1996 Dodge Dakota

WAS GOING 50MP WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO HYDROPLANE, HIT AN 18 WHEELER. TIRE BLEWOUT, AND FRONT END OF TRUCK HIT GROUND. RAN INTO CULBRECHT AT 50MPH. UPON IMPACT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK. AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. INSURANCE INSPECTOR CHECKED VEHICLE. CHRYSLER INSPECTOR INFORMED OWNER NOT ENOUGH FORCE FOR AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED THE FOLLOWING INJURIES, FRACTURED NOSE/DISORIENTATION AND BRUISES.*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN REAR END OF TRUCK STARTED TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN AND SHAKING FOR A BLOCK. THE UNIVERSAL JOINT BROKE, AND SOUNDED LIKE GOING UP AND DOWN. CONSUMER HAD TO COAST THROUGH TRAFFIC, NEARLY CAUSING NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS. CONSUMER WASTOLD BY DEALER THAT DRIVESHAFT FAILED, AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WHOLE DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE AFTER REPLACEMENT OF DRIVESHAFT, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO VIBRATE. AFTER CHRYSLER IN GA. STATED THAT ONE OF THE HUBS ON THE LEFT REAR AXLE WAS NOT STRAIGHT, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TIRE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A BADLY BENT RIM. PUT VEHICLE ON THE BALANCE MACHINE AND THERE WAS A WALP. WENT BACK TO DEALER WHERE EVEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE 36,000 MILE FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED. ALSO, THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECTS. *AK

BOTH THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND PASSENGER'S DOOR UNABLE TO BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE. PASSENGER DOOR WAS FIXED BY DEALERSHIP. DRIVER'S DOOR WAS FIXED BY MECHANIC. TRUCK CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP AS BOTH DOORS NEED TO BE FIXED AGAIN. THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE TIGHTLY UNLESS YOU LOCK THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THE PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. *AK

1. THE POWER STEERING HIGH- PRESSURE HOSE HAS AN O-RING INSIDE OF THE FITTING THAT CONNECTS TO THE GEARBOX. THE O-RING COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DIFFICULT STEERING, WHICH WAS VERY UNEXPECTED. REFILLING THE RESEVOIR RESULTED IN A HIGH PRESSURE SPRAY OF HYDRAULIC FLUID COVERING THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND LASTING LESS THAN TWO MILES WITH NO TURNS. 2. THE CLUTCH DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR, THERE IS PLENTY OF FLUID IN THE RESEVOIR, AND THERE IS RESISTANCE WHEN PRESSING THE PEDAL. TO DOWN SHIFT, I HAD TO STOP THE ENGINE, PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN 1ST GEAR PUSH IN THE CLUTCH, THEN START THE ENGINE. THERE IS JUST ENOUGH CLUTCH TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING IF THE BRAKE IS ON. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS WARNINGS OR INDICATIONS THAT THIS FAILURE WAS PENDING.