2005 DODGE DAKOTA Suspension Problems

*Incomplete Recall Status* ***Defect in transfer case*** Complaint of Manufacturer Defect in 2005 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab 4x4 3.7l v6. While driving at a speed of 30mph on a smooth paved highway and selector switch turned to 2 wheel drive mode; out of nowhere, the transfer case tried to engage 4 High which resulted in SVC 4X4 warning lamp illumination and a loud grinding/stuttering sound from under carriage as well as halting me to 10 mph without any help from me. after pulling over on the roadside and putting truck in park and turning the engine off, i waited a couple of minutes and SVC 4X4 indicator and 4High dash light had gone. I restarted the truck only to find that the SVC 4X4 Warning lamp immediately returned and now the 4lo illuminated dash light is constantly showing and truck is still showing in 2 wheel drive with selector switch...

I TOOK MY 2005 DAKOTA TO REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE OF CLUNKING NOISE ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN DRIVING OR ROCKING THE TRUCK WHEN IT WAS PARKED. REPAIR SHOP SAID LOWER BALL JOINT COMPLETELY FAILED AND WAS RIDING ON LOWER CONTROL ARM INSTEAD OF SUPPORTED BY BALL JOINT. UPPER BALL JOINT WAS ALSO BAD. PASSENGER SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT WORN OUT AND LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT WAS CRACKED. ALL TIE ROD ENDS ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

HELLO, I RECENTLY PURCHASED A ONE OWNER 2005 DODGE DAKOTA, WHICH HAS LESS THAN 35,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. THE CAR FAX CAME BACK CLEAN FOR ACCIDENTS ETC, BUT I HAVE FOUND, THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR SECTIONS OF THE CHASSIS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES AND MOST OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAD TO BE REPLACED TOO. DUE TO EXCESSIVE DEEP RUST. TO THE POINT OF THE NUT HOLDING THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END DISINTEGRATED. THE STRAIGHT SIDE RAILS OF THE CHASSIS ARE EXCESSIVELY DEEP RUSTED. AS WELL AS THE OIL PAN AND REAR AXLE HOUSING (WHICH ARE ORIGINAL). THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO CUT OFF THE FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND REPLACE ALL BUSHINGS AND MOST OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST AND WEAR. MY TRUCK HAS BARELY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR ITS YEAR AND HAS HAD MINIMAL...

AROUND 50,000 MILES UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS MAKING POPPING SOUNDS. TOOK TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP . REPLACED ALL 4 , THEN POPPING STOPPED. WAY TO EARLY FOR BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT. OCCURED WHILE MOVING 5 MPH AND TURNING EITHER DIRECTION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AGGRESSIVELY SWAYED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE FACE, CHEST, STOMACH, LEG, AND FEET AREAS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FRONT END ALUMINUM CLAMPS THAT HELD THE STABILIZER BAR FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLAMPS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

ISSUE I AM FIGHTING NOW. AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55 - 75 INTERMITTENTLY THE TRUCK WILL BEGIN TO VIBRATE. IF YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS IT GETS WORSE. IF YOU THEN APPLY THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO SHAKE ALMOST VIOLENTLY, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSES. IF I SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 30 MPH IT STOPS AND MAY HAPPEN AGAIN QUICKLY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR A WHILE. I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS AND TIE ROD ENDS AND GOTTEN AN ALIGNMENT. STILL THE ISSUE EXISTS. I HAVE NEW MICHELIN TIRES. I HAVE ALSO ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS 3 TIMES ALREADY ON THIS TRUCK. IT HAS LESS THAN 13000 MILES ON IT. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I WILL NEVER, EVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FOUR WHEEL SYSTEM DISENGAGED ON ITS OWNS WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS. THE DOORS MALFUNCTIONED AND LOCKED AND UNLOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

I BOUGHT THIS 2005 DAKOTA NEW. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS IN REPAIRS AND THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. I'VE ALSO NEVER SEEN ANYTHING RUST LIKE THIS TRUCK. THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE I AM FIGHTING NOW. AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55 - 75 INTERMITTENTLY THE TRUCK WILL BEGIN TO VIBRATE. IF YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS IT GETS WORSE. IF YOU THEN APPLY THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO SHAKE ALMOST VIOLENTLY, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSES. IF I SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 30 MPH IT STOPS AND MAY HAPPEN AGAIN QUICKLY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR A WHILE. I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS AND TIE ROD ENDS AND GOTTEN AN ALIGNMENT. STILL THE ISSUE EXISTS. I HAVE NEW MICHELIN TIRES. I HAVE ALSO ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS 3 TIMES ALREADY...

LOUD NOISE WHENEVER TURNING - TECH FOUND UPPER BALL JOINT VERY DRY, ALSO FOUND SWAY BAR LINKS WORN - REPLACED LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT AND BOTH SWAY BAR LINKS. *TR

LOW NOISE IN FRONT WHILE TURNING - DEALERSHIP VERIFIED COMPLAINT AND FOUND BOTH OUTER TIRE ROD ENDS TO BE LOOSE AND LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT TO BE NOISY - REPLACED BOTH OUTER TIRE ROD ENDS AND SET TOE ALSO REPLACED THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT. *TR

LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHILE TURNING, STOPPING OR EVEN GETTING INTO TRUCK DIAGNOSIS FOUND LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINTS LOOSE - RECOMMENDED REPLACING. I HAVE NOT DONE THIS YET - IF YOU LOOK AT MY HISTORY, I HAVE HAD MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER MAKE THE REPAIRS TO THE FRONT BALL JOINTS PREVIOUSLY AT 45,120 MILES AND 59,072 MILES. CHRYSLER RECALLED 2000-2003 DODGE DAKOTAS STATING THAT "EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE UPPER BALL JOINT MAY CAUSE THE FRONT WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE AND RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL" IN THE SAME RECALL THEY ALSO STATED' " WATER MAY ENTER INTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS AND CAUSE CORROSION AND PREMATURE WEAR." *TR

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TIE ROD ENDS,SWAY BAR LINK RODS,AND NOW LOWER CONTROL ARMS TO KEEP THE TRUCK SAFELY ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THESE ITEMS ON A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 100000 MILES. *TR

IN OCTOBER OF 2010, I WAS DRIVING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY ONTO A MAIN STREET MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN I HEARD A METAL SNAPPING SOUND. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, I FELT SOME SLACK IN THE STEERING WHEN I MADE A TURN AFTERWARDS. I INSPECTED THE SUSPENION SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES IN THE NEXT WEEK BUT DIDN'T SEE THE CAUSE. LATER I FOUND THE FRONT SWAY BAR LINK BROKE APART WHERE IT ATTACHED TO THE SWAY BAR. I DIDN'T SEE THIS ON EARLIER INSPECTIONS BECAUSE THE 2 PARTS CAME TOGETHER WHEN STATIC TO CONCEAL THE BREAK. I PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT KIT AND REPLACED BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE SWAY BAR LINKS MYSELF. (DAMAGED PARTS STILL AVAILABLE) IN THE EARLY PART OF 2011, I BEGAN TO HEAR CREAKING NOISE FROM THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AS I DROVE AND ON TURNS. I INSPECTED THE SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES AND CONCLUDED THAT 1 OR MORE...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD SQUEAKY NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

AFTER ONLY 62,000 MILES MY BALL JOINTS ARE SHOT. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS IN THE PAST AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS. THIS IS NOT ALOT OF MILES TO WEAR DOWN BALL JOINTS ON A TRUCK, IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A DEFECT. *TR

AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55 - 75 INTERMITANTLY THE TRUCK WILL BEGIN TO VIBRATE. IF YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS IT GETS WORSE. IF YOU THEN APPLY THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO SHAKE ALMOST VIOLENTLY, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSES. IF I SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 30 MPH IT STOPS AND MAY HAPPEN AGAIN QUICKLY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR A WHILE. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 OR 4 TIMES AND THEY STATE THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT BALL JOINTS, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS 3 TIMES AND RECENTLY PUT ON THE 3 SET OF BRAKES AND ROTORS ALL ON ADVISE FROM DODGE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. VERY UNSAFE. HARD TO CONTROL THE TRUCK. I NO LONGER DRIVE THE TRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY. HAVE CALLED DODGE CHRYSLAR AND THEY STATE TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I GET...

BALL JOINTS KEEP GOING BAD. *TR

BOTTOM BALL JOINTS ON 2005 DODGE DAKOTA ARE WORN OUT LESS THAN 42000 MILES. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA SLT. I PURCHASED IT IN 10/2005. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT IT. RECENTLY I HAD TO REPLACED THE TIRE RODS, SWAY BAR AND LINKAGE, BRAKES, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS. TWO DAYS AFTER I HAD ALL OF THESE THINGS FIXED I NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK WAS STILL SHAKING AND MAKING A LOT OF NOISE. WHEN I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO DODGE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR AXLE IN THE TRUCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT WHEN THE TRUCK WAS MANUFACTURED THE WRONG SIZE AXLE WAS PUT IN THE TRUCK. THIS CAUSED ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD THAT OTHER PARTS ARE DAMAGED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AND REPAIRED.(REAR BRAKE SHOES, FRONT DISC ROTORS) I WAS TOLD THAT THE AXLE PART IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT I HAVE TO PAY THE $100 DEDUCTIBLE. I WAS...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANG AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE STRUCK TWO PARKED VEHICLES. THE DRIVESHAFT WAS PULLED OUT AT THE SCENE AND THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE GROUND. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE LEAF SPRING SNAPPED OFF. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY SERVICE AND WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A CRASH, THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY INSTRUCTED HIM NOT TO GO TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 12,000. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/11/08

ORIGINAL OWNER OF VEHICLE WITH 21,00 MILES. APPROX 1 WEEK AGO BEGAN HEARING SCRAPING SOUND WHEN TURNING. NOISE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. MECHANIC SAYS VEHICLE NEEDS NEW TIE ROD. ADVISED US AGAINST DRIVING IT BECAUSE HE CONSIDERS IT TO BE VERY UNSAFE. *TR

CONSISTENT DRIVELINE VIBRATION, UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR. I TOOK MY 2005 DODGE LARAMIE QUAD CAB IN FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT ON MARCH 5, 2007 TO TRY AND REPAIR THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED PROBLEM. SINCE THIS TIME I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP A MINIMUM OF TEN TIMES AND IT HAS BEEN IN THEIR POSSESSION AT LEAST 60 DAYS. THE DEALER HAS VIRTUALLY REPLACED ALL OF THE FRONT END PARTS, BRAKES, ROTORS, CALIPERS, ROTATED TIRES, REPLACED AND TRIED ELEVEN (11) MICHELIN TIRES, BALANCED, HIGH SPEED BALANCED, MY RIMS HAVE OVER FIFTY NOTCHES WHERE THEY HAVE PLACED WEIGHTS TO BALANCE THE TIRES WITHOUT RESULT. SIMILAR COMPLAINTS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS INVESTIGATED SINCE BY THEIR OWN ADMISSION THEY CAN NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *TR

MY TRUCKS STEERING WHEEL PULSATES WHEN DRIVING AT SPEED ABOVE 40 MPH AND UNBEARABLY AT SPEEDS OF 60 TO 65. WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK IT WILL SHIMMY AND SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN GOING OVER ANY ROAD SERVICE THAT IS NOT PERFECTLY FLAT. I WILL NO LONGER OPERATE THIS VEHICLE WITH MY WIFE OR CHILDREN IN THE CAR. NO ONE SHOULD ATTEMPT TO TOW WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE PULSATION THROUGHOUT OUT THE TRUCK WILL GET YOU SICK. YOU WILL FEEL AS THOUGH YOU ARE ABOUT TO LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE AT ANY MOMENT DUE TO ITS INSTABILITY. AFTER A HALF HOURS USE IN TRAFFIC MY BRAKES HEAT UP AND FEEL LIKE A CAR WITH THE ABS BEING ACTIVATED EVERYTIME YOU TOUCH THE BRAKE. MY DEALER HAS MADE FIVE ATTEMPTS TO FIX THIS TRUCK, THEY TRIED TO BLAME GOOD YEAR FOR THE COMPOSITION OF THE TIRE. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO...

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR REPAIRS. THE FIRST TIME, THEY ALIGNED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND TIME, THEY REPLACED THE FRONT AXLE, LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

PURCHASED 2005 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB WITH 3 MILES , NOTICED A VIBRATION,SHIMMY IN STEERING WHEEL AND FLOOR BOARD AT ALL SPEEDS AND ON ALL TYPES OF ROADS, IT INCREASES ON BUMPY OR CONSTRUCTION ROADS. HAVE BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 7 TIMES, THEY BALANCED THE TIRES THEY INSTALLED NEW TIRES THEN THEY INSTALLED REAR AXLES AND DRUMS BUT VIBRATION CONTINUES. THE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES THEY SAID NORMAL FOR THAT VEHICLE OR COULD NOT DUPLICATE BUT THE AIR PRESSURE IN TIRES IS ALWAYS CHANGED OR TIRES ROTATED,. I FILED A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT BUT OF COURSE THE VERDICT IS DRIVES NORMAL. I JUST WANT A VEHICLE THAT DOESN'T SHAKE WHEN I DRIVE, COULD BE HAZZARD.SAFTY CONCERN. *NM

DT WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED SO BADLY, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING, ROTORS, FRONT AND REAR DRUMS. THE CONSUMER CALLED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO GET BACK WITH THE CONSUMER TODAY. *JB CAN'T SET MINUTES ON CLOCK RADIO AND WON'T KEEP CORRECT TIME. CLOCK RADIO HAS TO BE REORDERED. SPEEDOMETER TICKS AT TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE CONDITION. *TT