2009 I HAD A SLIPPED BELT ON ONE OF MY GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S TIRES ON MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THIS WAS PARTICULARLY ANNOYING ESPECIALLY SINCE THE TIRES ONLY HAD 33K MILES ON THEM. THE SPARE HAD NEVER BEEN USED SO WE PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON. THAT WAS FIND FOR A FEW WEEKS BUT THEN THE OTHER TIRES STARTED SLIPPING BELTS. AFTER THE INITIAL TIRE I CONTACTED GOODYEAR TO INFORM THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THEIR GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S TIRE AND THEY INDICATED THAT SULLIVAN TIRE IN STRATHAM NEW HAMPSIRE COULD REVIEW THE SITUATION FOR THEM SINCE THEY WERE A TRUSTED DEALERSHIP. TODAY I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO SULLIVAN TIRE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE BELTS ON THE OTHER TIRES HAD SLIPPED AND WERE ACTUALLY DANGEROUS AND I SHOULD BE CAREFUL ABOUT DRIVING ON THEM. AS A RESULT I HAD THEM REPLACE THE TIRES AND WAS SO MAD ABOUT THIS THAT I HAD THEM PUT DUNLOP TIRES INSTEAD OF GOODYEAR ON THEM. I REALIZE THAT THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON MY 2003 TRUCK ( SULLIVAN TIRE INDICATED THAT THE SERIAL NUMBERS INDICATED THIS) BUT THE TIRES HAD IN EXCESS OF 50% TREADWARE ON THEM. SULLIVAN TIRE TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE ABOUT 7 YEARS OLD THAT GOODYEAR WOULD NO DO ANYTHING. AFTER LEAVING I CHECKED THE TIRE WARRANTY DOCUMENT THAT CAME WITH THE CAR AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS ANY TIME LIMIT ON THE WARRANTY - ONLY TREADWEAR. I AM OUT $587 AND SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN. I FEEL THAT THESE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND SOMETHING SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BECAUSE OF THIS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SORT OF THING. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN TO ME. I AM 62 AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING SINCE I WAS 16 AND AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH CARS SINCE MY DAD WAS A MECHANIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10262849

Incident

Mar 23, 2009

Mileage

33,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUD COMING FROM THE AXLE AREA. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HEADLIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED COMPLETELY. EVENTUALLY, THE HORN BEGAN TO SOUND INTERMITTENTLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN WIPING AUTOMATICALLY, AND THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND CONTINUED TO CHIME. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT ALL THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V322000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS SWITCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,700.

NHTSA ID

10224222

Incident

Mar 25, 2008

Mileage

65,700 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10184365

Incident

Mar 4, 2007

ON OCTOBER 20, 2005 I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD-CAB 4WD PICKUP BACK FROM VISITING A FRIEND WHEN I SUSTAINED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSFER CASE. THIS RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DODGE DEALER AND REPAIRED. DEALER CLAIMED CASE WAS STRUCK BY SOMETHING (IMPLYING ABUSE) WHICH IS UNSUPPORTED BY ANY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THE DEALER'S POSITION PREVENTED REPAIRS BEING MADE UNDER WARRANTY. INVESTIGATION BY AN INDEPENDENT SHOP IDENTIFIED THE SOURCE OF THE DAMAGE TO BE THE COUPLING BETWEEN THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT AND THE TRANSFER CASE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACTUAL CAUSE AND ADHERES TO THE DEALER'S (ERRONEOUS) POSITION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10154746

Incident

Oct 21, 2005

Mileage

43,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2003 DAKOTA QUAD CAB 2WD IN EARLY JANUARY OF 2004. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 21K. SIGNS OF THE STEERING MAKING A CREAKING SOUND WHEN BEING TURNED WERE FIRST NOTICED AT APPROXIMATELY 8000. IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN ENTERING AN ELEVATED STREET OR A DRIVEWAY, WHILE MAKING THE TURN. I BELIEVE THE SAME DEFECTIVE STEERING COMPONENTS UTILIZED IN THE 4X4 DAKOTA ALSO APPLY TO THE 2WD VERSIONS. I WOULD LIKE THE INITIATIVE BE TAKEN TO INCLUDE THE 2WD DODGE DAKOTAS IN THE RECALL AS WELL. MY TRUCK HAS NOT YET BEEN SERVICED, BUT IF STUDY INFORMATION IS REQUIRED, SUCH AS AN ANALYSIS OF THE JOINT, I AM WILLING TO VOLUNTEER MY VEHICLE FOR SUCH A STUDY IF IT WOULD HELP IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10102605

Incident

Aug 20, 2004

Mileage

8,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA PICK-UP ON THE EXPRESSWAY MY REAR LEFT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. UPON STOPPING AND INSPECTION, THE TIRE HAD A SIDE BLOWOUT WITH ONLY 15,775 MILES OF WEAR. THIS TIRE CAME WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN I PURCHASED IT NEW IN APRIL 2004. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING ON THE ROADWAY AND WAS DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 55MPH. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN THE BLOWOUT OCCURRED. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE AND AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT WHICH CAUSED THE SIDE TIRE BLOWOUT*AK

NHTSA ID

10090757

Incident

Sep 4, 2004

Mileage

15,775 mi

DEFECTIVE GOODYEAR TIRES, SIDEWALL BLOO OUT. *MR

NHTSA ID

10073271

Incident

May 5, 2004

Mileage

11,000 mi