NHTSA Complaint #10192915 — 2006 DODGE DAKOTA

WE PURCHASED A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA CLUB 4X4 TRUCK INTENDED FOR OUR BUSINESS USE AND PERSONAL USE, IN SEPTEMBER 2006 WITH 15 MILES ON IT FROM NEBRASKA, WE LIVE IN IOWA. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE AND REPAIRED JANUARY 2007, (EXACT DATES UNAVAILABLE AT THIS WRITING DUE TO THE FACT THE VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP). THE BRAKES WOULD GRAB INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DESCENDING A HILL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMER AND SHAKE VICIOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN AND REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE FREE. TOTAL DAYS LOST 2. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON MAY 30, 2007. WE WERE ON VACATION IN WI AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'TSTART. WE WERE MADE TO WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK THAT HAD TO DRIVE AN HOUR AWAY TO BE ABLE TO TOW US LESS THAN 15 MILES. WE HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE (CAR) THAT I WAS UNABLE TO USE FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES, TO RETURN HOME FOR MY SPOUSE TO BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK. THIS MEANT WE HAD TO DRIVE BACK WITH THE RENTAL TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. IT WAS 4 DAYS WITH THE RENTAL. THE DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT BE MADE WITH THE TOOL UNTIL THE MASTER COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. AFTER THIS WAS DONE, NOTHING WRONG. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS USED AFTER OUR RETURN HOME, I DROVE LESS THAN 15 MILES AND IT DID THE SAME THING, WOULDN'T START. THE ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT TURN OVER. AGAIN, NO WARNING LIGHTS. I CALLED THE TOWING SERVICE PROVIDED BY DAIMLER, I WAITED AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES. I DECIDED TO TRY IT AGAIN JUST SECONDS BEFORE THE TOW GUY ARRIVED AND IT STARTED. I DECIDED TO NOT HAVE IT TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR, THE MANAGER OF THE TOW SERVICE REASSURED ME, I PANICKED AND IT WAS A VAPOR LOCK. OH YEAH THIS WAS ON JUNE 8, 2007 JUST 4 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING OUR VEHICLE BACK. I BELIEVED HIM. I WENT MAYBE 5 BLOCKS, CROSSED OVER A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN THE WHOLE TRUCK SHOOK (FELT LIKE THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO FALL OUT) AND STALLED, COASTED OVER THE HILL TO SAFETY. WE WERE NOTIFIED THE NEXT DAY AND HE SAID, AFTER DRIVING IT 5 MILES, NOTHING HAPPENED, TRIED IT AGAIN STILL BEING SERVICED. *TR