RoadVitals

2008 Dodge Dakota Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Oct 3, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
12%
of 91 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

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 2008 Dodge Dakota submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Oct 3, 2017

REF MFR RECALL 870- NHTSA RECALL 00V-193. BRAKE LINE LEAKING FROM RUBBING AGAINST POWER STEERING HOSE. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER (M&L CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM, LEXINGTON NC) WAS TOLD THEY HAD THE BRAKE LINE BUT NOT PART #CBED6701 AND COULD NOT REPAIR UNDER RECALL BUT COULD SELL ME A BRAKE LINE, REFERRED ME TO CUSTOMER SERVICE @ 800-992-1997. THEY TOOK INFORMATION AND SAID THEY HAD TO CHECK WITH DEALER. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING AFTER 10 DAYS FROM DEALER OR CUSTOMER SERVICE. MEANWHILE I HAVE TO ADD BRAKE FLUID TO KEEP FROM LOSING MY BRAKES WHEN THEY HAVE THE BRAKE LINE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT SAY I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.

NHTSA ID
11031543
Incident
Sep 12, 2017
Mileage
270,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 3, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE DRAGGING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BOUNCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CALIPERS WERE STICKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ UPDATED 05/02/18*JB *AS

NHTSA ID
10808192
Incident
Jul 17, 2015
Mileage
50,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 20, 2014

WHEEL CYLINDER FOR THE REAR BRAKES WAS FAULTY AND LEAKING. THIS LED TO THE BRAKES BEING PARTIALLY ON CONSTANTLY, AND THE BRAKE SHOES TO WEAR TO BELOW SAFE LIMITS WITHIN A YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10659866
Incident
Oct 16, 2014
Mileage
76,941 mi
BrakesExterior lightingSeat belts
Filed Jul 29, 2014

RE: 2008 DODGE DAKOTA BEEN SEARCHING FOR RECALL ON THE ABOVE VEHICLE, BEEN STOPPED NUMEROUS OF TIME BY OFFICERS ABOUT SIGNALS. HAVE REPLACED BULBS AND DOESN'T WORK. PROBLEMS: TURNS LEFT SIGNAL LIGHT ON AND THE RIGHT ONE COMES ON, THIS HAPPENS 95% OF THE TIME. EMERGENCY FLASHES DOES NOT WORK 75% OF THE TIME. *JS

NHTSA ID
10617180
Incident
Apr 7, 2014
Mileage
65,000 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Nov 20, 2013

REPAIR SHOP SAID I NEEDED NEW FRONT BRAKE PADS & ROTORS, TIE RODS WERE ABOUT TO FALL OFF, SAID IT WAS DANGER TO DRIVE. CHRYSLER DEALER SAID IT WAS OUT WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10553046
Incident
Mar 5, 2013
Mileage
30,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 13, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIGOROUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND CLEANED THE ROTORS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FRONT END AND NOT NECESSARILY THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10543526
Incident
Sep 13, 2009
Mileage
30,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesSeat belts
Filed Jul 29, 2013
Crash reported2 injuries reported

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

NHTSA ID
10532389
Incident
Oct 2, 2012
Mileage
620,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 31, 2012

I HAD PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE IN FEB 2011, AND EVER SINCE I HAVE REPORTED TO MY DEALER THAT I BEEN FEELING VIBRATION WHEN I APPLY MY BRAKES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, STEERING WHEEL STARTS TO SHAKE AND BRAKES SHAKE WHEN APPLIED. THEY HAD TEST DROVE IT AN THEY CAME BACK AN TOLD ME IT WAS JUST THE ROAD, THEY INFORMED TO CHANGE THE BREAKS AND ROTORS, AND I SHOULD B FINE, SO I DID. NOW IM HAVING TROUBLE WITH ROAD VIBRATION FROM NEW TIRES, ALSO HAD A ALIGNMENT FOR ALL FOUR TIRES, AND THEY NOT ABLE TO KEEP PROPER BALANCE AND NOW AGAIN WITH MY ROTORS AND BRAKES SHAKES WHEN I APPLY AND I FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I JUST MAY NEED TO TAKE IT IN HAVE THEM LOOK EVERYTHING OVERAGAIN, BUT BY ANOTHER MECHANIC.. *TR

NHTSA ID
10482783
Incident
Feb 14, 2011
Mileage
30,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 7, 2012

BRAKES LOCKED AND SMOKED WHEN GOING OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY DAKOTA. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO STOP. THE BRAKES SMELLED LIKE THEY WERE BURNING. I WAITED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND PROCEEDED TO TRY TO GET TO THE NEXT EXIT. HOWEVER, THE SHAKING CONTINUED. I PULLED OVER ONCE AGAIN AND WAITED FOR ANOTHER 30 MINUTES. AT THIS POINT, I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND IT DIDN'T DO IT ANYMORE. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THIS CHECKED, I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CALIPERS, PADS AND ROTORS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THE WEB, I'M FINDING THIS IS HAPPENING TO SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS NAME BRAND: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/DODGE/DAKOTA/2002/BRAKES/BRAKES_LOCK_UP.SHTML. BASED ON THE COMPLAINT AND EVEN IF THE BRAKES GETS FIXED, IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT USING THE CAR TO GO ANYWHERE FAR SINCE I FEEL IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN IT FIXED YET AS I'M NOT SURE IT'S EVEN WORTH IT. THIS HAPPENED TO ANOTHER 2005 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK I HAD BUT SINCE I WAS STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY, IT WAS FIXED ALTHOUGH THEY GAVE ME A HARD TIME ACCUSING ME OF TAKING THE CAR ELSEWHERE FOR MAINTENANCE. I THOUGHT THE ISSUE WITH DAKOTAS WAS A ONE-TIME INCIDENT. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE FURTHER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10442772
Incident
Oct 3, 2011
Mileage
42,737 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 9, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKED. THE CONTACT DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE ROTOR, CALIPER, AND BRAKE SHOE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,575.

NHTSA ID
10405744
Incident
Apr 25, 2011
Mileage
18,575 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 17, 2008

FRONT BRAKES GET GRABBY, THAN LOCK-UP, WHEN DRIVEN AT RANDOM SPEEDS. THIS CAUSES THE WHEELS TO SMOKE AND ROTOR GRINDING. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 7 TIMES FROM 500 MILES TO 10,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE 2 DIFFERENT DODGE DEALERS FOR A TOTAL 3 TIMES. THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET THE BRAKES TO UNLOCK IS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND RESTART THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10234632
Incident
Jul 16, 2008
Mileage
500 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .