Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 07/28/2002 | 1 | 07/28/2002 | |
| Purchased 2000 dodge dakota. quad cab summer 2002, approximately 20,000 miles at time of purchase. vehicle covered under warranty at that time. had problems with steering. the wheel would jerk from side to side as if the power steering would engage and then disengage during a turn. brought to dealer. they said they fixed problem by replacing steering column. problem was not fixed. returned to dealer. replaced bearings in column during second repair. did not fix problem. returned again, dealer(formerly courtesy dodge, norwich, ct) stated that they sold there warranty to another dealership and they could not make repair. i would have to take to other dealership. taken to other dealer ship but at this time problem had not been fixed and vehicle was over 36,000 miles. dealer said i would have to fill out forms and that it was unlikely the repair would be authorized. how is it if the repair was never completed that they are allowed to wait until warranty expires and say too bad. i was then recalled by the military and had to drive my vehicle to new jersey so the repair was never completed. thanks, now courtesy kia. i wish i could conduct my business like the dealers. just ignore the problem and it will go away!!!!!!!. im not finished with this yet!!!! jpl. *la | |||
| 08/30/2003 | 20000 | 20 | 04/15/2000 |
| Power steering fails. lose control of steering at highway speeds after about 1.25 hours. first occurance in august 2002, then october, 2002. did not drive on highway for extended period until august 2003 - failed again and again on mountain roads, exits, straightaways while passing, gentle curves. november 2002 dealer replaces rack and pinion and bushings at 23,997 miles. august 18, 2003, 31424 miles, dealer replaces column, intermediate shaft and bolt per starline. sep 3, 2003, 31904 miles, dealer replaces all four control arms - cannot replicate problem as they will not drive the required miles, i'm their test dummy. the knobs for air conditioning also broke at this time - charged to fix this. manufacturer says to contact dealer, dealer won't drive necessary miles - i still have to check the sep 3 repair to see if it really fixed the problem. each time the alignment is out and they will not fix this as part of the warranty item although i maintain my vehicles' alignment. the brakes have been relined at 26k miles because the dealer said they were shuddering - which i had not experienced until they repaired them. shocks have been replaced, have been trying to get the rear struts replaced due to excessive sway and loss of control when carrying a load, another thing they claim not to replicate. | |||
| STEERING - COLUMN | |||
| 04/29/2003 | 57400 | 2 | 03/01/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2000 dodge dakota quad cab. while driving 60 mph, the contact experienced difficulty steering the vehicle. the mechanic stated that the rack and pinion, ball joints, and tire rod needed to be replaced. the mechanic performed the repair. approximately four years later, the vehicle experienced the same failures. the current mileage is 85,100 and failure mileage was 57,400. | |||
| 07/01/2005 | 98000 | 1 | 10/20/2000 |
| I read in today's paper about the investigation of 2004-05 dakotas and durangos with the investigation into steering looseness and problems - our 2000 dodge dakota quad cab had to have the shaft replaced due to a broken connection - it had loosened for a long time until it affected our driving. the dealer repaired it to the tune of $ 250 and about 3 weeks later my minister had the same problem with her dodge durango also 2000 - the mechanic even said do you know a mrs. ksionzyk from your town - i just replaced the same thing on her dakota i don't think this is a coincidence - this is a very small dealer and community. *jb | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | |||
| 09/15/2003 | 59000 | 1 | 12/24/2002 |
| The power steering cooler line was chaffed(rubbed a hole) from a bigger power steering hose with a guard on it. chaffed line turned into a leak of the power steering fliud, which in time will cause power steering pump failure to the system. the vehicle this is on, is a 2000 dodge dakota quad cab pickup. has a 4.7l v-8 engine w/ automatic. has about 60,000 miles on it at time of leak being noticed . *ak | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP | |||
| 02/05/2005 | 60100 | 1 | 11/10/2003 |
| Power steering pump went out while driving my 2000 dodge dakota with only 60,000 miles. apparently the main seal blew out and all fluid leaked out causing difficult steering. required that the entire pump be replaced. *ak | |||
| 02/08/2004 | 32501 | 1 | 06/23/2000 |
| The power steering pump failed (with no warning), causing me to lose control of my truck as it went around a corner. i lost control of the vehicle momentarily, due to the unexpected heavyness of the streeing and the low speed (about 10 mph). i did regain regained control and avoided hitting the cars in the oncoming lanes. i made it home, parked the truck until i could bring it in for service. the truck was not drivable around town with the power steering broken. i took it to the dealer and they replaced the power steering pump unit (part #52106253af). i believe i disposed of the unit. my truck is a 2000 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 with the 4.7 and automatic. the mileage on the truck was only 32,501, but the dealer told me the in service date of 23 june 2000 put the truck out of the warrantee period. cost of the repair was $501.23. the truck has not seen any off-road abuse and is responsibly driven.*ak | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES - ROD - RELAY - CONNECTING | |||
| 03/04/2004 | 27700 | 1 | 02/15/2000 |
| 2000 dodge dakota pickup 27,700 miles of use 4 years old the local dealer replaced all four front end ball joints and both tie rods. the dealer paid for all parts and i paid $365.00 in labor costs. the dealer stated these parts were defective and should have lasted much longer than the 27,700 miles on the vehicle. my concern is i would have been unaware of the problem had it not been for a cbs tv report. these vehicles and the 2000 dodge durangos should be recalled for the safety of the owners. defective parts were placed on these models and should be checked by the manufacturer. thanks for your attention.*ak | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | |||
| 10/11/2004 | 58000 | 6 | |
| I own a 2000 dodge dakota quad cab vin 1b7gl2an2ys700386. this vehicle currently has 58000 miles. during an inspection of my brakes, i discovered several front end parts with unacceptable wear. at my own expense, i am replacing upper and lower ball joints on both sides as well as both outer tie-rod ends. i was lucky enough to have discovered these problems before any actual failure occurred. the truck is not new but these parts should have no where near this amount of wear at only 58000 miles. i have since discovered that i am only one of many that has experienced these problems with this type of vehicle. i plan to save all the old parts as well as my receipts in hopes that eventually i might be reimbursed. *nm | |||
| 09/03/2003 | 35000 | 1 | 05/26/2000 |
| I own a 2000 dodge dakota quad cab truck, and wanted it to be noted that both front tires came off the truck due to inner tie rod socket disconnected from main rack and various ball joint repairs have been made. thus far, i have not crashed or injured anyone, but that may be because i am afraid to drive the truck. *jb | |||
| 02/17/2004 | 45000 | 3 | 07/30/2001 |
| Heard a lot of squeaking and clunking, took to dealer and was told upper ball joints have gone bad along with inner tie-rods. this would cost around $1200 to fix, that cost could be reduced alot if a person could find non-oem parts but instead you are forced to buy from dodge and then you cant even buy the individual tie-rods you have to buy the entire steering assembly. dodge knows this is a problem and did help with the cost of the parts but this is not something that should go out on a vehicle with only 45000 miles, especially when if either part had failed completely i could have lost total control of the vehicle.*ak | |||
| 10/15/2003 | 71000 | 1 | |
| 2000 dodge dakota worn out ball joints on front of truck. was told this is a very common problem on all dakota's of this type by several mechanics. there is no way to grease the ball joints . was told parts are in very high demand due to so many trucks with failures. my truck pulls to the right very badly .*ak | |||
| 07/18/2001 | 19532 | 5 | 05/30/2000 |
| Numerous front suspension problems. bad ball joint/control arm assemblies/ bad tie-rods/bad shock absorbers, and bad strut bushings. all of these issues have been replaced by the dealer. most of the problems started at about 15000 miles, and have continued. way too many problems at low miles. i still have problems at 51000 miles.*ak | |||