2005 Dodge Dakota Electrical System Problems

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE T80 HEATED SEATS IN MY 2005 DODGE DAKOTA I CALLED THE CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE SCHEDULE A REPAIR SERVICE WITH PERKINS DODGE COLORADO SPRINGS HE ORDERED THE SEATS I TOLD THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD A BURN HOLE IN IT AND HAD CAUGHT FIRE WHEN THE NEW SEATS ARRIVED AT PERKINS DODGE I TOOK MY TRUCK IN TO BE REPAIRED THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL NOT DO THE PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE OF THE BURN HOLE HAS CUT OUT PIECES. I TOLD THEM I HAD TO REMOVE SOME OF THE BURNT MATERIAL TO PUT A SEAT COVER ON AND STILL UTILIZE THE SEAT. SEATS ARE STILL UNDER RECALL THEY ORDERED THEM KNOWING THAT THERE WAS A BURN HOLE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WILL NOT PROCEED WITH THE REPAIR THE INFORMATION FOR THE CASE NUMBER AND REPRESENTATIVE I TALKED TO IS HERE.... MY NAME IS [XXX] FROM THE FCA CASE MANAGEMENT DIVISION, I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED AS YOUR CASE MANAGER. HERE IS SOME INFORMATION THAT WILL BE HELPFUL FOR YOU TO HAVE: YOUR CASE NUMBER IS [XXX] THE CHRYSLER CASE MANAGEMENT TELEPHONE NUMBER IS: [XXX] MY DIRECT EXTENSION: [XXX] MY WORK HOURS ARE: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM EASTERN STANDARD TIME (MONDAY-FRIDAY). I WILL CONTACT YOU WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY OF YOUR APPOINTMENT BY TELEPHONE TO REVIEW YOUR CASE WITH YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR - (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

VEHICLE GOES IN AND OUT OF 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND 4 WHEEL LO ON IT'S OWN, WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING OR NOT AND MOVING OR NOT. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR, NOT UNLOCK, JUST OPEN, AND YOU CAN HEAR THE TRANSFER CASE SHIFTING . SOMETIME "SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE" LIGHT COMES ON, OTHER TIMES JUST 4 WHEEL INDICATOR AND OTHER TIMES NO LIGHT AT ALL. THOUGH IT IS A 2005, I ONLY HAVE 80K ON IT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW

SEATS ALMOST CAUGHT FIRE. MELTED A HOLE IN SEATS

I WAS PICKING UP MY BOYS FROM SCHOOL WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THEN I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. I TURNED OFF THE HEAT TO THE SEAT. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK, THERE WAS A BURN MARK IN THE SEAT AND ON MY JACKET.

SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTION, CAUSING SMALL FIRE AND HOLE MELTED INTO THE SEAT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING INSIDE THE DRIVER'S SEAT CUSHION BURNED HOLES IN THE FABRIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RAIRDONS CHRYSLER DODGE OF KIRKLAND (12828 NE 124 TH ST KIRKLAND, WA 98034), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SENT A SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 10/26/17*LJ UPDATED 10/30/2017*JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CONTINUOUS NOISE THAT PROGRESSED. ALSO, THE MOTOR FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO REPAIR SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V313000 (AIR BAGS) AND THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR FOR MONTHS DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER NOT BEING ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS MAY BECOME AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RANDOMLY STALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS SERVICED UNDER AN AIR BAGS MANUFACTURERS RECALL BUT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK THE DEALER WHERE THE CLOCK SPRINGS IN THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V373000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 15V313000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

KEYS PARTLY SLIP OUT OF IGNITION CAUSING ELECTRICAL FAILURES. WHILE IN MOTION, IF YOU BUMP YOUR KEYS WITH YOUR KNEE OR HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, MULTIPLE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR AND GAUGES, INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, WILL GIVE INACCURATE OR NONEXISTENT READINGS. CRUISE CONTROL AND OTHER SYSTEMS MAY FAIL. VEHICLE MUST BE PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF TO CLEAR THE ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THIS FAILURE CAN OCCUR MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE TRIP.

FROM ABOUT NOVEMBER 2010 UNTIL I DELIVERED THE TRUCK TO THORNTON ROAD CHRYSLER DODGE TO INSTALL RECALL P40, THE AIRBAG OFF AND SEAT BELT WARNINGS, WITH OR WITHOUT A PASSENGER, CHIMED AND THE WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP. THORNTON ROAD CHRYSLER INSTALLED RECALL P40 AND RECALIBRATED FRONT SEAT SENSORS. AFTER I LEFT THE DEALER, BEFORE I WAS 100 YARDS FROM THE PARKING LOT, THE WARNING CHIME AND LIGHTS CAME ON AND THEY HAVE NOT GONE OUT SINCE. I AM TOO ANGRY TO CALL THE DEALER. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHTS KEEP GOING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND THE AIRBAG INDICATOR NEXT TO THE SPEEDOMETER ALSO GOES ON AND OFF AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE KEY FOB CONNECTION FAILED AND A NEW KEY FOB WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

I TURNED ON MY HEATED SEAT, AS I HAVE DONE SEVERAL TIMES THIS WINTER. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I REACHED AROUND THE BACK OF ME AS I WAS DRIVING BECAUSE A SPOT ON MY BACK WAS VERY HEATED. I ACTUALLY STUCK MY FINGER THROUGH A HOLE IN THE SEAT THAT HAD BURNED THROUGH BOTH THE SEAT AND MY COAT. (ALSO MY FINGER, AT THIS POINT.) I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE HEAT OFF AND WENT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO CONTACT CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER CLAIMS RESOLUTION CENTER, WHO IN TURN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND MY COAT ON MARCH 3, 2014. THE NEXT CONTACT I HAD WAS A LETTER DATED MARCH 10 THAT STATED, "THE INSPECTOR FOUND NO INDICATION OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCIDENT..." I SUBSEQUENTLY CALLED THEIR GENERAL OFFICE COUNSEL AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT BE DOING ANYTHING FURTHER AND I SHOULD MAKE A CLAIM TO MY INSURANCE AGENT. THEY REFUSED TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS REGARDING HOW MANY VEHICLES HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND THAT THERE WERE NO "HIGHER UPS" THAT I COULD CONTACT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME AND WOULD WELCOME ANY SUGGESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR ME. THANK YOU. *TR

I STARTED VEHICLE AND TURNED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT SWITCH PRIOR TO CLEANING THE SNOW AND ICE OFF WINDOWS AND HOOD AFTERWHICH I LET MY COWORKER CLEAN HIS VEHICLE OFF. I WENT BACK TO MY VEHICLE TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING AND NOTICED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT SMOLDERING THROUGH THE CLOTH. I TURNED THE SWITCH BACK OFF AND WIPED THE AREA WITH SNOW THUS STOPPING THE IMPENDING FIRE. I WOULD ESTIMATE THE TIME RUNNING/WARMING UP; TO BE APPROXIMATELY 6 MINUTES. *TR

DRIVERS SEAT SHORTED OUT AND OVERHEATED, CAUSING A 1 INCH SQUARE BURN ON THE SEAT, AND ALSO BURNED A HOLE IN MY JEANS. HEATED SEAT FUSE DID NOT BLOW. CONCERNED THAT A FIRE COULD HAVE STARTED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OCCUPIED. *TR

MARCH , 2011, AS I WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, SMOKE FILLED THE TRUCK . WE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND I GOT OUT. THE SEAT BACK WAS SMOKING AND BURNING AND A HOLE WAS BURNED IN MY COAT. I REPORTED THIS IMMEDIAELY TO CHRYSLER. IT WAS INVESTIGATED AND CHRYSLER REPLACED THE ELEMENT AND PUT A NEW SEAT COVER ON THE SEAT BACK. I DID NOT ASK FOR REIMBERSMENT FOR THE COAT. ON 12/27/11, THE SAME SEAT , NOW THE BOTTOM, CAUGHT ON FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED CHRYSLER AGAIN, BOUGHT THE TRUCK FOR AN INSPECTION ALONG WITH MY NEW BURNT COAT. I RECEIVED A LETTER THIS TIME SAYING THAT THEY FOUND NO DEFECT. I ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY IT WAS NOT DEFECTIVE THIS TIME AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DECISION WAS FINAL AND NO EXPLANATION WAS NECESSARY. I DO NOT WANT HEATED SEATS AND TOLD THEM I DIDN'T EVEN WANT THIS SEAT FIXED, JUST MY COAT REPLACED. WHY , IF THE SEAT BACK WAS DEFECTIVE, THEN THE SEAT BOTTOM CATCHES ON FIRE A YEAR LATER, I FEEL THAT I NEED MORE OF AN EXPLANATION THAN TOO BAD. HEATED SEATS ARE APPARENTLY VERY DANGEROUS. *TT

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN THE RUNNING AND OPERATIONAL POSITION, AKA DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED, BY SIMPLY PULLING IT OUT OF THE IGNITION, AND THE VEHICLE WILL REMAIN RUNNING, AND THEN THERE IS NO WAY TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN FAULTY SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. I AM AMAZED NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED, AND EVEN MORE SURPRISED NO RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE.

I BOUGHT MY 2005 DODGE DAKOTA NEW. AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES GOING TO WORK AT NIGHT AND IN A SNOWSTORM MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED A COUPLE OF TIMES THEN STARTED TO INTERMITTANTLY GO OFF THEN BACK ON. ONLY MY FOG LIGHTS BELOW MY BUMPER WERE ON. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENTS. LATER I LOOKED AT ALL THE WIRING AND CONNECTORS AND FOUND NOTHING. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS THEN CAME BACK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND AT CERTAIN INSTANCES COULD BE DANGEROUS: FOG, WINDING ROADS, ETC. I SPOKE TO A DODGE MECHANIC AND HE INFORMS ME THAT THERE'S A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THE INTERIOR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHT INTENSITY SWITCH (ITS PART OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSY). THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR THANKS BOB PAULDING

ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW A NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE WINDOW NOW DOES NOT WORK.