NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
678 reports75,000 miles · Dec 9, 2004
Suspension
I NOTICED LOUD CRACKING-POPPING NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING OR TRAVELING OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE NOISES FROM THE SUSPENSION. THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT I WAS IN DANGER OF LOSING A WHEEL IF I HIT A POT HOLE. THEY WANTED OVE…
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I NOTICED LOUD CRACKING-POPPING NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING OR TRAVELING OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE NOISES FROM THE SUSPENSION. THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT I WAS IN DANGER OF LOSING A WHEEL IF I HIT A POT HOLE. THEY WANTED OVER $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. I DECLINED. I REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS MYSELF. I KNOW I WAS OVER THE 36000 MI. WARRANTY. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN EXCESSIVE AMMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE 2 BALL JOINTS THAT COST $50.00 EACH. I DID NOT KEEP THE OLD PARTS. ONE OF THE BALL JOINTS FELL APART AS I WAS REMOVING IT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10102470
Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2004
Suspension
THERE HAS BEEN NO FAILURE OF MY FRONT END YET, HOWEVER I HAVE NOTICED A RATTLE IN THE FRONT. I HAVE NOT NOTIFIED MY DEALER YET. I DONT BELIEVE THE BALL JOINTS ARE UNDER WARRANTY. JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10102465
50,347 miles · Dec 9, 2004
Steering
(1) FAILURE OF STEERING COMPONENTS; (2) REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE PARTS; (3) PARTS REPLACEMENT IMMINENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10102450
54,000 miles · Dec 8, 2004
Suspension
THE TIRE RETAIL STORE WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AFTER REPLACING THE FRONT TIRES BECAUSE 3 OF THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND THE FOURTH WORE OUT. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS NO LIFT AND NO OVERSIZED TIRES. THE DEFECTIVE TIRES HAVE 20 TO 25% OF THE TREAD STILL ON THEM SHOWING INDICATION OF…
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THE TIRE RETAIL STORE WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AFTER REPLACING THE FRONT TIRES BECAUSE 3 OF THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND THE FOURTH WORE OUT. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS NO LIFT AND NO OVERSIZED TIRES. THE DEFECTIVE TIRES HAVE 20 TO 25% OF THE TREAD STILL ON THEM SHOWING INDICATION OF FAULTY BALL JOINTS. *TC
NHTSA ODI #10097740
55,707 miles · Dec 6, 2004
Suspension
I PURCHASED MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUADCAB 4X4 NEW FROM THE DEALER. AND AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES I NOTICE SUSPENSION NOISE FROM THE FRONT. IT WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST THEN AS I APPROACHED 50,000 MILES THE NOISE BECAME A METALLIC CHATTER AT ALL TIMES. I HAD THE PARTS REPLACED BY A LOCAL SHOP AFTER THE DEALER FAILED TO HONOR MY APPO…
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I PURCHASED MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUADCAB 4X4 NEW FROM THE DEALER. AND AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES I NOTICE SUSPENSION NOISE FROM THE FRONT. IT WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST THEN AS I APPROACHED 50,000 MILES THE NOISE BECAME A METALLIC CHATTER AT ALL TIMES. I HAD THE PARTS REPLACED BY A LOCAL SHOP AFTER THE DEALER FAILED TO HONOR MY APPOINTMENT TIMES. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE OUT AND THAT THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO COMMENTED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN A BALL JOINT WEAR OUT IN JUST 50,000 MILES. HE GAVE ME THE OLD PARTS SHOWED THE PLAY IN THE JOINT AND THE ABSENCE OF GREASE IN THE BOOT. HE CLAIMED THAT THE DESIGN MUST BE DEFECTIVE TO WEAR OUT THAT EARLY AND COMPLETELY. I USE THE CAR FOR WORK AND LOSE MONEY WHEN IT IS NOT OPERATIVE. MY MAIN CONCERN WAS SAFETY AND RELIABILITY SINCE I AM REQUIRED TO WORK IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS WITH MY CONTRACT TO THE LOCAL UTILITY, PG&E. NOW I AM AT 65,000 MILES AND THEY ARE GIONG OUT AGAIN. IT IS UNDER WARRANTY WITH THE LOCAL SHOP BUT IS IT FAIR FOR THIS BUSINESS TO DEAL WITH A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM? THE DATE OF REPAIR WAS 8/23/04 BUT THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED 4/5/04 AND WORSENED TO I FELT I COULDN'T SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANYMORE. NOW THE EARLY SIGNS ARE STARTING AGAIN 10,000 MILES AFTER REPAIR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10102247
Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
DECEMBER 6, 2004 I OWN A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CABU AND NOTICED A SHAKING FEELING WHEN APPLYING MY BRAKES WHEN GOING DOWN HILL ON 11/25/04. THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS THAT THERE IS A LOUD CREAKING NOISE. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR ANY OIL CHANGE AND ASKED TO HAVE A …
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DECEMBER 6, 2004 I OWN A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CABU AND NOTICED A SHAKING FEELING WHEN APPLYING MY BRAKES WHEN GOING DOWN HILL ON 11/25/04. THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS THAT THERE IS A LOUD CREAKING NOISE. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR ANY OIL CHANGE AND ASKED TO HAVE A ROAD TEST DONE TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT MY FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE COMPLETLY RUSTED, ROTTED OUT, AND HAD GROOVES ALL OVER THEM. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT MY BALL JOINTS WERE "SHOT" AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE 22,000 MILES ON MY DAKOTA AND DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS EXCEPTABLE TO HAVE MY FRONT BRAKES COMPLETELY REPLACED! I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE DAKOTA FROM AND WAS TOLD THAT DODGE'S WARRANTY ONLY COVERS BRAKES FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES! AFTER READING THE NHTSA'S COMPLAINTS FOR A SIMILIAR PROBLEM, I SEE THAT THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 20,000-25,000 MILES. NOT VERY HAPPY WITH DODGE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM! DEALERSHIP DID NOT SEEM TO BE VERY UNDERSTANDING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10102228
17,037 miles · Dec 6, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
DRIVING MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA (SLT 4X4) IN A 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT. WAS TRAVELING AT 49 MPH. APPLIED BRAKES WITH ABNORMALLY SLOW RESPONSE, JERKING AND VIBRATION, RESULTING IN REAR-ENDING THE CAR AHEAD. RESULTED IN $5050 DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK AND $4781 IN DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE. HAVE HAD BRAKES CHECKED TWICE BY THE DEALERSHIP SINCE…
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DRIVING MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA (SLT 4X4) IN A 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT. WAS TRAVELING AT 49 MPH. APPLIED BRAKES WITH ABNORMALLY SLOW RESPONSE, JERKING AND VIBRATION, RESULTING IN REAR-ENDING THE CAR AHEAD. RESULTED IN $5050 DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK AND $4781 IN DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE. HAVE HAD BRAKES CHECKED TWICE BY THE DEALERSHIP SINCE ACCIDENT WITH EXPLAINATION THAT THE FRONT BRAKES ARE DISC AND THE BACK ARE DRUM AND THAT FRONT DISC BRAKES WILL APPLY BEFORE THE REAR, AND THIS IS THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THESE BRAKES. THIS TRUCK CONTINUES TO HAVE A LONG STOPPING DISTANCE COMPARED TO OTHER TRUCKS I HAVE OWNED. I AM NOW SEEING MULTIPLE OTHER BRAKING COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THIS TRUCK. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS ONE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE WHILE STOPPING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10102195
24,000 miles · Dec 4, 2004
SteeringSuspension
I OWN A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA AND HAD TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED AT 24,000 MILES AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS COMMON. MY HOPE IS THAT YOU WOULD INVESTIGATE THIS AND FORCE CHRYSLER TO DO A RE-CALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10102128
30,000 miles · Nov 29, 2004
Steering
2002 - DODGE DAKOTA: TRUCK MECHANICALLY SOUND WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENGINE. RECENTLY HAD A TUNE-UP & 27 POINT INSPECTION @ 50,000 MILES AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACEMENT AND WOULD COST ABOUT $1200.00 TO FIX. THE DEALERS MECHANIC ASKED IF I HAVE BEEN HEAR A "CLUNKING" SOUND WHEN MAKING SHARP T…
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2002 - DODGE DAKOTA: TRUCK MECHANICALLY SOUND WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENGINE. RECENTLY HAD A TUNE-UP & 27 POINT INSPECTION @ 50,000 MILES AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACEMENT AND WOULD COST ABOUT $1200.00 TO FIX. THE DEALERS MECHANIC ASKED IF I HAVE BEEN HEAR A "CLUNKING" SOUND WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS. I ADVISED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS SOUND STARTED HAPPENING AROUND 30,000 MILES BUT DID NOT PAY TO MUCH ATTENTION. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP IF IT WAS COMMON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN SO PREMATURELY. NO ANSWER. ANY RECALLS IN THE WORKS. THERE SEEMS TO BE MAY ISSUES FROM OTHERS SURROUNDING THE BALLJOINTS!!! IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL COST OF $1200.00 MAYBE I WOULD NOT HAVE CONSIDERED PURCHASING THE TRUCK IN THE FIRST PLACE.*AK FP
NHTSA ODI #10100697
30,000 miles · Nov 25, 2004
Suspension
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET THE FRONT END ALIGNED ON MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA IT WAS DISCOVERED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED AND SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. THE MECHANICE STATES IT IS A DEFECT OF THE PARTS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10100544
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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