NHTSA Complaint #10185068 — 2002 DODGE DAKOTA

BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKES WOULD NOT APPLY AND CONSEQUENTLY RAN THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION AT 50 MPH BARELY AVOIDING CROSSING TRAFFIC AND STOPPED TRAFFIC. FOUND MISSING CALIPER PAD. REPLACED ALL PADS ON FRONT AND TURNED THE ROTORS. ALSO REPLACED THE REAR CYLINDER SEALS. 1 WEEK LATER RIGHT FRONT BRAKE SEVERELY OVERHEATED AND WAS RED HOT AFTER A SEVEN MILE COMMUTE HOME WITH ONLY SEVEN STOPS AT LOW SPEED (NORMAL BRAKING). MECHANIC FOUND EVIDENCE OF BURNED OUTER EDGE OF ROTOR. PADS ACTUATED NORMALLY. RE-TURNED RIGHT ROTOR TO VERIFY NO WARPING HAD OCCURRED. NO PARTS REQUIRED. BRAKES HAVE LOST SOME STOPPING POWER SINCE BEFORE THE FIRST INCIDENT AND MY CONFIDENCE HAS BEEN EFFECTED. COST OF REPAIRS $400+. *JB