This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Front cv axle(hub and bearing) failure while driving. The intermediate axle also needs replacing due to severe rust from cv axle. The upper upper ball joint has been replaced twice. The front headlights do not provide adequete visability at night.
Key and shift lever lockout malfunctioning: In a running vehicle in "drive", the key can be turned to the off position, turning the motor off, leaving the automatic transmission in "drive" and the key removed without the automatic transmission shift lever being placed in "park". if left in "drive" or "reverse", the vehicle will roll after the key is out, the brake is released and motor off. The shift lever moves freely back and forth between all positions with the key out of the ignition after following the sequence mentioned above. In order for the shift lever lockout to work properly again, the key must be removed only when the automatic transmission is in "park".
The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. While driving approximately 40 mph, the rear axle pinion nut loosened and the driveshaft was removed from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic stated that the differential and driveshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced the failure listed in NHTSA campaign number: 12V474000 (power train). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
I was driving in a small neighborhood and I hear a very distinct ticking noise coming from the front passenger side, after I looked at the area I noticed that the exhaust manifold bolts and heat shield were broke. This can cause exhaust fumes to come into the car while driving and should be taken care of.
The shifter lever came loose from its mounting. Either the roll pin worked up and out of position or the roll pin was not installed correctly at assembly. The transmission would not go easily into the " park " position allowing the truck to roll backwards on the driveway. Also, the transmission would not shift into " drive ". the problem on my truck has been fixed.
The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the vehicle was engaged in four wheel drive when the transmission erroneously slipped into neutral, causing the vehicle to roll away in reverse. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic, who indicated that the electronic shift transfer case had malfunctioned. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 01V077000 (power train). The failure mileage was 81,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the truck transfer control module independently switched from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive, causing the tires to seize. The contact had to unhook the wires from the transfer case and power the vehicle off in order for the contact to secure the vehicle in two-wheel drive mode. The failure was recurring. The contact, who was a mechanic diagnosed that the transfer case control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 124,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the transfer case control module was defective. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who verified the failure and stated that the transfer case module needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in recall NHTSA campaign id number: 01V077000 (power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 220,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph up a hill, he attempted to down shift from fifth to fourth gear, but the vehicle inadvertently shifted into reverse. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a diagnostic test. The technician stated that the transmission would have to be rebuilt and the transmission components needed to be replaced. The contact also stated that there was no lock out to keep the vehicle from shifting into revere when the vehicle was moving forward. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 100.
2001 Dodge Dakota had many problems with the drive train and brakes. The consumer heard a clunking noise when shifting from park to drive, reverse, etc. The rear tire on the right side stuck out from the vehicle. The driveshaft seemed to have alot O slack in it. There was a popping noise in the front end when making sharp slow turns. There was a whining noise in the steering and rear end when turning. The vehicle was taken tot he dealer but they were unable to duplicate the problems. The brake, rotors, calipers had to be replaced between 55-8000 miles.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Squaw Valley, CA, USA