NHTSA Complaint #747118 — 1996 DODGE DAKOTA ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Complaint Details

ODI Number	747118
Vehicle	1996 DODGE DAKOTA
Component	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Date of Incident	May 1, 2001
Date Filed	June 25, 2001
Mileage	N/A miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	Yes
State	WI

Consumer Description

I HAVE A 1996 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUUP TRUCK THAT EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE AT LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. THE CAUSE FOR THIS ENGINE FAILURE WAS INADEQUATE OILING BECAUSE OF SLUDGE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE OIL PAN. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED FROM A CAR DEALER WITH APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE MAINTINED IT PROPERLY SINCE THAT TIME. I AND THE MECHANIC I TOOK IT TO BELIEVE THAT PART OF THE REASON FOR SLUDGE ACCUMULATION IN THE OIL PAN IS POOR OIL PAN DESIGN. THE WAY THE DRAIN PLUB IS SITUATED IT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR COMPLETE DRAINAGE OF THE OIL DURING AN OIL CHANGE. THIS PROBLEM IS PROBABLY AGGRAVATED BY THE FACT THAT THIS VEHICLE IS 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND THE SLUDGE GETS RESUSPENDED WITH OFF-ROAD USE ON STEEP TERRAIN OR ROUGH ROADS. ON CONFERRING WITH AN ATTORNEY, SHE SUGGESTED ABOUT THE ONLY LEGAL RECOURSE IS IF IT OCCURRED IN A NUMBER OF SITUATIONS SO I AM LOOKING FOR RECORDS OF RELATED INCIDENTS. MY MECHANIC INDICATED HE HAD ONE OTHER SIMILAR CASE. ALTHOUGH THIS DID NOT CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, IT COULD HAVE IF I HADN'T CAUGHT THE PROBLEM IN TIME.*AK

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