NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
177 reportsClear category filter20,800 miles · Jul 14, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
DEFECTIVE BRAKES AND ROTORS. THERE ARE MANY, MANY OTHERS JUST LIKE MYSELF GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEM. EITHER IT IS A PORTIONING PROBLEM WHICH THE CAUSES THE MAJORITY OF THE BRAKING WEIGHT TO BE ABSORBED BY THE FRONT BRAKES WHICH CAUSES ROTORS TO WARP DUE TO THE SELF ADJUSTING BACK BRAKES, WHICH DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. O…
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DEFECTIVE BRAKES AND ROTORS. THERE ARE MANY, MANY OTHERS JUST LIKE MYSELF GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEM. EITHER IT IS A PORTIONING PROBLEM WHICH THE CAUSES THE MAJORITY OF THE BRAKING WEIGHT TO BE ABSORBED BY THE FRONT BRAKES WHICH CAUSES ROTORS TO WARP DUE TO THE SELF ADJUSTING BACK BRAKES, WHICH DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. OR THE FACT THAT THE FRONT ROTORS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF THE V8 QUADS. EITHER WAY, THERE ARE TOO MANY POSTINGS TO LIST FROM OTHER DODGE TRUCK OWNERS AT WWW.DODGETALK.COM AND WWW.DODGEDAKOTAS.COM FORUMS THAT LIST THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIX IS UNFORTUNATE FOR OWNERS AS IT CAN RANGE ANYWHERE FROM 600.00 - 1500.00. WHEN YOU PURCHASE A TRUCK THAT COSTS 25,000.00 - 35,000.00 YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR MONEY INTO SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DURABLE BEYOND THE STANDARD 12,000 WARRANTIES ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. I'VE READ POSTINGS WHEREAS PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM START AT THE LOW MILEAGE OF 5,000 UP TO 25,000 MILES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!! I'VE CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND RECEIVED AN "OH WELL, IT'S YOUR PROBLEM NOT OURS" ATTITUDE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AT APPROX 20,800 MILES FOR ME UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS IS MY 2ND COMPLAINT ON YOUR WEBSITE!! PLEASE HELP US!!!! EVERYONE WHO HAS CONTACTED CHRYSLER HAS GOTTEN THE SAME RESPONSE. I'VE READ WHERE SOME OF THE OWNERS RECEIVED WARRANTY REPAIR WITHIN THE 12,000 MILEAGE RANGE ONLY TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN AFTER THE WARRANTY LIMITATIONS WITHOUT HELP FROM CHRYSLER BEYOND THE 12,000 EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AN ISSUE THAT WAS ON GOING PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION. WITH THE COST OF VEHICLES THESE DAYS AND THE OUTRAGEOUS MONTHLY PAYMENTS, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. CHRYSLER IS NOT RESPONDING TO ANY OF US. HELP!!! TO SAY THAT BRAKES ARE NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IS LUDICROUS!!!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10026041
27,689 miles · Jul 11, 2003
SeatsService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
ONLY 27689 MILES SAFETY FRONT END COMPONENTS FAILED POWER STEERING RACK SEAL LEAKING FLUID.SWAY BAR BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED.SEAT RIGHT REAR COMING APART PASS SIDE PLASTIC RECLINER HANDLE BROKE MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 SPORT HAS HAD SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS…
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ONLY 27689 MILES SAFETY FRONT END COMPONENTS FAILED POWER STEERING RACK SEAL LEAKING FLUID.SWAY BAR BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED.SEAT RIGHT REAR COMING APART PASS SIDE PLASTIC RECLINER HANDLE BROKE MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 SPORT HAS HAD SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS MAKE A POPPING SOUND WHEN STEP ON BRAKES OR MAKE A SHARP LEFT TURN. I NOW HAVE 29900 MILES AND THE POUNDING AND NOISE HAVE NOT STOPPED. VEHICLE FEELS LIKE YOU WILL LOOSE CONTROL WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE HIGHWAY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10025894
16,000 miles · Jun 30, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BAD VIBRATIONS IN FRONT BRAKES. ROTORS WERE VISIBLY WORN AND HAD PITS IN THEM. THIS WAS ONLY AFTER 16,000 MI. ALL HIGHWAY DRIVING, NO TOWING OR OFF ROAD DRIVING. WAS OUT OF WARRENTY AND HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS TURNED. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT MANY HAVE THIS ISSUE. COULD PROVE TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10025180
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT ROTOR ON 2002 DAKOTA WARPING FOR SECOND TIME. HAD THEM TURNED ABOUT 10,000 MILES AGO AND ARE ALREADY STARTING TO WARP AGAIN. DEALER OFFERING NON-WARRANTY SOLUTION. DEALER ADMITS IT IS COMMON WITH THE DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS BUT THERE IS NO RECALL NOTICE ON THEM SO THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10023899
15,000 miles · Jun 16, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MY ROTORS ON MY DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 (2002) BEGAN TO WARP AT 15,000 MILES. I AM NOW AT 40,000 MILES AND THE VIBRATION HAS BECOME SO BAD THAT I WILL BE REPLACING THEM. THIS PROBLEM IS SO BAD THAT IT IS A VERY BAD SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE ROTORS BEFORE 80,000 …
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MY ROTORS ON MY DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 (2002) BEGAN TO WARP AT 15,000 MILES. I AM NOW AT 40,000 MILES AND THE VIBRATION HAS BECOME SO BAD THAT I WILL BE REPLACING THEM. THIS PROBLEM IS SO BAD THAT IT IS A VERY BAD SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE ROTORS BEFORE 80,000 MILES. IN MY OPINION A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THIS SAFETY DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10023120
50,000 miles · Jun 13, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED/PULSATE/OUT OF ROUND. PADS ARE STILL OK, HAVE TORQUES LUG NUTS EVERYTIME TO 95 FT/LBS WITH A HAND TORQUE WRENCH. REAR BRAKES DRUMS ARE CONSTANTLY ADJUSTED. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10023032
20,000 miles · Jun 5, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT ROTORS WARP AFTER ONLY 20,000 MILES . DEALER COULD NOT TURN THEM DUE TO THE SEVERE RUST PITTING .AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH I FIND THIS PROBLEM VERY COMMON. ALL OF THE REPAIR SHOPS AND DEALERS AND A MAJORITY OF DAKOTA OWNERS HAVE HAD WARPED ROTORS. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFTY ISSUE DUE TO THE DIMISHED BRAKE CAPACITY OF DEFECTIVE …
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FRONT ROTORS WARP AFTER ONLY 20,000 MILES . DEALER COULD NOT TURN THEM DUE TO THE SEVERE RUST PITTING .AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH I FIND THIS PROBLEM VERY COMMON. ALL OF THE REPAIR SHOPS AND DEALERS AND A MAJORITY OF DAKOTA OWNERS HAVE HAD WARPED ROTORS. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFTY ISSUE DUE TO THE DIMISHED BRAKE CAPACITY OF DEFECTIVE ROTORS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10021071
27,000 miles · May 24, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
VIBRATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. WARPED ROTORS AT ONLY 27,000 MILES WHEN USED ONLY FOR COMMUTING TO AND FROM WORK, MAINLY HIGHWAY MILES. WAS TOLD THAT MANY THINGS COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEARING AND OR WARPING OF THE ROTORS SUCH AS HEAVY TOWING AND HIGH TEMP'S. NONE OF WHICH THE TRUCK HAS ENDURED. I DO NOT/HAVE NOT TOWED ANYTHING…
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VIBRATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. WARPED ROTORS AT ONLY 27,000 MILES WHEN USED ONLY FOR COMMUTING TO AND FROM WORK, MAINLY HIGHWAY MILES. WAS TOLD THAT MANY THINGS COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEARING AND OR WARPING OF THE ROTORS SUCH AS HEAVY TOWING AND HIGH TEMP'S. NONE OF WHICH THE TRUCK HAS ENDURED. I DO NOT/HAVE NOT TOWED ANYTHING AND FURTHERMORE THE WARPING HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER SO, HIGH HEAT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE EITHER. I'VE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ONLINE AND REALIZE NOW THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR. DODGE WILL NOT ASSIST WITH RESOLVING THE ISSUE AS THEY WILL ONLY WARRANTY ROTORS UP TO 12,000 MILES. THE OTHER CASES I'VE READ ABOUT SEEM TO HAPPEN AT OR WITHIN 10,000 MILES. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT DODGE NEEDS TO ADDRESS AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF. NOT ONLY THE BRAKE ISSUE BUT I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS OTHERS WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. MINE HAVE ALREADY HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE SO LOOSE THAT YOU COULD MOVE THEM WITH YOUR HAND. DODGE SHOULD BE HELP ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE ISSUES!!!! *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10019249
27,526 miles · May 24, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES, VIBRATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, WARPED ROTOR. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10019245
15,000 miles · May 20, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WARPED ROTORS. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10018985
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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