NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
177 reportsClear category filter21,600 miles · Dec 10, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
VEHICLE DOES NOT BRAKE ADEQUATELY DURING "PANIC" STOPPING. REAR WHEEL ABS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. HAVE HAD THREE OCCURRENCES WHEN I NEEDED TO "PANIC" STOP AND IN ALL CASES HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID COLLISION BECAUSE BRAKES WERE NOT STOPPING VEHICLE. REAR WHEEL ABS ENGAGES BUT ALLOWS TOO MUCH "FREE-WHEELING" WHICH …
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VEHICLE DOES NOT BRAKE ADEQUATELY DURING "PANIC" STOPPING. REAR WHEEL ABS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. HAVE HAD THREE OCCURRENCES WHEN I NEEDED TO "PANIC" STOP AND IN ALL CASES HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID COLLISION BECAUSE BRAKES WERE NOT STOPPING VEHICLE. REAR WHEEL ABS ENGAGES BUT ALLOWS TOO MUCH "FREE-WHEELING" WHICH ALLOWS VEHICLE TOO MUCH TRAVEL. REGULAR BRAKING (EVEN "HARD" BRAKING WITHOUT ABS INVOLVEMENT) SEEMS TO WORK CORRECTLY. HAVE HAD VEHICLE TO DEALER TWICE AND FIRST TIME REAR DRUMS WERE TURNED AND SECOND TIME ABS MODULE WAS REPLACED, BUT HAS NOT FIXED PROBLEM. SERVICE ADVISOR AND MECHANIC SAY THAT THE ABS SYSTEM IS WORKING AS DESIGNED FOR A REAR WHEEL ONLY ABS. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY RESOLUTION TO PROBLEM BUT NOW DEALER WON'T LOOK AT IT BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10049545
Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashFire
WHEN DRIVING BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10048031
26,465 miles · Nov 14, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
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 C…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10046925
26,120 miles · Nov 14, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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 …
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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
NHTSA ODI #10046919
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS NEED REPLACED AT 16,000 MILES. THIS TRUCK IS NOT DRIVEN HARD OR A LOT. DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY, CLAIMS NO KNOWLEDGE OF REPORTED PROBLEMS. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10045488
19,000 miles · Oct 28, 2003
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL FELT LIKE A WET SPONGE. THE VEHICLE NEVER SLOWED DOWN. CONSUMER APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT A COLLISION OCCURRED. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CONSUMER WAS WEARING A SEAT BEL…
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WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL FELT LIKE A WET SPONGE. THE VEHICLE NEVER SLOWED DOWN. CONSUMER APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT A COLLISION OCCURRED. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CONSUMER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE INFORMED OF THE CRASH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10044874
25,000 miles · Oct 24, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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 BUMP…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10043524
Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES UNEXPECTEDLY BRAKES DO NOT GRAB, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10040273
6,000 miles · Sep 12, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REGARDLESS OF HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING, THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IN A REASONABLE DISTANCE IN AN EMERGENCY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. *PH
NHTSA ODI #10039885
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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
NHTSA ODI #10037489
Official recalls
5Dec 4, 2007
ON CERTAIN VAN AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS CAN ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED (OR IN THE "LOCK" POSITION). THIS CAN ALSO ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: EITHER OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY CAUSING A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEARSHIFT BLOCKER AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Dec 21, 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4X4), IF MOISTURE LEAKS INTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT, EVACUATION OF THE LUBRICANT AND CORROSION OF THE JOINT MAY CAUSE THE JOINT TO WEAR OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, WHICH MAY NOT ALWAYS BE HEARD BY THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE UPPER BALL JOINT MAY ALLOW IT TO SEPARATE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS. THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2004. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
May 5, 2004
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MOTOR MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER INTRUSION THAT COULD CAUSE INTERNAL CORROSION AND RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPING CAPABILITY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Dec 10, 2003
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS AND 4X2 PICKUP TRUCKS, THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL MAY HAVE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATINGS (GAWR) THAT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM TIRE LOAD CAPACITY AS DEFINED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IMPROPERLY LOADING YOUR VEHICLE CAN CAUSE TIRE FAILURE AND RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL OVERLAYS CONTAINING CORRECTED INFORMATION RELATIVE TO VEHICLE GAWR AND TIRE SIZE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.
Oct 10, 2003
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE HEADLAMP AND DASH WIRING HARNESS MAY BE CHAFED BY THE ACTUATION OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THIS COULD RESULT IN ABNORMAL OPERATION OF THE WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS, HORN OR LIGHTING SYSTEMS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY, COULD PREVENT A DRIVER FROM SOUNDING A WARNING BY USING THE HORN, AND, WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER CANNOT USE THEM TO SIGNAL INTENT TO TURN, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE WIRE HARNESS AND REPAIR THE HARNESS IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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