NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
177 reportsClear category filter17,037 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
31,100 miles · Nov 21, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE FRONT BRAKES ON MY TRUCK WAS DIAGNOSED WITH DEFECTIVE ROTORS. I DO MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING SO I EXPECTED 40,000 TO 50,000 MILES ON THE FRONT BRAKES. I HAD 15,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK FOR ITS 1ST BRAKE INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME THAT I STILL HAD APPROXIMATELY 80% OF PADS LEFT. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN AT 31,000 AND REQU…
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THE FRONT BRAKES ON MY TRUCK WAS DIAGNOSED WITH DEFECTIVE ROTORS. I DO MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING SO I EXPECTED 40,000 TO 50,000 MILES ON THE FRONT BRAKES. I HAD 15,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK FOR ITS 1ST BRAKE INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME THAT I STILL HAD APPROXIMATELY 80% OF PADS LEFT. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN AT 31,000 AND REQUESTED TO HAVE THE BRAKES INSPECTED AGAIN. I WAS TAKEN BY SURPRISE WHEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ROTORS WERE SHOT AND ASKED TO SEE THEM BEFORE I WOULD AUTHORIZE A REPAIR. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS OVER 50% OF THE BRAKE PADS LEFT BUT SOMEHOW THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE SCORED SO BADLY THAT THEY COULD NOT BE CUT DOWN TO REPAIR THEM, THEY MUST BE REPLACED, AND I COULD ALSO SEE THAT THE ROTORS WERE THAT BAD. CONSIDERING THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF BRAKE PAD LEFT I OPTED NOT TO SPEND THE $565.00 AT THIS TIME AND GET MORE LIFE OUT OF THE BRAKES. THEY STILL STOP THE VEHICLE WITH NO PROBLEMS. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO.. DEFECTIVE METAL IN THE ROTORS, ( NOT HARD ENOUGH ) , DEFECTIVE PADS, ( HARD STEEL EMBEDDED IN THEM ) ETC. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10100288
22,845 miles · Oct 7, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT BRAKE DISC WERE CAST IN LAYERS, AND THEY CAME APART. MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED THAT CONSUMER CALL THIS OFFICE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10095348
19,182 miles · Oct 4, 2004
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING HOME AFTER HAVING TRANSMISSION REBUILT MY BRAKES STARTED TO SOUND AS IF THERE WAS DIRT ON THE PADS. AS THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 19000 MILES AT THE TIME THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVED. THE NOISE OVER THE NEXT WEEK GOT LOUDER AND THE TRUCK HARDER TO STOP SAFTLY. CONTACTED DEALER BROUGHT IN AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ROTORS WERE SCA…
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WHILE DRIVING HOME AFTER HAVING TRANSMISSION REBUILT MY BRAKES STARTED TO SOUND AS IF THERE WAS DIRT ON THE PADS. AS THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 19000 MILES AT THE TIME THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVED. THE NOISE OVER THE NEXT WEEK GOT LOUDER AND THE TRUCK HARDER TO STOP SAFTLY. CONTACTED DEALER BROUGHT IN AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ROTORS WERE SCARED AND THE PADS WERE GONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE ROTOR WAS PITTED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. DEALER REFUSES TO FIX EXCEPT AS A MAINTENCE ISSUE. THEY DID HOWEVER REPLACE UPPER BALL JOINTS . I BELIEVE THE LOOSE FRONT END CAUSED THE VIBRATION IN WHEELS WHICH LED TO BRAKE FAILURE. I HAVE READ MANY COMPAINTS OF BRAKES ON THE WEB. DODGE NEEDS TO RECAL THIS VEICLE -- SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10093546
43,000 miles · Sep 14, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
INTERMITTENTLY THE BRAKES FAILED TO RELEASE FULLY AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL CAME BACK UP WHEN RELEASED, BUT THE BRAKES DRAGGED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE FRONT ROTORS OVERHEATED. THE DEALERSHIP TURNED THE FRONT ROTORS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A MONTH LATER. THIS TIME THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS OVERHEATED. *AK *SC …
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INTERMITTENTLY THE BRAKES FAILED TO RELEASE FULLY AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL CAME BACK UP WHEN RELEASED, BUT THE BRAKES DRAGGED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE FRONT ROTORS OVERHEATED. THE DEALERSHIP TURNED THE FRONT ROTORS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A MONTH LATER. THIS TIME THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS OVERHEATED. *AK *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10081684
30,000 miles · Aug 30, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10088820
18,000 miles · Aug 27, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT ABS LOCKED UP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON WET ROAD SURFACE. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10089917
42,000 miles · Aug 26, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FELT PULSING IN FRONT BRAKES DUE TO ROTOR OVERHEATING AND WARPING. BRAKE FAILURE, NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10088628
30,000 miles · Aug 24, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SHAKING IN FRONT END WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, ALSO RATTLE IN FRONT END. DODGE DEALER FOUND FRONT BRAKE ROTORS TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED AND PITTED AND THAT BRAKE PAD CLIPS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF FRONT PADS CAUSING RATTLE. ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED AND OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. DODGE REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10088462
33,541 miles · Aug 15, 2004
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash
TRAVELING APPROX 25 MPH ON WET ROADS. APPLIED BRAKES NOTHING HAPPENED. TRUCK DIDN'T SLOW DOWN WITH BRAKE TO FLOOR. COLLISION OCCURRED (REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE) AND FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WEARING SEAT BELT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10086905
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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