2007 Dodge Dakota Suspension Problems

AXEL SNAPPED IN HALF FRONT LEFT DAMAGED , I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT A VERY LOW SPEED

NHTSA ID

11258896

Incident

Sep 26, 2019

Mileage

110,000 mi

PU BEGAN VIBRATING, ( LIKE GOING OVER ROUGH ROAD), IT WOULD STOP. BUT THEN GO A MILE OR SO FARTHER AND IT WOULD BEGIN AGAIN. THIS WAS DRIVEN ON HWY. MECHANIC REPLACED LOWER BALL JOINTS AND SWAY BAR LINKS. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HE TRIED EVERYTHING HE COULD TO REMEDY IT BUT COULD NOT. MILAGE IS 72,000.

NHTSA ID

10849992

Incident

Dec 15, 2015

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 03/17/15*LJ UPDATED 08/28/2017*CT

NHTSA ID

10639868

Incident

Jun 13, 2007

Mileage

20,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE HEARD A SQUEAKY NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLT JOINTS, TIE ROD AND SWAY BAR WERE MALFUNCTIONING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,427.

NHTSA ID

10556602

Incident

Dec 13, 2011

Mileage

45,000 mi

I HAVE A 2007 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB, V-6 THAT WAS BOUGHT NEW AND SERVICED AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. NO ONE ELSE HAS WORKED ON IT. I TOOK IT IN FOR THE REGULAR OIL CHANGE RECENTLY AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK ON A POPPING KIND OF SOUND COMING FROM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE RIGHT FRONT END. THE DEALER SAID I NEEDED SHOCKS ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. IT COST ME ABOUT $950.00 TO HAVE THIS DONE. I AM 65 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING SINCE I WAS 16 YEARS OLD. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS, BUT HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE SHOCKS IN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. THIS IS MY THIRD DAKOTA. THE FIRST TWO WERE USED AS WORK TRUCKS AND CARRIED HEAVY LOADS JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY. BOTH HAD OVER 100,000 MILES WHEN I GOT RID OF THEM AND I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH THE SHOCKS. THE DAKOTA I CURRENTLY HAVE HAS NOT BEEN USED FOR CARRYING ANYTHING HEAVY. PROBABLY THE HEAVIEST WAS A COUPLE OF SHEETS OF PLYWOOD. I HAVE TALKED TO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS IN CHARGE OF ALL FLEET VEHICLES FOR THE COUNTY IN WHICH I LIVE. HE SAID OF ALL THE VEHICLES HE HAS WORKED ON, HE HAS NEVER HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR SHOCKS. HE SAID EVERY NOW AND THEM ONE SHOCK ON A VEHICLE MAY GO OUT, BUT NEVER ALL FOUR. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME TO CONTACT DODGE. DODGE LOOKED AT THE SPECIFICS AND SAID IT WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO THE CLEANERS BY THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10495980

Incident

Jan 12, 2013

Mileage

56,952 mi

THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 11/07 NEW. THE CORROSION ON THE DRIVE COMPONENTS IS INCREDIBLE. YOU CAN CHIP THE RUST OFF . THE BRAKES HAVE SEIZED UP FOUR TIMES. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS JUST PAST THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY AT APPROXIMATELY 22,000 MILES. I CALLED THE DEALER AT THE TIME, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO WARRANTY. THE LAST TIME WAS FRIDAY 3/23/2012, AT 4 1/2 YEARS OLD AT 28,000 MILES. IT BURNED UP THE FRONT PADS. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME I HAVE HAD TO REDO THE FRONT BRAKES. I HAVE REDONE THE REAR BRAKES ONCE FOR THE SAME REASON. I CALLED RAM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, AND AT FIRST THEIR REPRESENTATIVE SAID THEY WOULD BUY THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. AFTER TALKING WITH THEM A SECOND TIME, A DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVE REFUSED TO HELP ME AND SAID THE CASE WAS CLOSED. THE STEERING COLUMN IS FALLING APART, THE MUFFLER AND DRIVESHAFT ARE READY TO FALL OFF, THE FRONT AXLES, BALL JOINTS AND THE STRUTS ARE EXTREMELY RUSTY. YOU CAN CHIP THE RUST OFF OF THESE COMPONENTS. I DISMANTLED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AGAIN, AND THE CALIPER PISTONS WERE FROZEN SOLID. UPON REMOVAL, I FOUND THE CALIPER PISTONS FULL OF RUST AND PITS ON THE INSIDE. THE BODY ITSELF HAS NO CORROSION AT ALL. I AM LOOKING AT $2000 TO $3000 THOUSAND IN PARTS ALONE. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER TOWED A BOAT OR BEEN ON A BOAT RAMP. I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THEY RARELY USE SALT OR SOLUTION ON THE ROADS AND HAVE MAYBE 1-3 INCHES OF SNOW A YEAR. I NEED HELP AS THIS TRUCK IS GOING TO FALL APART WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO. I HAVE DOCUMENTED ALL OF THIS WITH PICTURES, AND I HAVE A CASE NUMBER WITH CHRYSLER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10452852

Incident

Dec 15, 2010

Mileage

22,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE FRONT END SUSPENSION FELL FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND THE TIRE ROD PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ID

10451133

Incident

Mar 11, 2012

Mileage

63,000 mi

2007 DODGE DAKOTA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS VEHICLE REPAIRS RELATED TO SHOCKS *TGW THE DEALER ONLY INSTALLED A RIGHT SHOCK, BECAUSE THE MOUNT FOR THE LEFT SHOCK HAD A BROKEN WELD AND THE SHOCK WAS BENT. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. AN INSPECTION AT THE BODY SHOP REVEALED, THE BED NEEDED TO BE REMOVED, BECAUSE THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FRAME. *JB

NHTSA ID

10444133

Incident

May 1, 2011

2007 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 63700 MILES HAD TIE ROD END FAILURE CAUSING STEERING AND CONTROL PROBLEMS. HAD THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED THERE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A SERIOUS AND POSSIBLY DEADLY EVENT. I HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED AND CONTACTED DODGE ABOUT THIS. DODGE COVERED ALL EXPENSES ($265.00) AT 65500 MILES I TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR INSPECTION BECAUSE IT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE MECHANIC FOUND A NAIL IN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WHICH CAUSED THE PULLING PROBLEM BUT FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES WERE NOTICEABLY WORN. I THEN TOOK THE TRUCK TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER WHERE THEIR INSPECTION CONFIRMED THE PREVIOUS FINDINGS. AT BOTH INSPECTIONS I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIE ROD END FAILURE AND THE BALL JOINT PROBLEM HAD MOST LIKELY OCCURRED BECAUSE THESE JOINTS HAD NO GREASE FITTINGS FOR LUBRICATION. I CALLED DODGE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPAIR THE BALL JOINT ISSUE AND THEY REFUSED. I THINK THAT HAD THESE JOINTS COME WITH GREASE FITTINGS THESE ISSUES (TIE ROD ENDS AND BALL JOINTS) WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM AT 60000+ MILES UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. QUOTE FOR REPAIRS AT DOSAGE DEALER $1451.00. *TR

NHTSA ID

10439682

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

Mileage

63,730 mi

2007 DODGE DAKOTA SLT QUAD CAB (4-DOOR), 4WD V-8 FLEXFUEL W/49,000 MILES, PURCHASED 2 YEARS AGO WITH 22,000 MILES. DRIVE VERY CONSERVATIVELY. INFREQUENTLY HAUL LIGHT LOADS, AND HAVE NEVER HAULED A TRAILER. NOTICED FRONT-END RATTLING NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER COMMON EVERYDAY ROAD BUMPS. FOUND BOTH TIE ROD ENDS WERE SLOPPY AND AT RISK OF FALLING OFF. ALSO FOUND THE LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT HAD UNACCEPTABLE PLAY. HAD TO REPLACE ALL THREE PARTS. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10321123

Incident

Mar 20, 2010

Mileage

49,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRES AND THE RIDE PERFORMANCE WAS VERY POOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE AND PLACED ON A MASSIVE BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

NHTSA ID

10259923

Incident

May 10, 2008

Mileage

19,000 mi

NOTIFIED DEALER OF TIRE STRUTS & SHOCKS ON JULY 19, 2008 BY PHONE. LARRY SAID TO COME IN AND PICK UP WARRANTY AND FACTORY WARRANTY AND TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DODGE SERVICE DEALER LITHIA DODGE FOR WARRANTY AND TO PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. APPOINTMENT MADE TO GET VEHICLE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234955

Incident

Jul 19, 2008

Mileage

23,683 mi

I PURCHASED A NEW 2007 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB, 4X4, AUTOMATIC. THE FRONT SHOCKS ARE INADEQUATE FOR THE VEHICLE. ON BUMPS AND DIPS THE FRONT END WILL CONTINUE TO BOUNCE SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THE INITIAL COMPRESSION OF THE SHOCKS. AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE ALMOST BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE ON A GOOD DIP OR BRIDGE JOINT. AN INVESTIGATION OF AN INTERNET FORUM DEDICATED TO DODGE DAKOTAS (DODGE WORLD) REVELAED THAT THIS POBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE A FRONT END CHANGE TO THE VEHICLE IN 2005. DODGE DOES NOT FEEL THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SHOCKS. I WOULDN'T MINE BUYING AFTERMARKET SHOCKS AND FIXING THE PROBLEM MYSELF, BUT THERE ARE NONE AVAILABLE. *CN

NHTSA ID

10216346

Incident

Nov 10, 2007

Mileage

10 mi