Dodge Dakota Reviews

At 55000 miles, my steering was starting to get harder and harder. I took the truck to my mech. and had rack and pinion and steering pump replaced. At 70000 I needed to put on new orders and pads (no problem there - regular maintenance). However, I could see my ball joints were starting to go bad. When I went online to see about recalls, I see all these other vin # having recalls on their ball joints but not mine. How could this be? Has anyone else with the 2004 have issues with the ball joints? Thanks.

Bought this truck used with 118k miles on it. Within 600 miles of driving, transmission had to be replaced. Within 2000 miles later, gauges decided to work when they wanted. Brakes had to be replaced within 3000 miles. Compared to my Tacoma, this truck is pathetic and I am pissed I bought it. Dodge should feel disgraced for every making such a vehicle. The steering wheel clunks when turning. The engine has no power and I already get the feeling the transmission is not going to last.

I have replace the right front wheel bearings and ball joint at least twice and guess what? It is still unstable in the front end, tire are wearing fast and the paint on this truck has defects and the paint is quickly coming off.. Is there anything I can do? I like Dodge but after these 2 main problems, I will never purchase a DODGE AGAIN. However that does not resolve the issues with the paint and front end, that I think DODGE should be held responsible for. If my tire flies off and someone gets killed, my family know about this consumer reporting and you will have them to deal with... But as for now I want this FIXED... Please help me. I have grandchildren that have to ride in this vehicle and I don't want us to be in some horrible accident... Thank you.

2005 Dodge Dakota SLT - We purchased this truck new from the Dealer. From the start, we would hear strange humming noises from the front hood area. This started at 1497 miles. We took it back and they said the cowl cover needed to be taped. The noise never stopped; also the transmission would not always engage when first starting out, and RPM would rev to 2500+. We have taken it in several times and were told, "That is how Dodge trucks work," and to deal with it basically.

05 Dakota - So very disappointed in this tranny... Supposed to be a tow package and I didn't even use it for that. Few carpentry tools in the back and the thing overheats after 5 miles, then finally dies. $2,350.00 to replace and it still won't be worth much after I fix it. Only 102k... I am definitely getting rid of it. Just don't know if I'm going to fix the tranny first. Oh, and my 7-year-old car is rusted out on both fenders and up inside the wheel wells. You suck! Dodge or Daimler... or Chrysler or Daewoo or whoever the heck you are. Thanks for nothing and for robbing me blind.

My complaint is I bought a new 2005 Dodge Dakota and it is bubbling up and peeling. Also, the tire well is rusting on both sides. I was told, "It is out of warranty, nothing we can do." This is not what should happen. It is only 7 yrs. old. I am very disappointed.

I bought my 2001 Dodge Dakota (new) on 07/18/2001 (VIN **). Approximately one year ago, the clear coat started peeling and now about half of the coat is off. Do you have any idea why this is happening? Is this covered under any type of warranty? Thanks.

I purchased a 2005 Dodge Dakota in July. The top coat began peeling within weeks and is getting worse. It only has 76,000 miles. While researching, I have discovered that it is a widespread problem with Dodge.

I contacted them regarding the recall on a Dodge trucks Dakota 2004. The front wheel assembly, hub assembly, stating if not repaired or corrected, the front wheel could come off and could separate and crash. This did happen to our Dodge Dakota Truck, 2004.The wheel fell off, and the front assembly came right out of the hub that holds it. Caused the gear shift to snap in the column due to the jerk of the truck when this happened. The guy said only certain VIN numbers were recalled and ours was not one of them! Does it not matter that this happen? It could have cost us our lives, me and children. I lost steering control over this and hit a post causing side doors to be crushed when this happened, I crashed! They refuse to correct it or fix the truck and replace the defected parts in this truck. We paid too much money for this to happen. Saving them a buck for just certain VIN numbers!

I bought a 2005 Dodge Dakota used in 2011 with 90k on it. I have had nothing but problems with the front end on the truck, from the steering column shaking constantly to the loud squeaks from all the ball joints. I have already gone through 1 set of tires and 2 front wheel bearings on the front end to solve the problem. The dealership is not doing anything about this situation. Everyone with this vehicle is experiencing the same problem. Actions need to be taken. This is beginning to get very expensive.

Sept. 2011, My Dodge Dakota 2008 with 34,500 miles of local driving dropped the left tie rod off the ball joint. I just pulled into a parking lot when it let go. Had I been driving down the road, the front of the truck would have been on the pavement and more of a problem. There was no warning or noises. Be sure and have your front end checked so it won't happen to you.

I purchased a 2010 Dodge Dakota, Big Horn edition on July 2010. I have noticed that every time it rains; it leaks to the inside of my handle grip on the driver's side, then down the vents and to the floor. My floor on that side is a puddle.

I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota, which I had to replace the brake lines on. When I went to put the caliper back on, the holes in the steering knuckle were stripped and they were not well tightened. I have tried every used parts place around town and can't get a steering knuckle anywhere. Apparently, the part is known for being faulty, and second places can't keep them in stock. I was told the Dodge Durango has the same problems.

The clear coat peels off my 1999 Dodge Dakota. It has been doing so for the four years that I've owned it. It wasn't under warranty, so I never approached any dealer. Only the hood and roof were peeling, until last night when we had a big thunderstorm. Now, it's peeling on all fenders, everywhere. There are big patches, bigger than a silver dollar, everywhere.

I've had two persistent complaints about my 2005 Dodge Dakota that have never been resolved.

The headliner on my 2004 Dodge Dakota truck is coming apart and hanging low. I feel that it is a defect due to shoddy workmanship, but just because it is not a safety hazard, it's not considered a defect. Whereas the $175 - $225 cost to replace is not a lot of money to a lot of people, it is to me.

I own a 2003 Dodge Dakota that I have several different problems with and now it’s the front ball joints. According to Broadway Dodge, the ball joints were replaced on a recall. About 3 years ago, the truck only has 65000 on it and they need to be replaced again. When I explained this to the service manager, he told me that it was a design problem by Dodge due to the added weight having a V-8 engine in it and that a truck with a 6 cylinder wasn’t having problems. The truck has a 7-year 70000 mile warranty. But seeing as how the ball joints were already replaced, there was nothing he could do. My complaint is that if a manufacture has a design problem, why pass the expense on to the consumer. I can’t afford another Dodge product with that kind of failure rate getting 35000 miles out of a truck front end. Give me a break Dodge. Design heavier ball joints—others do! Another 700.00 expense that could have been avoided if the Dodge Corp. would have stood behind their product.

I own a 2002 5-speed Dakota quad cab 4.7l with 123,000 + miles and the vehicle runs great. I also own a 2003 Durango 4.7l with 82,000 miles which besides the vehicle using fuel like it's going out of style runs great. If you don't mind the fuel consumption these great vehicles.

Notified dealership of my problem with defective factory pain on my 2003 Dodge Dakota, Quad Cab. Pain peeling off. The roof in a total mess. The hood is beginning to peel, as like the roof. As I spoke to the dealer, he replied that there had not been any complaints of this problem. The corporation is aware of the defect of the paint.

I had recently posted a complaint about the dodge 2008 Dakota 4x4 that I bought. It has had a water leak inside the cab coming out of the drivers side hand grip. The dealership said that they thought it had a crack in the sheet metal that held a seam together. Now, they say it was some screws that were in the sheet metal that were too small.

I have bought a 2008 dodge Dakota crew cab 4x4 in Nov. 2008. That spring, after it rained, there was a leak running down the drivers seat handle grip. I thought I was imaging things. but the next time it rained and it leaked. I called my dealer and they had me bring it in and of course, they couldn't find the leak. So I took it home. Well, it leaked again and they had me bring it in. They decided it was the door seals. They ordered new ones and changed them a couple of days later. It leaked again.

I own a 2001 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab 4X4. This vehicle had several recalls but the one that has me upset is Recall D47 upper ball joints. Mine was recalled and ball joints were replaced with about 37,000 on the pickup. Today, I have 77,000 on the pickup and the upper ball joints are bad again. I've talked with Dodge/Chrysler a few times. They had me take the pickup into a Dodge dealer and have the ball joints checked which after they confirmed they were bad, I called Chrysler and I was denied replacement because they had already replaced the ball joints on the first recall.

My husband and I were driving in our 2003 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab when we smelled smoke. My husband looked in the rear view mirror and saw smoke coming from between the cab and the truck bed. I glanced in the side mirrors at the same time and saw something liquid or melted dripping onto the roadway and burning, leaving a trail of fire behind us. We immediately pulled off the road (Thank God there was a spot!) but had no brakes and luckily the loose dirt and slight uphill slowed us enough so he could throw it in park. I bailed out my side and ran. My husband attempted to get out his side but the flames were too high. He was able to get out on my side and as he hit the ground briefly, looked under the vehicle to see what appeared to be the catalytic converter hanging down and burning - the entire underside was on fire (which I also saw as I looked back) and the truck exploded about 10-15 seconds after we escaped. The flames on the truck reached 20 - 30 feet at one point. Needless to say, the entire truck was destroyed, even the wheels and springs melted. I've heard of vehicles catching fire while parked, but never as you're driving. If we had not had the spot to pull over, we would have been in the truck and probably killed.

I bought a used Dodge Dakota from a young kid, who bought it new and only put 70,000 miles on it. It had the original tires on it. There wasn't anything wrong you could tell with it. He could not afford the truck anymore. 3 of the tires went flat in my driveway. The 4th fell off as I was driving it on a busy two-way road. My truck veered to the left and hit almost head on. Luckily, I dragged, leaving gouges on the road to the side, driving on 3 wheels. The tire that came off wedged itself under the front end of another car. Luckily, no one was hurt, but it was right before Christmas and all three cars were totaled.

Ball joint problem with my 2005 Dakota truck. It needs repair.

I purchased a used 2005 Dodge Dakota in 2006 and it had 20,000 miles. When I hit 50,000 miles a loud creeking noise began in my front end. I was told by three different mechanics that it was my front upper and lower ball joints. The problem was that the parts were on national back-order. Now I have 60,000 miles and the noise is now a metal grinding noise and the front-end feels loose, the steering is starting to slip, and when I go above 50 mph the truck feels like it is going to fall apart. The consquences are quite economical and that I avoid driving on highways for the fear of the car crashing.

I purchased a 2005 Dodge Dakota from CarMax approximately one year ago. While it was under the factory warranty it developed a vibration. After much money and trying many things and multiple trips to several different dealers; Southeast Jeep Eagle, Hanson Chrysler and it is currently at Sterling Marlin Dodge they tell me they cannot fix it that the vibration that it has is inherent to that model year and make of vehicle. I say it should not vibrate at all. This is not a small vibration the seat shakes pretty bad.

The paint on my 2000 Dodge Dakota is wearing away, not just fading but wearing to bare primer.

Ball joints failed at 36,000 miles. Why is Dodge not addressing these chronic ball joint and steering issues? Right now I dont think my Dakota is safe to drive until I shell out a small fortune to get the front end repaired. A very large repair bill at 36,000 miles, unacceptable.

I bought a new 06 Dodge Dakota last Septand shortly their after I found water had filled the pass side of the truck overnight after a rain storm, I returned the truck to the dealership and they sealed the air unit under the dash from water leaking in. Several months latter the truck developed a bad shaking and I returned it to the dealer for repairs, they turned all the rotors and drums installed new shoes and , wow then the problems started . The pedal went to the floor and no emergency brake, this all happened in 3 trips to the dealer. They did adjust the rear brakes so the emergency brake held but the pedal still is spongy and creeps down holding it. I have called Chrysler customer service 8 times with no avail they say the dealer sayes it's ok so theirs nothing they can do. In the mean time I'm paying for a new truck and have to wonder if I'll be able to stop when I need to. What a life. Thi is my first new Chrysler product, wonder if their will ever be a second. No reciepts were ever given even after I asked for them so I'm pretty well strapped now. R Miller

i purchased a 1999 dakota 5.2 4x4 and it keeps shutting down...and in np particular pattern...just shuts off doesnt matter if im on the interstate or in town...loses all control of brakes....and its unsafe and is gonna get someone killed.. i got so fed up with it that its sittin and home and im makin payments on it still but refuse to drive it because it can injure myself or others...it is just not safe and as many complaints as there are bout this dodge needs to man up and stand behind their customers and maybe save lives

my dakota only has 30.000 miles on it and since it hit 28,000 we have put about $1,500 into the brakes. august 2006 we replaced brakes in preparation for our family vacation drive to cape cod. STS said it needed brakes and rotors and we had the work done. 1 week later we left for cape cod. In Massachutes with 3 exits left to go before our overnight brake in foxboro....our front brakes were smoking and the brakes had locked on. When we got the truck to a Midas in Orleans in cape cod, we found out that the calipors had locked the brakes on and that we needed new brakes, rotors and calipors. Now just this week (march 22nd) the brakes smoked and completely failed in my 30mile drive home from work. We brought the truck to Midas in NJ to find out that this time the brake lines went. Another brake repair. The mechanic at Midas claims that he has repaired alot of Dakota's and ford f-150's often with this problem.

The transmission on my 1995 Dodge Dakota, with only 90,000 miles has quit pulling due to torque converter problems. This truck has an excellent service record, having had a transmission service three times in the last 47000 miles.