NHTSA Complaint #10373325 — 2005 DODGE DAKOTA

2005 AND EARLY 2006 DODGE DAKOTA'S EQUIPPED WITH THE 8.25 INCH REAR AXLE HAVE A DEFECTIVE BRAKE DESIGN. THEY UTILIZE A SINGLE SPRING BETWEEN THE REAR BRAKE SHOES WHICH CREATES VARYING DEGREES OF BRAKE SHUDDERING UPON APPLICATION. IN ADDITION MANY OF THESE TRUCKS ARE EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE AXLES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE SHUDDERING PROBLEM. IN LATE 2005, DODGE ISSUED A TSB TO THEIR DEALERS ON HOW TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS. THIS WAS SOON SUPERSEDED BY TSB 05-002-006. I PURCHASED A TRUCK WITH BOTH THE DEFECTIVE BRAKES AND DEFECTIVE AXLES IN AUGUST OF 2005. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF EITHER TSB BY CHRYSLER CORPORATION. I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT SINCE MY VEHICLE IS OVER ONE YEAR OLD THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MUCH OF THE COST OF REPAIRING THESE FACTORY DEFECTS TO AN IMPORTANT SAFETY SYSTEM. DODGE ISSUED TWO TSB'S AND BEGAN INSTALLING A PROPERLY DESIGNED REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY ON ALL NEW DAKOTAS BUILT AFTER JANUARY 2006. I BELIEVE THAT DODGE SHOULD ISSUE AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY RECALL FOR ALL AFFECTED 2005 AND EARLY 2006 DAKOTA TRUCKS AND REPAIR THEM FOR LITTLE OR NO COST TO THE OWNER. THIS PROBLEM HAS UNDOUBTEDLY INCREASED THE RISK FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENTS DUE TO DIMINISHED BRAKING POWER AND DRIVER REACTION TO THE PULSATING PEDAL ON HARD BRAKING. IN ADDITION, NUMEROUS OWNERS HAVE PROBABLY PAID FOR UNNECESSARY AND INEFFECTIVE REPAIRS SINCE THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS DESIGN DEFECT MIMIC THOSE OF OUT-OF-ROUND BRAKE DRUMS. *TR