2004 Dodge Dakota

I HAVE READ SO MANY OF THESE SAME ISSUES THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE STEERING IS LOCKING UP AND VERY HARD TO TURN. I'VE TAKEN IT INTO A DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES NOW, AND THEY HAVE REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP, CHECKED MY RACK AND PINION, AND ALL OTHER OPTIONS AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. VERY SCARY. JUST HAD A BABY AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT WHERE NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I HAVE READ UP SO MANY OF THESE SAME COMPLAINTS AND THEY ARE ALL THE SAME AS WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. VERY HARD TO TURN WHEEL AND GO STIFF LOOSE STIFF LOOSE. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU. *TR

I OWN A 2004 DAKOTA QUAD 4X4 WITH 78K MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW AND HAVE TAKEN CARE OF IT. MOST OF THE MILES ARE HIGHWAY AND IT HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD. SINCE ITS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY I GOT ONLINE TO RESEARCH A DIY SOLUTION. I FOUND THAT MANY OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD AND ARE HAVING ARE NOT JUST BEING EXPERIENCED BY MYSELF BUT OTHER DAKOTA OWNERS. 1) STEERING ISSUES THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN AT TIMES BOTH GOING INTO AND COMING OUT OF A TURN. THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN FEB 2009 WITH 71K ON IT. IT IS MUCH MORE PREVALENT IN COLD WEATHER. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK UNTIL THE WEATHER WARMED UP. (I HAVE NOT HAD THIS FIXED YET.) 2) BRAKE ISSUES 27K I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT ROTORS AND THE REAR DRUMS TURNED AND NEW PADS AND SHOES INSTALLED AND HAD THE BRAKE FLUID CHANGED. 46K I HAD TO HAVE NEW FRONT ROTORS AND PADS ALONG WITH THE BRAKE FLUID CHANGED 77K REAR BRAKES BEGAN MAKING NOISE. THE PARKING BRAKE PAD HAD FALLEN OFF. I NOW NEED NEW REAR DRUMS AND SHOES AND PARKING BRAKE SHOE. ( I HAVE NOT HAD THIS FIXED YET) 3)SUSPENSION 77K I NEED A FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT PROBABLY DUE TO EXCESS STRAIN FROM THE DEFECTIVE STEERING. ( I HAVE NOT HAD THIS FIXED YET). *TR

I CAN HARDLY STEER MY TRUCK ANYMORE EVEN AFTER REPLACING A POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS THE PROBLEM. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE PUMP WAS FINE AND AFTER RESEARCHING THIS VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THE WEB I AM FINDING OUT THAT THE STEERING ISSUES ARE ACTUALLY DUE TO A FAULTY INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. WHAT DOES A GIRL HAVE TO DO TO GET DODGE TO CORRECT THIS NATIONWIDE PROBLEM? IT'S SEEMS ONLY FAIR THAT A RECALL BE INITIATED ASAP. I GUESS MY ONLY RESORT IS TO LUBE THE SHAFT FOR NOW UNTIL DODGE FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGES HOW MANY THEY HAVE '!@#$%. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCKS WHILE DRIVING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. HE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT THAT GOES INTO THE YOKE WAS BENT WHEN IT SHOULD BE STRAIGHT. THE DEALER FINALLY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT DOES NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,017. UPDATED 8/27/09 *CN UPDATED 09/09/09 *JB

THE STEERING IN MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA IS VERY TIGHT. IT TAKES ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN A CORNER. THEN JUST WHEN I GET THE WHEEL TURNED IT GETS VERY LOOSE AND I AM OVER STEERING. BUT TO TURN THE WHEEL BACK IT IS TIGHT AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AS WELL AS DANGEROUS. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE DAKOTA'S. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO LIE WITH AN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IN THE STEERING. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED! IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE MY TRUCK! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF WHEN MAKING VARIOUS TURNS. IT FELT AS IF THE POWER STEERING WAS FAILING. THE FAILURE LASTED FOR A WEEK BEFORE THE CONTACT FINALLY WENT TO A MECHANIC. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FAILED. THE DEALER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE NECESSARY PART IS ON BACKORDER. THE REPAIR WILL BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,550.