1996 Dodge Dakota

1996 DODGE DAKOTA SLT, 5.2L, 4DR ( 99,000 MI) FAILED CA EMISSION TEST ON 7/8/06. SUSPECTED REASON FOR THE HIGH EMISSION WAS FAILURE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORP. (DCC) WILL NOT REPLACE THIS CONVERTER AT THEIR EXPENSE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE A RECALL ON SOME 1.5 MILLION 1996 - 2001 VEHICLES FOR FAILED CONVERTERS. NO LETTER WAS RECEIVED FROM THEM AND WHEN CONTACTED, THEY SAY THE VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE LIST FOR RECALL. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE ON THE LIST. *NM

DEAR DAVID, THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECENT EMAIL TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER MOTORS REGARDING YOUR 996 DODGE DAKOTA. I'M SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE RECURRING PROBLEM YOU'VE EXPERIENCED WITH YOUR PARKING BRAKE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER ORIGINAL MOPAR PARTS ARE DESIGNED WITH THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN MIND. WE HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE IN THE QUALITY OF OUR PARTS. THOUGH MOPAR PRODUCTS ARE BUILT TO LAST, WE DO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, AS WITH ALL MAN-MADE MATERIALS, THEY ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WEAR, AND MAY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT EARLIER THAN WHAT MAY BE PERCEIVED AS NORMAL. OUR SINCEREST APOLOGIES FOR THE PROBLEMS YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED. REFERENCE NUMBER: 12386546 REPLY LINK: HTTP://WWW.CHRYSLER.COM/WCCSAPP/WCCS/BRAND_FORMS/US/REPLY.JSP?TRK_ID=KMM1465401C0KM& SINCERELY, BRYAN DILLEY SENIOR STAFF REPRESENTATIVE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS: ------------------------ CATEGORY: RECALL INFORMATION BRIEF DESCRIPTION: ------------------ I BOUGHT A 1996 DAKOTA 4WD IN 1998 FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS BROKEN. THE LOCAL DEALER REPLACED IT. MY 100-POUND WIFE JUST BROKE IT AGAIN. SO, WHAT IS UP WITH THIS? COMMENTS: --------- THE FIRST TIME I HAD IT REPLACED THE DEALER TOSSED OUT THE BROKEN BRAKE ACTUATOR RATHER THAN RETURNING IT TO ME. AN INSPECTOR FROM CHRYSLER MOTORS STOPPED BY MY HOUSE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. IN THAT INCIDENT I WAS ALMOST RUN OVER BY THE TRUCK WHEN THE BRAKE FAILED. HE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO WITHOUT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR TO INSPECT. A PARKING BRAKE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD EVER FAIL IN THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE. WHY IS THIS ONE BREAKING SO OFTEN? FIRST NAME: DAVID LAST NAME: WAGNER. *AK

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGED BY ITSELF WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD A 1995 DAKOTA THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE 1995 DAKOTA WAS TOTALED AFTER WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND INTO THE CONSUMER'S BARN. *NM

MORE HISTORY ON MY 1996 DODGE TRUCK WITH ENGINE STALLING PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND THE TRUCK IS NOW RUNNING ROUGH. THE LAST DODGE DEALERSHIP IN MIAMI, OKLAHOMA COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY NOW TELL ME THAT THEY WOULD PREFER I NOT BRING MY TRUCK BACK TO THEM. DODGE CORP'S CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS RUDE, TELLING ME THAT HE TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW (EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY CAN'T FIND/FIX THE PROBLEM); THE REP TELLS ME THAT IT'S OUR TOUGH LUCK NOW--VERY RUDE. WHEN I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THE SUPERVISOR OR DISTRICT MANAGER FOR MY AREA, THE REP TOLD ME SHE HAD THE FINAL SAY, I DIDN'T HAVE A WARRANTY, AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO HELP ME LOCATE THE DISTRICT MANAGER FOR MY AREA. YOU HAVE MY EXTENSIVE HISTORY/COMPLAINTS ON FILE WITH THIS TRUCK (PEELING PAINT, FLAT BEARING IN OVERDRIVE, 4 BENT WHEELS, RECURRING ENGINE STALLS TO NAME ONLY A FEW OF THE MAJOR ISSUES). WHAT IS A CONSUMER TO DO NOW. DON'T TELL ME TO FIND AN ATTORNEY--TOO EXPENSIVE AND I WON'T END UP WITH ENOUGH MONEY TO FIX THE TRUCK THE WAY IT SHOULD BE FIXED. CAN'T SELL TO ANYONE FOR WHAT IT SHOULD BE WORTH DUE TO THESE ISSUES, AND WON'T SELL THIS WAY DUE TO MY CONSCIOUS. THIS TRUCK IS GOING TO KILL US ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.*AK