NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
44 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Mar 7, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB PICKUP 2003, BRAKE FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. *BF THE CONSUMER HIT A PARKED VEHICLE ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE, THE PEDAL SIMPLY COLLAPSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE DEALER CHECKED OUT THE BRAKES AND STATED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS, HOWEVER ON THE THIRD OCCA…
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DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB PICKUP 2003, BRAKE FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. *BF THE CONSUMER HIT A PARKED VEHICLE ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE, THE PEDAL SIMPLY COLLAPSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE DEALER CHECKED OUT THE BRAKES AND STATED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS, HOWEVER ON THE THIRD OCCASION THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MIDAS WHO TOLD THE CONSUMER THERE WAS INTERNAL FAILURE WITHIN THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND IT WAS A WARRANTY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED BY THE DEALER. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10113723
15,000 miles · Dec 31, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 DODGE DAKOTA 4.7L V-8 QUAD CUB. AT APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES, I NOTICED A SHUDDER IN THE TRUCK WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IT BECAME WORSE WITH MILEAGE, AND AT 15,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE FELT UNSAFE WHEN STOPPING DUE TO HORRIBLE SHAKING AND SHUDDERING. IT ALSO FELT I HAD LESS STOPPING POWER AND DISTANCE. …
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I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 DODGE DAKOTA 4.7L V-8 QUAD CUB. AT APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES, I NOTICED A SHUDDER IN THE TRUCK WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IT BECAME WORSE WITH MILEAGE, AND AT 15,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE FELT UNSAFE WHEN STOPPING DUE TO HORRIBLE SHAKING AND SHUDDERING. IT ALSO FELT I HAD LESS STOPPING POWER AND DISTANCE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY ADVISED I HAD WARPED BRAKE ROTORS. THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS AT MY EXPENSE. APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES LATER, THE VEHICLE SHOWED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK, SAME DIAGNOSIS. I ASKED THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WHY THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. SHE TOLD ME "DODGE IS USING JUNK PARTS". I ASKED WHY THEY DIDN'T PUT BETTER PARTS ON IF THEY KNEW THIS AND SHE SAID THAT WAS UP TO CHRYSLER, NOT THE SERVICE DEALER. APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES LATER I HAD TO TAKE MY TRUCK BACK AGAIN, FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. AGAIN, WHEN I ASKED WHY THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN, I WAS ADVISED "JUNK PARTS". I CONTACTED DODGE VIA THEIR WEBSITE EXPLAINING MY PROBLEM AND THEY ADVISED ME TO USE A DIFFERENT SERVICE DEALERSHIP. EVEN WITH THE NEW ROTORS, MY TRUCK FEELS IT HAS INADEQUATE STOPPING POWER. AFTER REVIEWING DODGE DAKOTA OWNERS WEBSITE, I SAW THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP DODGE OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. DODGE IS CLEARLY USING INADEQUATE BRAKES FOR THEIR TRUCKS, SACRIFICING ON STOPPING ABILITY AND QUALITY. DODGE DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THE OWNERS SAFETY. PLEASE HELP DODGE TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR INADEQUATE EQUIPMENT. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE ANY OTHER INFORMATION OR DOCUMENTATION TO ASSIST WITH RESOLVING THIS ISSUE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10104830
Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I'VE HAD PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS WITH MY BRAKES. I DON'T THINK THAT THEY WORK AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD. AND THEN ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO I ASSUMED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY ROTORS BECAUSE WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THERE WAS A SHIMMING IN THE FRONT END. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DODGE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT…
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I'VE HAD PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS WITH MY BRAKES. I DON'T THINK THAT THEY WORK AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD. AND THEN ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO I ASSUMED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY ROTORS BECAUSE WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THERE WAS A SHIMMING IN THE FRONT END. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DODGE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS OKAY BECAUSE IT WAS A NEW TRUCK. I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS AND THIS TIME THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT HE KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT BEFORE THEY EVEN CHECKED THE ROTORS. THIS TIME THEY TURNED THE ROTORS AND THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT NOW IT IS DOING THE SAME SHIMMING AGAIN. THE TRUCK NOW HAS A LITTLE OVER 15,000 MILES ON IT AND I FEEL THAT THERE SOULD NOT BE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM THIS SOON. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10104356
25,000 miles · Dec 14, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REPEATEDLY AND FREQUENTLY WARPING BRAKE ROTORS, WHICH CAUSE POOR STOPPING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10102963
30,000 miles · Dec 6, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB HAS HAD THE BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES WITH NO SEVERE USE. AND ALSO THE BALL JOINTS ARE WORN OUT AT 35,000 MILES. THESE PARTS SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER ON A LIGH USE VEHICLE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10102211
Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
NO EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE JUST REGULAR DRIVING.UNUSUAL ROTOR WARPPING ON MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA SO FAR HAS COST ME OVER $800 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS MY COMPLAINT IS ON THE POOR ENGINEERING OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM.WORST VEHICLE I EVER OWNED SHOULD OF STAYED WITH TOYOTA!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10100415
20,000 miles · Oct 8, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MY TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 25000 MILES AND THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE WARPED AND CAUSE TERRIBLE VIBRATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10093846
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
AFTER 10,000 MILES ON MY 2003 DAKOTA, I HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS (ALL 4) TURNED BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED. DEALER DID IT FOR FREE. AT 20,000 MILES THEY ARE WARPED AND NEEDED TURNING AGAIN. DEALER NOT PAYING I HAVE TO PAY THEM. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH ROTOR PROBLEMS, IT APPEARS THE BRAKES AREN'T MADE FOR A TRUCK THIS SIZE BUT F…
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AFTER 10,000 MILES ON MY 2003 DAKOTA, I HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS (ALL 4) TURNED BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED. DEALER DID IT FOR FREE. AT 20,000 MILES THEY ARE WARPED AND NEEDED TURNING AGAIN. DEALER NOT PAYING I HAVE TO PAY THEM. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH ROTOR PROBLEMS, IT APPEARS THE BRAKES AREN'T MADE FOR A TRUCK THIS SIZE BUT FOR A SMALLER VERSION OF IT. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY DODGE
NHTSA ODI #10093507
32,000 miles · Sep 30, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT/REAR BRAKES WORE OUT, CAUSING VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK.....CONSUMER HAS HAD FOUR REPLACEMENTS OF BRAKES. VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10094682
6,000 miles · Sep 8, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AFTER 6000 MILES, BRAKE PADS SQUEAL AFTER LESS THAN 100 MILES. WAITED UNTIL 22,000 MILES TO HAVE INSPECTED, AND TOLD THE WARRANTY ON PRODUCT IS ONLY 12,000 MILES 12 MONTHS. REFUSED TO REPLACE WARPED ROTORS WITH LESS THAN 25,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, AND PADS STILL IN GOOD CONDITION DESPITE SQUEAKING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10090651
Official recalls
4Dec 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.
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.
Dec 2, 2002
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE (CTM) HAS AN IMPROPERLY SIZED CIRCUIT BOARD TRACE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE RIGHT HEADLAMP LOW BEAM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CTM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
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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