8.0
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$116.00
Average Mileage:
65,304 miles
Total Complaints:
9 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (6 reports)
- replacing drivers side brake caliper (2 reports)
- flushed fluid with synthetic dot 4 (1 reports)
brakes problem
Helpful Websites About 2002 Dodge Dakota brakes lock up
2007Jul 20
Dakota Quad Cab 4.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 100,000 miles
On hot summer days,in stop and go traffic, the front caliper would lock up.This also happened on both sides.I read somewhere that they were making the pistons out of light weight, composite material rather than steel.I believe these were expanding at that high temperature.I changed the calipers(with after market calipers not dealer) and the it never happened again.
2008Sep 15
Dakota Sport 4.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 33,000 miles
I've had one caliper lock up on me. Fixed the problem so far without replacing any hardware. Flush out the brake fluid thoroughly including removing calipers and master cylinder and flush out with brake clean and replace fluid with SYNTHETIC dot 4. Regular brake fluid should be changed (flushed) every 4 years or so, better off using synthetic. Also don't waste your money on regular rotors (junk), use DRILLED rotor (not slotted). 38,000 miles and still using original pads.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Apr 16
Dakota 4.7L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 97,000 miles
The 2002 Dakota left front brake overheated and it was pulling hard to the left. The drive home was only 2 miles, and once I got there, I jacked up the truck and pulled the front wheels off. The left front rotor had overheated and the rubber on that caliper was burnt. The brake pads only have 15,000 miles on them. Before getting all the parts I decided to look on line for similar problems and found a bunch. I know for sure I will change the front pads, (will use ceramic this time, in hopes that it will help) both rotors and left front caliper. I repack the wheel bearings and checked the brake fluid condition and could find nothing.
Any help would be appreciated. I sent an email to the fellow that used ceramic pads asking for an update. This is a safety issue of great importance. Thanks!
2008Nov 12
Dakota Sport Quad Cab 3.9L
- Automatic transmission
- 72,000 miles
Just bought this truck four day's ago. Today at a stoplight Smoke started pouring out from the front end. Pulled off looked under the hood... no smoke. Drove again and could feel the slight double pulse in the break pedal like the Anti-lock Breaks were going off. Stopped at light Sh*t Loads of Smoke! Thinking I'm on fire we pulled off, my drivers wheel was so HoTT you could not hold you hand to it. The drivers Caliper was locked up, only the Drivers side.
2008Sep 03
Dakota Sport 3.9L V6
- Manual transmission
- 50,000 miles
The LF brake locked up in traffic about four time starting at ~50K miles. Each time the temperature was over 80F and I was in stop-and-go traffic. I replaced the caliper and rotor and L and R pads. I'm up to ~76K miles now, and the RF locked in September at the start of a 160 mile trip. I pulled to the side, waited about ten minutes, then drove on the berm of Interstate-40 until I was sure the brake was unlocked. Traffic had subsided by then and I drove at 75mph on down to the beach. The problem was gone for the weekend and hasn't reoccurred. I plan to replace the RF caliper and L and R pads with ceramics (thanks for the tip), but (thanks to another of your reader's comment), I'm starting to think it might be deterioration of the flexible part of the brake lines. I'll replace those too. Try babying the brakes in hot weather, in traffic (the manual tranny helps) . From my experience, I'll be amazed if someone reports this type of problem in the absence of hot weather and heavy stop and go traffic. (I'll bet I don't have to replace the Rside caliper and rotor until the beginning on next Summer.) Other than this, my Dakota's been great since I drove it off the dealer's lot in 2002. Good luck everyone!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Jul 28
Dakota SXT 3.9L
- Automatic transmission
- 70,000 miles
A months ago I started to notice a wobble in the front end of my Dakota when I applied my brakes. I took my truck to the Dodge dealer to have the front brakes & rotors replaced. Shortly after that I started to notice a smell coming from my front brakes, I shrugged this of thinking it was from having new brakes put on my truck. Today I drove approx. 60 miles, my truck seem to running a little sluggish. When I stop at a Quick Stop a significant amount of smoke was coming from my front right side (brakes). I waited until the smoke subsided and drove about 1.5 miles to my house. I thought well maybe the brakes needed a little adjusting. I got online to research what i needed to do to fix the problem and to my surprise there numerous complaints out there about brakes locking up on pretty much every series of Dodge Dakotas dating back to 1989. This is a serious safety issue and I am going to make a complaint to the Better Business Bureau.
2008May 23
Dakota Quad Cab Sport 3.7L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 72,000 miles
went on vacation from va to nc. didn't have no problems till we got there and started smelling the brakes, thought maybe it was the rv in front of me, but it started dragging. I would let off the brake and i could still feel it braking and pulling to the left. Had to ride it down the hill for about a mile or more. By the time we got to bottom of hill it started smoking. waited a while and they got unstuck. changed brakes when i got home, week later they tried to lock up again, i had to keep riding it in low gear to keep from it. This is a serious issue!!! someone is going to get involved in a serious accident if something isn't done soon. i cant believe the money people have put into trying to fix this problem and no solution....what to do???
1920Oct 20
Dakota 4x4 Sport 4.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 24,700 miles
As of April 4 2008 this will have been the most severe of my front brakes not releasing and making the truck shake. Calipers and rotors were extremely hot.I think this should have been a recall from Dodge because danger of brakes locking up or fading altogether causing an accident. It's been a great truck other than this.
We have partnered with JustAnswer to offer online auto repair help and advice from expert professional automotive technicians. You describe your brakes problem or ask your question and they try to help you figure it out. The fee is typically $9 to $15, but you can offer to pay more for really tough questions. You will usually receive an answer in 10 minutes or less, and you do not have to pay anything unless you accept the answer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Nov 15
Dakota 4x4 4.7L
While cruising at 50mph I noticed the transmission downshifting and my speed slowly decreasing as I continued pushing on the gas. At first I thought the transmission was going, but as I slowed I noticed the steering was pulling more and more to the right. Upon pulling to the side of the road it was obvious from the smell and the smoke pouring from the right front wheel that the brake caliper had locked up. After letting the wheel cool a bit I removed the tire and sure enough found it was impossible to turn the rotor. I then used the crow bar to pry the brake pads away from the rotor just enough to get the rotor to turn again. I turned the rotor several times in each direction while my wife pumped the brake - hmmm, no more binding. I reinstalled the wheel and drove 50 miles home with no problems, but using the brakes as little as possible. I haven't yet disassembled the brakes to determine what the problem was, but can't imagine what would cause a brake caliper to suddenly lock up like that.
I also own two Toyota's with over 200K miles on each of them, a Nissan with 150K, and Honda with 120K and I've never had this kind of problem with any of those cars. I purchased the Dodge because the price of the foreign trucks was more than I originally wanted to pay. However, I've discovered (again) the old adage proves true: "You get what you pay for". When I get the Dakota fixed I may now consider trading it in for a Toyota Tacoma, Tundra or Nissan Titan.
Mike L.
Simpsonville, SC, USA
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