Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FLUID
050060110/19/2001631623Subject regarding discolored brake fluid. *tt06/06/2002

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
SERVICE BRAKES
11/17/20121077001
 While stopped parking and taking vehicle out of gear, brakes failed and pedal went to the floor. this is a special order vehicle that included 4 wheel abs. after brakes failed and fluid leaked out of rear brake lines neither the abs or brake warning lights were indicated on the dash control panel. i am concerned that a brake line failed and no indication of failure showed on the control panel. with the failure not under any stopping function (vehicle was already stopped) and there was no report of failure with the control panel this is a very important safety issue if brakes fail while driving and first notice is complete loss of pedal will cause accident or at least loss of confidence and or control of vehicle. i am the original owner of this vehicle and have all records of repair over the history of the truck. i am very concerned that a brake line failure took place at all. i have owned dozens of vehicles over my driving life and have had vehicles with well over 200,000 miles with no brake line failures. if this is not a defect in design or workmanship, then the defect has to be in inferior material quality that should not be allowed in this important function required for operating a vehicle. *tr
11/17/2012107700
 While stopped parking and taking vehicle out of gear, brakes failed and pedal went to the floor. this is a special order vehicle that included 4 wheel abs. after brakes failed and fluid leaked out of rear brake lines neither the abs or brake warning lights were indicated on the dash control panel. i am concerned that a brake line failed and no indication of failure showed on the control panel. with the failure not under any stopping function (vehicle was already stopped) and there was no report of failure with the control panel this is a very important safety issue if brakes fail while driving and first notice is complete loss of pedal will cause accident or at least loss of confidence and or control of vehicle. i am the original owner of this vehicle and have all records of repair over the history of the truck. i am very concerned that a brake line failure took place at all. i have owned dozens of vehicles over my driving life and have had vehicles with well over 200,000 miles with no brake line failures. if this is not a defect in design or workmanship, then the defect has to be in inferior material quality that should not be allowed in this important function required for operating a vehicle.
08/30/2012998761
 Steel brake line to rear wheel rusted and leaked brake fluid out of master cyl. *tr
08/30/201299876
 Steel brake line to rear wheel rusted and leaked brake fluid out of master cyl.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - DISC - ROTOR
01/19/200415200108/29/2002
 My 2002 dodge dakota sport 4x2 has approximately 15,200 miles on it. at approximately 13,000 miles i began to notice that the front end started to rattle and seem loose when going over bumps. after doing some research and having someone look at it, i found that the ball joints are failing prematurely.
07/05/2003800010/20/2001
 I am concerned about the front bake rotors on dodge dakotas. mine were warped after less than 8000 miles of regular use, no towing or hauling with the vehicle. i have talked with and searched for others with similar problems and find that numerous other dakota owners have had the same problem. these rotors warp so badly that it becomes difficult/dangerous to stop the vehicle safely. when i took the vehicle in for service i was told that this is an uncommon problem and that it was most likely due to my use of the brakes. now after a total of 17,000 miles the brakes are now warped again. i have owned several other vehicles, many weighing more than a dakota and have never encountered any brake problems. i wonder if there is a design flaw with the dakota's brakes that is causing repeated warping. this warping does make it difficult to saftely and effectively stop the veheicle, especially in emergency situations.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
11/01/200976000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. while driving approximately 30 mph, the contact applied pressure to the brake pedal while approaching a stop sign. the brakes seized and the vehicle skidded and swerved. the contact was able to control the vehicle as the brakes returned to normal and the accelerator pedal was depressed. the failure recurred intermittently when driving at different speeds. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostics but the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 76,000.
11/01/200976000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. while driving approximately 30 mph, the contact applied pressure to the brake pedal while approaching a stop sign. the brakes seized and the vehicle skidded and swerved. the contact was able to control the vehicle as the brakes returned to normal and the accelerator pedal was depressed. the failure recurred intermittently when driving at different speeds. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostics but the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 76,000. kmj
11/01/200976000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. while driving at approximately 30 mph the contact applied pressure to the brake pedal while approaching a stop sign. the brakes locked up and the tires squealed causing the vehicle to swerve. the contact was able to control the vehicle. the brakes unlocked when the accelerator pedal was depressed. the failure occurred intermittently at different speeds. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostics. the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 76,000. ds
06/01/200310000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the front rotors and brakes overheated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer numerous times for the failure. where the dealer replaced the front brake pads, rotors, hoses and the brake lines, but the failure was not corrected. the vehicle continued to overheat and the vehicle was not further repaired. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 10,000 and the current mileage was 45,000. kmj
06/01/200310000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated the vehicle front rotors, and brake over heated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer numerous times for the failure. the dealer replaced the front brake pads, rotors, hoses, and the brake lines was also replaced, but the failure was not corrected. the vehicle continues to over heat. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin information was not available. the failure mileage was 10,000 and the current mileage was 45,000. li
09/01/2011114000
 Truck has been driving like something was grinding against my front right wheel for a week or so, i didnt think anything of it, it had just become an annoyance. id look under the wheel and everything looked okay and in shape, no damage was being done. the other day i drove a short distance and heard a pop, like something had popped near the wheel, i pulled over and could see no damage. i continued to drive and noticed that the grinding had stopped and my wheel seemed to be functioning correctly. i arrived to my destination with no problem. when i left the destination to return home, i started feeling heavy pull to the right on my steering wheel, if i let go of the steering wheel i would have gone into a ditch or the woods or another car. i then started noticed smoke coming from my right wheel, i was a few blocks away from home and figured i could make it, i started noticing my breaks were not working too well, and anytime id push on the breaks more smoke would arise, i went the 3 stop signs to my house and pulled in, ran around and saw that behind my wheel had caught on fire, took about 5 minutes to put the fire out with water and some cat litter we had lying around. it was so hot that it wouldn't cool down for about 45 mins to an hour. we would throw water on it and it would sizzle. i quickly removed the tire to prevent any damage to it. i noticed it had started to melt the plastic boot cover on the suspension. when you looked at the wheel you could see it had snapped off on the bottom half, causing the whole wheel to tilt inward which then caused a full on grind of the wheel and the breakpads and whatever else is down there causing such friction that it caught on fire. i then did research online and found that their had been a recall for this exact issue... :(
08/11/201145000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated while driving 35 mph and trying to slow the vehicle down he depressed the brake and as he depress the brake they locked. he then pulls to the side of the road waited until they cool down and drove home. he removed the left front tires and found the hub part of the brake burnt and changing color. the dealer was not contacted. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 45,000. mw
06/08/200854000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, he noticed that the brakes were getting hot and seizing. the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic, but the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. the brake pads, shoes, and calipers were repaired. the failure continued. the manufacturer had not been notified. the failure mileage was approximately 54,000. sm.
06/08/200854000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated that when depressing on the brakes, he noticed that they were getting hot and locking up. the vehicle was inspected by a independent mechanic and they advised him that they were unable to diagnose the failure, but the vehicle was repaired for the pads, shoes and calipers. the failure still had occurred after the brakes were replaced. the manufacturer has not been contacted. the failure mileage was approximately 54,000. tb
05/26/2011117000
 Tl. the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact the contact stated when the brakes are applied the brakes make an knocking sound. the contact stated vehicle jerks and the brakes smokes when the brakes are applied.the contact taken the vehicle to a dealer. the contact called the manufacturer but stated the manufacturer did not provide any assistance. the contact stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the failure mileage was 117,000. jo
07/05/201132000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated they have had to replace the right front caliber for the second time. the contact stated the vehicle had to have the caliber replaced the first time at 17,000 miles, because the caliber seized and does release completely. the contact stated this causes hit to over heat. the contact stated the caliber will not release until the vehicle cools down. the contact took the vehicle back to the dealer, but was told the caliber was no longer covered. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage and current mileages were 32,000.rl
01/01/201022000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the front breaks intermittently lock up while driving at various speeds. the breaks would lock up, unexpectedly, until the vehicle was stopped and allowed to rest. the breaks would begin to smoke during some of the failures. the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. the failure mileage was 22,000 and the current mileage was 27,000. sm.
03/06/201184200
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. while driving approximately between 40-50 mph, the brakes began to lock without warning when pressure was applied. the contact drove onto the emergency lane for a few minutes and was able to continue driving in spite of the brake malfunction. the failure occurred on three occasions. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic twice. the front brakes, brake pads and brake hose were replaced at different times. the failure persisted after the vehicle was repaired. the recent vehicle failure was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 84,200.
03/06/201184200
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. while driving approximately between 40-50 mph, the brakes began to lock without warning when pressure was applied. the contact drove onto the emergency lane for a few minutes and was able to continue driving in spite of the malfunction in the brakes. the failure occurred on three occasions. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic twice. the front brakes, front brake pads and brake hose were replaced at different times. the failure persisted after the repairs were performed. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 84,200.
03/06/201184200
 Tl-the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. while driving approximately between 40-50 mph, the brakes began to lock when pressure was applied without prior warning. the contact pulled over to the side of the road for a short period and resumed with the malfunction of the brakes. the failure occurred on three separate occasions. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic twice. the front brakes, front brake pads and brake hose were replaced at different times. the failure persisted after the repairs were performed. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 84,200. js
06/11/2009
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds in hot weather, she noticed that the brakes would smoke when they were not applied. the contact had to coast to the side of the road and wait for the brakes to cool down in order for the smoke to go disappear. the vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor had it been repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and advised them that they had not heard of the failure. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was approximately 72,000. the vin was unavailable.
06/11/2009
 Tl-the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated that when driving at various speeds in hot weather, she has noticed that the brakes would smoke and she would not be applying them. the driver would have to coast to the side of the road and wait for the brakes to cool down in order for the smoke to go disappear. the vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer nor has it been repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and advised them that they have not heard of this failure. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was approximately 72,000. the vin was unavailable. tb
03/07/201198000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the front driver side brake abnormally locked while driving 50 mph. the vehicle began to smoke and was left parked for several hours. the vehicle was neither inspected nor repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the current and failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
03/07/201198000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the left front brake suddenly locked up while the driver was traveling 50 mph. the vehicle was parked and emitted smoke for a few hours. the vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. the manufacturer had not been notified. the current and failure mileages were approximately 98,000-bk
07/19/200435000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the driver side front brake locked up and began smoking. the vehicle pulled over until it cooled off and then it released itself. he was able to continue driving. he changed the front brake pads and rotors himself. the failure continued intermittently. at 50,000 miles, he changed the front brake pads, rotors and calipers. the failure occurred again so he changed the front brake pads, rotors and calipers again. neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified. the current mileage was approximately 60,000. the failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
07/19/200435000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the driver side front brake locked up and began smoking. the vehicle pulled over until it cooled off and then it released itself. he was able to continue driving. he changed the front brake pads and rotors himself. the failure continued intermittently. at 50,000 miles, he changed the front brake pads, rotors and calipers. the failure occurred again so he changed the front brake pads, rotors and calipers again. neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified. the current mileage was approximately 60,000. the failure mileage was approximately 35,000-bk
05/01/2003300
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the front calipers locked while breaking causing the calipers to smoke and the brake shoe to crack the warning light doesn't illuminate before or after the failure occurred. the vehicle was taken to the garage numerous times, the garaged replaced the brake pads, calipers, and rotors three times. the failure wasn't corrected on october 11, 2010 while reversing less than 5 mph when she attempted to brake the pedal went to the floor she depress the brake pedal several times was able to bring the vehicle to stop. the vehicle will take to the garage to be diagnosed. the manufacturer will be contacted. the failure mileage was 300, and the current mileage was 111,000. li
08/15/2010120000
 One front brake failed to release resulting in excessive heat and smoke, difficult steering and stopping. will replace calipers, pads and rotors.
05/02/201037000
 Driving at interstate speed, vehicle started abruptly pulling hard to the left. i stopped the vehicle, the brakes were hott, and i needed to accelerate greater than normal to get the car to move. let the truck sit until brakes cooled off, and the problem didn't re-occur even after taking it to the dodge dealer. they could not replicate the problem. said they could start replacing brake parts in hopes of fixing it. the first incident was at 37,000miles, and just out of warranty. (sept. of 2005 was first time) the problem has happened about 8 times in the 54,000 miles i have on it now. no mechanic can tell me what's wrong, and it occurs intermittently out of the blue. i'm finding out that many, many other owners of the same make/model of vehicle have had similar incidents.
08/11/2009356701
 Front brake calipers,brake lines,brake pads,and rotors had to be replaced. brakes were binding up and would not let the brake pads to release. *tr
06/13/2008480001
 2002 dodge dakota front brake calipers sticking. left, right or both calipers will not fully release after multiple brake applications resulting in heat build up in rotors, pads & calipers. this can be reduced by using the brakes less or expedited by using them more. the failure occurs consistently with multiple brake applications. the result is hot brakes and wheels with speeds <40mph or very hot, once igniited brakes at highway speeds. pad rotors, and brake fluid have been changed & sliders greased, zero change. first incident occured at approximate incident date, then exponentially more frequently after. *tr
06/25/2009529701
 Front brakes locked up while driving. occurred once, was able to pull to side of road without causing an accident. had to replace front l&r, rotors, calipers, pads, hoses and fluid. *tr
06/11/2009420001
 While driving the vehicle, the front brakes lock on. this has happened at least 3 times. the most recent time, i was driving 60 mph on the highway then i noticed a burning smell. the only solution is to park the vehicle and allow the brakes to cool down. at 60 degrees outdoor temperature, this took about an hour. *tr
04/16/2009960051
 Left front brake overheated, vehicle pulls hard to the left and very poor braking. nearly had a bad accident at an intersection. looked on the internet and found several other people had same problem. will do my own maintenance when i found out the true fix. *tr
07/28/2008700001
 Http://www.carcomplaints.com/dodge/dakota/2002/brakes/brake_cylinder_lock-up.shtml just view the web site above. the brakes on the passenger side of my 2002 dodge dakota lock-up and a significant amount of smoke came out of the wheel well. i was surprised to find out that this is occurring on many other dakotas. do a search online for dodge dakota smoking brakes and you will be amazed at the number of complaints out there. i truly think this is a safety issue that should be addressed. *tr
06/04/2008252501
 Truck operating normal until braking at intersection. truck then pulled violently to the right upon braking. smelled and noticed smoke coming from front of truck. upon stopping had smoke coming from passenger-side front wheel/rotor. got to the point where i was concerned that a fire was imminent due to the excessive heat. the tire/wheel on the front passenger-side was extremely hot. next morning, the truck drove normal, no sign that the brake/rotor was damaged. plan on taking in for thorough inspection. noticed fifteen (15) similar complaints for 2002 dodge dakota with unexplained master cylinder lock-up. http://www.carcomplaints.com/dodge/dakota/2002/brakes/brake_cylinder_lock-up.shtml. *tr
05/12/2008850001
 Front wheels (brakes) locked up on my 2002 dodge dakota for no apparent reason. *tr
01/09/2008790003
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. while driving 30 mph, the brakes failed. the contact stated that the brake pedal extends to the floor when it is depressed, but does not stop the vehicle. the purchase date was unknown. the current mileage was 81,000 and failure mileage was 79,000.
07/12/200740000301/04/2006
 Purchase 02 dodge dakota report brakes 3 time dodge found now problems . brakes,crash no injuries,also @40k miles intake leak,water pump @36 dodge will not help with any repair cost they say its out side of warranty. *jb
08/17/2006504/05/2002
 Within 29,500. total miles covered in 4.5 years, there have been 5 episodes when either the front left or front right brake partially seized, which caused the vehicle to veer to one side upon application of the brakes, and emitted smoke. two dealers have offered no plausible cause or remedy. original brake pads, both front and rear, and the front discs and read drums were found to be badly worn at a mere 20,000. miles of light service resulting in all pads being replaced and the rotors and drums being turned. now at 29, 500. miles the front rotors are showing signs of warpage. ok, i'm not an expert, but i've driven about 15 vehicles over a total of a million miles and my feeling is that these brakes are undersized and constantly run too hot. the short brake life is nothing short of astounding. as the dealers seems stumped, my next move is to install racing brakes on the front complete with multiple piston calipers and drilled and slotted rotors. i'm betting that the smoking episodes will stop. one look at this vehicles complaints is all the nhtsa should have to see that there is a design problem, here. *jb
03/10/200681180109/15/2001
 2002 dodge dakota, 4 wheel drive,81,180 miles, front brakes seized. had all brakes replaced on aug 31, 2005. on november 10, 2005 left front rotor and pads seized, alert driving prevented possible vehicle. march 10, 2006, right front rotor seized and once again my alertness prevented another possible vehicle fire. this will be the fourth time the rotors and/or pads have been replaced on this vehicle. *nm
06/24/200522900102/15/2002
 Dt: while driving consumer saw smoke and the vehicle began to pull to the left and was shaking. the brakes locked up and it was difficult for the consumer to get the vehicle to move. the vehicle was taken to a mechanic but he couldn't get the vehicle's wheels to move. the mechanic told the consumer that the problem was that the calipers froze and the brake pads were so hot they appeared to be ready to catch on fire. the consumr had the problem repaired. the dealer claimed to know nothing about the failure and told the consumer to call nhtsa. the manufacturer has not been contacted yet.*ak *nm
10/10/2004200002
 Two months ago consumer started to notice brake failure. when applying the brakes the car jerked sporadically. the problem steadily got worse. three weeks later this vehicle started to work properly when applying the brakes. two days ago, the same problem recurred. *ak
01/15/200327000
 Warped rotors. a known issue among many, many dodge truck owners. front rotors seem to warp every 20,000 miles or so. i've read many complaints on websites for dodge truck owners experiencing the same problems. it seems the only fix is to purchase high performance "drilled or vented" rotors at a very high cost. this is a manufacturer issue as the problem has carried over the years anywhere from 1995 through 2002. i've read where people have had the dodge dealerships replace with dodge rotors only to experience the same problem. this is a big issue!! i am now going through this for the second time around and am looking at having to spend anywhere from $500 to $1,000 to resolve this issue. dodge needs to address this and be held accountable for this problem.
07/15/200321000
 Right front brake locked up. dealer said brake fluid is comtamanated. i am doing my own repair with master mechanc. iam going to have the brake fluid checked dakotas have been having front brake problems for a few years. there is nothing wrong with brake fluid. they said the lines are swelled up they said all rubber lines and seals would have to be replaced at my cost, they will not warranty work
08/19/200317000103/23/2002
 When the brakes were applied, the vehicle pulled to the right. while the consumer was getting the tires rotated, the mechanic determined that the tie rods were loose. midstate dodge replaced the tie rods with new ones. *ak midstate dodge would not replaced the brakes. the vehicle was still under warranty. *sc *jb
500010
 Vehicle had excessive brake pad wear. the front pads has been replaced 4 times and the rear twice within a short period of time. also at 4,000 when turning there was clucking noise in the front end of the truck. the front tires had a quarter inch cup in them. the upper ball joints were bad. the dealership replaced the ball joint but the problem recurred. the upper ball joint had to be replace again. *jb
11/04/20031
 When driving brakes locked up, and vehicle was involved in a rear end collision. then, vehicle caught on fire. *ak
09/17/20031
 When applying brakes unexpectedly brakes do not grab, causing extended stopping distance.*ak
1
 The consumer loss control of the vehicle when the brakes failed at 40 mph. the vehicle hit a tree and none of the airbags deployed. *jb
10001
 When the consumer applied the brakes, the brake pedal traveled to the floor, which caused the consumer to lose control of vehicle and hit a tree. consequently none of the airbags deployed. *jb
05/02/200320000210/28/2001
 The brakes of my dodge dakota started to pulse. i took it to the dealer at 24,000 miles and the rotors were worn to below minimum standards. the rear drums had to be cut. i drive highway with no towing and minimal stop go driving. i have never had a vehicle do this to me before so it is not my driving. *nlm
03/20/2003111/25/2002
 Our 2002 dodge dakota 5-speed got stuck in a snow drift during our blizzard last week. after shoveling it out, i forgot to release the emergency brake before putting it into gear, now they are telling me the entire rear brake system is blown and it will cost $1200.00 to fix. cherry creek dodge has the truck, they tell me this is normal for this vehicle and they have several others in the shop with this problem now. it seems like a manufacturer defect for something little like this to cause so much damage to an expensive vehicle. i want an investigation into this problem, it sounds like i am not the only one the repair shops are milking lots of money from. *jb
01/10/200317500102/25/2002
 2002 dodge dakota (18,000 mi), 4wd, v8, x-cab. brakes warped. i had a 1999 dodge dakota (38,000 mi), 2wd, v6, x-cab that the brakes warped and had to be turned a total of 3 times before i sold the vehicle. the dealer states that this is normal usage for brakes.*jb
11/01/2000
 When consumer is at a stop, consumer states' when applying the brakes the brake pedal went to the floor. please provide any further information. ts
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK
01/25/20076100010001/16/2006
 Tl* - the contact owns a 2002 dodge durango. when the contact engaged the brakes and the abs took over. the brakes squeaked and did not immediately stop the vehicle unless the contact took foot off the pedal and applied the brake again. the contact removed the abs fuse and the brakes worked normally. however, the speedometer was also connected to that fuse so the speed was not registering correctly without the fuse. the contact was driving 45mp at the time of the failure. *ak
09/02/200581000404/22/2005
 Dt: while applying the brakes at no particular speed there was abnormal operation of the windshield wipers, horn, and lighting system. all of them came on and off all by themselves. the consumer has not taken vehicle to a dealer but planned to do so. the consumer was referred to an independent mechanic, and he could not determine the cause of the problem. no corrections or repairs have been made. no explanation as to why this occurred. this only happened when brake pressure was applied. nhtsa recall 03v389000 was issued but it was for the manual transmission vehicles only-the consumer has an automatic transmission.*ak
05/03/20052000005/25/2002
 With around 15,000 miles on 02 dodge dakota was told front rotors had to be replaced and subsequently were at 20,000 miles. less then year later with 30,000 miles rotors must be replaced again at cost of $390. new truck twice in a year, with known problem dealer sticks head in sand and ignores.
12/29/20031
 The rotors and brakes needed to be replaced when the vehicle was taken for checkup. this defect made it difficult for the vehicle to stop.*ak
12/13/2004600005
 When applying the anti- brakes from a low speed brakes locked. as a result, vehicle rear ended another vehicle. *ak
05/15/200218000701/20/2002
 Consumer complained that abs locked up when applying the brakes on wet road surface. vehicle was inspected by an repair shop, and they could not locate the problem. *ak
04/23/2002103/01/2002
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
11/01/2001
 Consumer was traveling about seven miles with both feet on brakes vehicle went into traffic without prior warning. consumer had to shift vehicle into reverse, and pull emergency brake in order to stop.*ak
11/01/2001
 Consumer was in traffic, applied brakes, and pedal was hard. he put vehicle in reverse, and released emergency brake to stop. dealership is aware of problem. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
08/16/200721700103/30/2002
 After only 5 years and less than 22,000 miles, the front hydraulic brake lines from the frame to the caliper failed from intense rusting while the vehicle was on the road. avoidance of a serious accident was only a matter of luck. the intense rust rate in the forward wheel well also caused brake pad release failures which caused increasing continuous drag and overheating of the brake and wheel assembly. no observation of the problem by dealer during ball joint recall work just 9 months prior to failure. owner replaced hydraulic lines on both sides. owner is now concerned with possible failure of front suspension components due to unusual rust rates. *tr
05/01/2005211/28/2001
 2002 dodge dakota front brake calipers failed and the brake discs were warped. *mr the left brake caliper failed as well. in both cases the brakes grabbed and smoke was produced. the consumer requested reimbursement. *sc *jb
10/09/200326465112/28/2001
 Premature failure of the upper ball joints on my 2002 dodge dakota club cab pick-up with 26,465 miles. took the vehicle to dealer to diagnose a clanking noise in the front end when turning they did not find any problem on the first visit, i returned for a second visit and i identified the upper ball joints as the problem, they checked them and agreed. they were replaced under the warranty. after reading a large number of complaints on different web sites this seems to be a common problem with the dakotas and durangos. how about a recall! (premature front disc brake rotor failures is another common problem on both of these vehicles. mine had to be replaced at 26,120 miles and was not covered under the warranty.) *la
106/19/2002
 The consumer states that the brakes are sticking/grabbing. unable to duplicate-no problem found per dealer. *scc
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC
08/12/20031
 While driving and applying the brakes steering wheel shook, had some pulsation either to the right or left. dealer has inspected vehicle several times, and could not duplicate or correct the problem.*ak
07/09/2003220851
 Consumer states front brakes are warped. dealer notified.*ak
02/17/200310000211/20/2001
 Front brake rotors warped for second time. first occurence was at 10,000 miles, second was quite noticeable by 20,000 miles. i had a 2000 dakota which chrysler re-purchased for the same reason (had 5 repairs in 30,000 miles on my 2000). chrysler offering a non-warrantied solution.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - CALIPER
02/22/2007102/06/2007
 Front brake caliber locked up. stop and go traffic and brakes locked up. *jb
01/26/200740718104/20/2005
 The front right brake calipers locked up on the vehicle causing the brakes to be applied without pressing on the brakes. after replacing the right calipers, rotor (warped from heat), and brake hose, 12 miles away, the left caliper locked up. this is a huge safety issues because the brakes are applied without the intention of the driver.*jb
09/23/200431100212/31/2001
 The front brakes on my truck was diagnosed with defective rotors. i do mostly highway driving so i expected 40,000 to 50,000 miles on the front brakes. i had 15,000 miles on the truck for its 1st brake inspection and was told at that time that i still had approximately 80% of pads left. i brought the truck in at 31,000 and requested to have the brakes inspected again. i was taken by surprise when they told me that the rotors were shot and asked to see them before i would authorize a repair. the mechanic told me that there was over 50% of the brake pads left but somehow the brake rotors were scored so badly that they could not be cut down to repair them, they must be replaced, and i could also see that the rotors were that bad. considering that there was a lot of brake pad left i opted not to spend the $565.00 at this time and get more life out of the brakes. they still stop the vehicle with no problems. i feel that this should be looked into.. defective metal in the rotors, ( not hard enough ) , defective pads, ( hard steel embedded in them ) etc. *ak
07/01/200442000112/31/2001
 Felt pulsing in front brakes due to rotor overheating and warping. brake failure, no accident or injuries.*ak
07/22/200456000105/24/2002
 Brake caliper got stuck open while driving. the vehicle was impossible to control. no one was injured. also there was no warning and we have done regular maintenance as suggested in the owners manual. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - PADS
05/11/200628600106/29/2002
 Dt*: the contact stated while driving 35 mph the front brakes locked up without warning. the road was dry and the braking condition was normal. the contact further stated the brakes felt sluggish, as if riding on a flat tire. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the master cylinder, rotors and pads were replaced which corrected the problem.
09/23/200431100212/31/2001
 The front brakes on my truck was diagnosed with defective rotors. i do mostly highway driving so i expected 40,000 to 50,000 miles on the front brakes. i had 15,000 miles on the truck for its 1st brake inspection and was told at that time that i still had approximately 80% of pads left. i brought the truck in at 31,000 and requested to have the brakes inspected again. i was taken by surprise when they told me that the rotors were shot and asked to see them before i would authorize a repair. the mechanic told me that there was over 50% of the brake pads left but somehow the brake rotors were scored so badly that they could not be cut down to repair them, they must be replaced, and i could also see that the rotors were that bad. considering that there was a lot of brake pad left i opted not to spend the $565.00 at this time and get more life out of the brakes. they still stop the vehicle with no problems. i feel that this should be looked into.. defective metal in the rotors, ( not hard enough ) , defective pads, ( hard steel embedded in them ) etc. *ak
09/29/200419182101/04/2003
 While driving home after having transmission rebuilt my brakes started to sound as if there was dirt on the pads. as the vehicle only had 19000 miles at the time that's what i believed. the noise over the next week got louder and the truck harder to stop saftly. contacted dealer brought in and discovered that the rotors were scared and the pads were gone on the passenger side. the rotor was pitted on the driver side. dealer refuses to fix except as a maintence issue. they did however replace upper ball joints . i believe the loose front end caused the vibration in wheels which led to brake failure. i have read many compaints of brakes on the web. dodge needs to recal this veicle -- someone is going to get hurt.*ak
500010
 Vehicle had excessive brake pad wear. the front pads has been replaced 4 times and the rear twice within a short period of time. also at 4,000 when turning there was clucking noise in the front end of the truck. the front tires had a quarter inch cup in them. the upper ball joints were bad. the dealership replaced the ball joint but the problem recurred. the upper ball joint had to be replace again. *jb
09/07/20031
 My 2002 dodge dakota 4x4 had a defect in the brakes/rotors which had to be replaced at 30000 miles. from checking chat sites this is apparently a very common problem with this truck. dodge told me that they were not going to do anything for me that the truck was not under warranty.*ak
08/14/2002150001
 I am having problems with the brakes, which causes a shudder under moderate braking. the front brake pads are dragging all of the time, causing the rotors to overheat and warp. the warped rotors are the only problem that the dealer acknowledges, but there is obviously some defect that is causing the rotors to warp after only 15,000 miles.*ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - ROTOR
05/11/200628600106/29/2002
 Dt*: the contact stated while driving 35 mph the front brakes locked up without warning. the road was dry and the braking condition was normal. the contact further stated the brakes felt sluggish, as if riding on a flat tire. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the master cylinder, rotors and pads were replaced which corrected the problem.
04/07/2006110/10/2001
 2002 dodge dakota purchased new 10/2001. march 2004 noticed grinding noise when applying brakes. brakes were metal against metal. dealer replaced rotors and pads (and charged for service) at 20940 miles. march 2006, noticed pulsing when applying brakes. different service center said rotors were rusted and replaced; also cleaned and adjusted rear brakes and performed front caliper slider service. mileage 40239. i believe brakes should last more than two years and/or 20000 miles. *jb
11/22/200590767204/20/2002
 Making a right hand turn when a sudden grinding noise occurred. upon straightening the wheels, it stopped. was approx 3 miles from my mechanic so i went there and had him look at it. he found the left side hub bearing assembly had completely failed (bearing exposed and badly damaged). he was unable to separate the brake rotor disk from the hub as it was so badly corroded that it had become one. upon checking the right side hub assy, it was found to have failed as well with the brake rotor disk in the same condition. both sides were replaced and a complete brake job done to make the vehicle safe to operate. the vehicle has less than 92000 miles and i am the original owner. i was told that i was lucky that i did not loose the left wheel because of the failure as i had just returned from work (50 miles one way) which is all highway driving. *jb
01/07/2005410001
 While braking at any speed vehicle shimmied. dealership informed the consumer of the front brake rotor wear. the problem was not resolved. *ak
04/04/200380004
 Consumer purchased the vehicle at 11,000. 2,000 miles later consumer noticed a pulsation in the brake pedal. the rotors were worn out. consumer stated the rotors had to be replaced at about every 8,000 miles. *ak
12/29/20031
 The rotors and brakes needed to be replaced when the vehicle was taken for checkup. this defect made it difficult for the vehicle to stop.*ak
12/09/200451450204/18/2004
 Front brake rotors are warping extremely early. *nm
09/23/200431100212/31/2001
 The front brakes on my truck was diagnosed with defective rotors. i do mostly highway driving so i expected 40,000 to 50,000 miles on the front brakes. i had 15,000 miles on the truck for its 1st brake inspection and was told at that time that i still had approximately 80% of pads left. i brought the truck in at 31,000 and requested to have the brakes inspected again. i was taken by surprise when they told me that the rotors were shot and asked to see them before i would authorize a repair. the mechanic told me that there was over 50% of the brake pads left but somehow the brake rotors were scored so badly that they could not be cut down to repair them, they must be replaced, and i could also see that the rotors were that bad. considering that there was a lot of brake pad left i opted not to spend the $565.00 at this time and get more life out of the brakes. they still stop the vehicle with no problems. i feel that this should be looked into.. defective metal in the rotors, ( not hard enough ) , defective pads, ( hard steel embedded in them ) etc. *ak
08/06/20041
 Brake rotors warp early due to normal wear. ith 19,000 miles i have to replace the rotors before replacing my first set of pads.ther people report the me:http://www.carsurvey.org/review_30410.html http://www.dodgedakotas.com/boards/v6/924.html. *ak
06/20/2004160001
 Warped disc rotors on 2002 dakota with 16000 miles. dodge refuses to cover under warranty. it appears that there are excessive early rotor failures on dakota's as identified by nhtsa complaints. this is a serious safety issue and may be related to defective calipers causing the problem. *la
07/15/200415000108/20/2002
 At around 15000 miles i noticed the brakes starting to pulse or drag during normal stopping. at 18000 miles i was told by midas that rotor failure in this vehicle was a big problem, and that i would have to replace them many times during the life of my truck. *jb
04/01/200427000211/11/2002
 Update to complaint 10028872. after having the rotors turned (recut to safe specifications) at 24,000 the same severe vibrations and shaking came back at 27,000. even light braking pressure caused the vehicle to swerve to the left and across lane markers. i noticed that when the truck was driven after sitting overnight all braking functions were normal. after driving approximately thirty miles the shaking and pulling to the side came back without warning. i had the rotors, calipers, and pads all replaced with high performance parts (slotted & cross drilled rotors, ceramic pads). now at 37,000 with no further issues (as of this writing) on the brakes. i am deeply concerned that a less experienced driver could lose control of their vehicle resulting from this brake system defect.*ak
07/07/2004108/10/2002
 Had to have the front rotors on my 2002 dodge dakota replaced after 25,000 miles and turned after 30,000 miles, most of the mileage is hughway miles.*ak
06/22/2004340001
 While driving at any speed and when brake were depressed pedal pulsated. vehicle was serviced, and technician turned the rotors at 34, 000 miles. *ak vehicle has a problem with the ball joint in the past, which concerned the consumer. *la
06/05/20046000208/01/2002
 Front rotors on my 2002 dodge dakota are habitually warping under normal driving conditions. upon replacement of the rotors with raybestos severe duty rotors, they warped again. the dealership won't touch the issue upon requests. *ak
10/07/20022
 Repeat warping of brakes. rotors and drums warped at 30k. turned. again warped at 36k. no hills, trailering, abnormal driving conditions.
09/25/200326120112/28/2001
 Premature failure of the front disc brake rotors. had a severe pulsation when braking at approximately. 26,000 miles. dealer stated that the brakes were not covered on the 3year/36,000 bumper to bumper warranty, brakes were only covered for 1year/12,000. i took the vehicle to a meineke shop at 26,120 miles and they told me the rotors were too deeply pitted to be resurfaced and needed to be replaced. the pads still had plenty of life, almost like new. i had them replace the pads and rotors which cost me $275.35. i believe these rotors failed prematurely and caused extended braking distances and some loss of vehicle control. *la
10/24/200325000111/17/2001
 Experiencing pulsation and pull to the side under braking. problem originated at approximately 25,000 miles and currently at 33,000 miles it now feels unsafe. dealer states front rotors are warped and need machined to specifications and that rotors are a wear item and not covered under the 3 yrs./36,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty. i see that there are numerous complaints already on file regarding this issue, so being that i am no expert in braking systems or theory i will leave that debate to others, however i will say that my experience with other vehicles and manufacturers would lead me to believe that rotors should last at least 70,000 to 80,000 miles before needing to be machined. the other three vehicles my family has recently owned were all driven beyond 70,000 miles, all without ever needing the rotors turned. *la
09/07/20031
 My 2002 dodge dakota 4x4 had a defect in the brakes/rotors which had to be replaced at 30000 miles. from checking chat sites this is apparently a very common problem with this truck. dodge told me that they were not going to do anything for me that the truck was not under warranty.*ak
08/14/2002150001
 I am having problems with the brakes, which causes a shudder under moderate braking. the front brake pads are dragging all of the time, causing the rotors to overheat and warp. the warped rotors are the only problem that the dealer acknowledges, but there is obviously some defect that is causing the rotors to warp after only 15,000 miles.*ak
07/01/200317000112/18/2001
 Front brake rotors had to be turned/replaced at approx. 17000 miles. dealership said they would not replace as brakes only have 1yr/12000 mile warranty. repair facility only replaces with oem parts, so they will probably have to be replaced again in another 15-20000 miles. this is unacceptable.*ak also appears i will now have to replace ball joints at approx. 18500 miles. these parts should last much longer than this. vehicle is 2002 dodge dakota cc 4x4 4.7l engine.
07/22/200311/24/2001
 With no advance warning my 2002 dodge dakota began experiencing severe steering wheel vibration whenever the brakes were activated. i immediately brought the vechicle into the dealership and was charged $148 dollars to machine the front rotors of my truck. the truck (used as transportation to my desk job) has 24,000 miles on it, is a manual transmission, and is highway driven so the brakes do not see alot of activity. a check of the dakota.com site indicates many rotor problems with low mileage dakota series trucks. i believe either the brake rotors are not designed properly or are being made of material that cannot support safe performance within a 25,000 mile lifecycle. i have never had to have any brake maintenance performed on any of my other vehicles (other than inspection) before 75,000 miles and i am concerned that the problem will reoccur without warning.
06/27/20021
 Front rotor on 2002 dakota warping for second time. had them turned about 10,000 miles ago and are already starting to warp again. dealer offering non-warranty solution. dealer admits it is common with the dakotas and durangos but there is no recall notice on them so there is nothing they can do. *jb
06/06/200220000112/01/2001
 Front rotors warp after only 20,000 miles . dealer could not turn them due to the severe rust pitting .after extensive research i find this problem very common. all of the repair shops and dealers and a majority of dakota owners have had warped rotors. this is a severe safty issue due to the dimished brake capacity of defective rotors.*ak
01/01/20032000011/12/2001
 Braking for 4 months has become progressively worse. the dealer states that it was warped rotors. the dakota truck is only 1.5 years old with 23,000 at first start of problem. the dealer states they can't be turned due to severe rust pitting when i brake the truck hops into the next lane . the dealer states that it is not under warranty. i suspect that there are more trucks with this problem out there. i believe this is a manufacture defect. *jb
1
 The vehicle pulled from side to side. the vehicle was taken to the dealership who stated the front disc rotors were warped and needed to be turned. *jb
02/17/200310000211/20/2001
 Front brake rotors warped for second time. first occurence was at 10,000 miles, second was quite noticeable by 20,000 miles. i had a 2000 dakota which chrysler re-purchased for the same reason (had 5 repairs in 30,000 miles on my 2000). chrysler offering a non-warrantied solution.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DRUM - SHOES/LININGS
07/01/200442000112/31/2001
 Felt pulsing in front brakes due to rotor overheating and warping. brake failure, no accident or injuries.*ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
09/22/2004228451
 Front brake disc were cast in layers, and they came apart. manufacturer recommended that consumer call this office.*ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - MASTER CYLINDER
05/11/200628600106/29/2002
 Dt*: the contact stated while driving 35 mph the front brakes locked up without warning. the road was dry and the braking condition was normal. the contact further stated the brakes felt sluggish, as if riding on a flat tire. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the master cylinder, rotors and pads were replaced which corrected the problem.