2000 DODGE DAKOTA Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SPUTTER OR HESITATE PRIOR TO STALLING AND WHEN THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT IS FLASHING, HE IS NOT ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS TO PLAY WITH THE REMOTE TO GET THE LIGHT TO TURN OFF, AND STATED THAT ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,900.

THE TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROX 25 MI PER HOUR. THERE WAS A LOUD THUMP. SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT OF THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER. FLAMES WERE VISIBLE UNDERNEATH. THE HOOD BLEW OPEN AND FLAMES POURED OUT. IN LESS THAN 4 MINUTES THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. *TR

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE QUADCAB 4.7 PIECE OF CRAP TRUCK THAT I BOUGHT NEW. IT HAS 59,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED SINCE NEW WITH THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. IN ADDITION, I HAVE REPLACED TWO OF THE COMPUTERS WHICH COST ME ABOUT $1800 COMBINED. FOR THE PAST YEAR OR SO IT HAS BEEN RUNNING LIKE CRAP. IT STALLS, THE IDLE SPEED FLUCTUATES DRASTICALLY. AT TIMES THE IDLE SPEED WILL GO FROM 500 TO 2500 RPMS FLUCTUATING UP AND DOWN WHEN SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. THE PEOPLE NEXT TO ME MUST WONDER WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY VEHICLE LUNGING THE WAY IT DOES. THE SECOND COMPUTER THAT WAS REPLACED WAS DONE IN AN EFFORT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AND IT FAILED. IM AM TIRED OF SPENDING MONEY ON A VEHICLE WITH SO FEW MILES FOR A PROBLEM THAT MANY MANY OTHER DODGE OWNER HAVE EXPERIENCED. I FEEL...

A DESIGN FAILURE IN THE TIMING CHAIN COVER 4.7 CID 2000 DODGE DAKOTA IN THE HOUSING WHERE THE THER. HOUSING BOLTS TO THE COVER. A PIN HOLE LEAK OCCURRED. DODGE HAS REDESIGNED THIS COVER 2 TIMES TO CORRECT THE DESIGN ERROR. DEFECT COVER IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. 145,000 MILES. *NM

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE OF MY 2000 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK, 4.7 LITER V8, JUST QUIT. THE RESULT WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. POWER ASSIST FOR THE BRAKES QUIT AFTER TWO ATTEMPS AT BRAKEING. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND STOPPED. I RESTARTED THE TRUCK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY, THE CHECK ENGINE WAS NOT ON. A WEEK PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE, THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. AT THAT TIME, ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON. IT WOULD GO OUT IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

HAVE A DODGE DAKOTA-IT HAD A LEAKY HEAD GASKET; WHEN BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIRS CHRYSLER WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER BECAUSE THEY SAY THERE IS SLUDGE IN ENGINE DUE TO LACK OF OIL CHANGES; I HAVE CHANGED OIL AND I DON'T SEE HOW A LACK OF OIL CHANGES WOULD CAUSE A LEAKY HEAD GASKET ANYWAY. PAID EXTRA FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY; CHRYSLER PEOPLE VERY RUDE. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK USED AND HAVE HAD IT FOR 2 YEARS, 30000 MILES. HAD ENGINE OIL TESTED AND ANTI FREEZE WAS IN THE OIL, EXPLAINED THIS TO WARRANTY PEOPLE AND THEY STILL REFUSE. I CALLED THEM TWICE AND THEY TOLD ME NOT TO CALL AGAIN. I WANT MY MONEY BACK FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I WANT CHRYSLER TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ROTTEN PRODUCTS AND I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER ONE. *AK

THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A WHINING NOISE WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OR MORE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS WOULD BE THE FORTH REPLACEMENT WITHIN A YEAR. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *JB DEALER HOWEVER. THERE IS VIBRATION AT 40 MPH. TIRES AND SUSPENSION INSPECTED, NO PROBLEM FOUND. ENGINE HARD TO START FOLLOWING OVERHEATING. DEALER FOUND NO CONDITION THAT MERITS A REPAIR. *TT

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND TECHNICIAN DETERMINED VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AS RESULT, THE HEAD GASKET CRACKED. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THEN, THE MOTOR BLEW OUT. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

AFTER FOLLOWING ALL MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED SERVICING AND OIL CHANGES, MY HUSBANDS '00 DODGE DAKOTA STARTED MAKING RATTLING NOISES IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF. SO WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR. APPARENTLY THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED! IT ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT! I AM BAFFLED THAT THIS COULD EVEN HAPPEN AS MOST OF TODAY'S ENGINES LAST ROUGHLY 150,000 TO 200,000 MILES! NONE OF THE REPAIRS FALL UNDER THE WARRANTY AND THE LEMON LAW TIME PERIOD HAS LAPSED. WE ARE FURIOUS ABOUT THIS! I WILL WRITE EVERY POSSIBLE SOURCE AND ENTER COMPLAINTS. WE WOULD BE THRILLED IF OTHERS WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US IN A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT DODGE DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. BUT THEN FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, I AM FINDING THEIR...

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE DRIVER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OPENED THE HOOD. THE HOT LIQUID BLEW OUT ONTO THE CONSUMERS FACE, CHEST, ARM AND HAND. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK *NLM

2000 DODGE DAKOTA / MOTOR LOCKED UP AT 52,000 MILES / HAVING TO REPLACE MOTOR