2005 Dodge Dakota Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, AN ODOR OF POWER STEERING FLUID EMITTED THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING FROM THE BEARING OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAL OF THE BEARING AND POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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 EXPOSURE TO ROAD CHEMICALS SUCH AS SALT ETC. THESE COMPONENTS ROTTING AWAY TO THIS EXTENT WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE REGARDLESS OF AGE INDICATES THE USE OF POOR QUALITY MATERIALS BEING USED DURING ASSEMBLY AND POSING A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE TO CONSUMERS. I OPENED A CASE# 57271603 WITH CHRYSLER AND THE AGENT TOLD, THAT EVEN IF THE CASE WAS MOVED UP FOR REVIEW . IT WOULD BE SENT BACK DUE TO THE AGE OF THE TRUCK . WHICH I DISAGREE WITH, AS THE FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE ROTTED AND DISINTEGRATED SO BADLY AND THE CHASSIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO HAVE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS IN LESS THAN 35,000 MILES. I WOULD THINK, THAT THIS POSES A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANYONE BUYING TRUCKS USING THE SAME CHASSIS AND COMPONENTS FROM THE SAME VENDOR, IF THEY ARE NOT MANUFACTURED AT A DODGE PLANT. ULTIMATELY IT SHOULD BE THE CAR MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY, THAT THE PARTS THEY ARE USING ARE QUALITY AND WILL NOT POSE POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK TO CONSUMERS . PLEASE LET ME KNOW, IF FURTHER INFORMATION ETC. IS NEEDED. THANK YOU

LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN MAKING EITHER A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. AFTER RESEARCHING, THIS LOOKS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT & SHAFT BOLTS (PARTS ASSOCIATED). INVESTIGATION: PE05-056 WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-004). SINCE YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS MECHANICAL DEFECT. I WOULD LIKE AN APPROVED RECALL FOR PARTS & LABOR TO BE PAID FOR BY MANUFACTURER TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE MAJOR BODILY HARM TO MYSELF, PASSENGERS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK BRAND NEW WITH 9 MILES IN MAY 2005. IT HAS 77,800 ORIGINAL MILES.

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 / DODGE PRODUCT. THIS WAS MY FIRST AND WILL BE MY LAST.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,140.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT SPUN IN CIRCLES. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THERE WERE NO INURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,140.

I AM A TALL DRIVER STANDING 6'9" EVEN WITH THE SEAT ALL THE WAY DOWN AND ALL THE WAY BACK. AFTER INHERITING THE 2005 DODGE DAKOTA SXT QUAD CAB PICKUP TRUCK FROM MY STEP FATHER THAT PASTED AWAY IN OCTOBER OF 2013. I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND MY RIGHT KNEE HIT THE KEY WHILE IN THE ON POSITION KNOCKING INTO THE AUXILIARY POSITION TURNING THE TRUCK ALMOST COMPLETELY OFF. ALL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON THE AC SHUT OFF TURNED OVER TO HEAT AND STARTED GETTING VERY HOT INSIDE THE TRUCK. WE WHEN TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER THEY HOOKED UP OF A MACHINE THAT GAVE THEM A CODE THAT SAID OUR COMPUTER WAS OUT OF FACTORY SPEC'S. THE GUY SAID IF WE WANTED IT TO BE LOOKED AT TO BE DIAGNOST.WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $198.00 TO HAVE THEM SEP UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR US TO BRING IT IN AND PUT IT ON THE "BIG COMPUTER" AND IF THE COMPUTER IN THE TRUCK CAN BE RESTORED TO FACTORY SPEC'S THAT WOULD BE DONE WITH T THE $198.00. THE SAME GUY SAID IF THEY CAN'T GET IT BACK TO FACTORY SPEC'S AND WE NEED A NEW BRAIN COMPUTER FOR OUR TRUCK WHICH MY STEP FATHER PURCHASED NEW IN 2005 FROM A DIFFERENT DEALER. THE GUY SAID THE NEW COMPUTER WOULD COST US $2000.00 SINCE THIS FIRST INCIDENT IT HAS HAPPENED FOUR OTHER TIMES WITH THE SAME THING HAPPENING EACH TIME. I AM DISABLED AND CAN'T AFFORD THIS HEADACHE OFF THESE ISSUES. *TR

SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH FOUR-WHEEL ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS (ABS), THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF FRONT TO REAR BRAKE BALANCE, AND THE REAR BRAKES COULD LOCK UP PREMATURELY DURING CERTAIN BRAKING CONDITIONS. READ MORE: HTTP://WWW.MOTORTREND.COM/CARS/2006/DODGE/DAKOTA/RECALLS/#IXZZ2WRBPVCZS CONSEQUENCES: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. READ MORE: HTTP://WWW.MOTORTREND.COM/CARS/2006/DODGE/DAKOTA/RECALLS/#IXZZ2WRBUOZ4H THIS IS HAPPENING TO MY 2005 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 AND THEY JUST KEEP TELLING ME THERE IS NO RECALL NUMBER FOR YOUR 2005 EVEN THO THE EXACT SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO THEIR 2006. *TR

STEERING IS TIGHT WHEN TRYING TO TURN. LOOSES IT'S POWER ASSIST. PER TRINDLE AUTO REPAIR SERVICE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND JOINTS RUSTED. THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD, I COULD HAVE LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO TRINDLE THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE OTHER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS BECAUSE OF SEVERE RUST. THE COST OF THE REPAIR $378.95. *TR

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 ON THIS TRUCK. IT HAS LESS THAN 65K MILES ON IT. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I WILL NEVER, EVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER / DODGE PRODUCT. THIS WAS MY FIRST AND WILL BE MY LAST. *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

2005 DAKOTA CLUB CAB. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE GEARS AND REAR AXLES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR, FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE VEHICLE LURCHED SLIGHTLY FORWARD AND A HIGH PITCHED WHINING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER THEN REALIZED, HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY GEARS. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIFT THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD, SINCE HE WAS ON A SLIGHT UPGRADE. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. AN INSPECTION REVEALED, THE PINION GEAR HAD METAL FATIGUE AND FRACTURED ON THE SHAFT BEHIND THE SPLINE AND AHEAD OF THE GEAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING FELT LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TRANS COOLER LINE FAILED AND WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 85,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A CLOSED INVESTIGATION PERTAINING TO THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA06004 (STEERING:COLUMN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHEN HE MADE A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE THEN BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,100.

I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING STARTED GETTING SLOPPY AND STARTED POPPING. NOW IF YOU HIT A BAD PATCH OF ROAD IT WANTS TO JUMP OUT OF ROAD GETTING SCARY. I AM DISABLED AND DEPEND ON MY TRUCK TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO 4 DIFFERENT DOCTORS. I LIVE ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND CANT AFFORD REPAIR BILLS ON PARTS THAT SHOULD NOT BE WORE OUT. PLEASE HELP! *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 DODGE DAKOTA AT 25 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN RIGHT TIRE AND I LOST CONTROL OF TRUCK COULD NOT STEER IT THE TIE ROD BROKE COMPLETELY OFF THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT COULD NOT MOVE IT AND THE INNER TIE ROD WAS BENT WE HAD IT TOWED HOME I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT BOTH FRONT TIE RODS HAD FAILED HAD TO REPLACE THEM HE STRAIGHTENED OUT INNER TIE ROD FOR NOW VERY SCARY SITUATION THANK GOD I WASN'T DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND NO ONE WAS HURT .THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE TRUCKS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED TRUCK ONLY HAD 53,000 MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR A FAILURE DIAGNOSTIC, WHERE THE CONTACTED WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LINKAGES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACTED ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT STABILIZING BARS WERE MISSING BOLTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MISSING BOLTS WERE INSTALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,355. UPDATED 8/30/11 *CN UPDATED 09/21/11

I HAVE A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 CLUB CAB, I RECENTLY STARTED HAVING IRRATIC STEERING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRUCK WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES ON, THIS DODGE HAS HAD ALOT OF FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH LOW MILEAGE, FROM UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, TYE ROD ENDS AND HUBS WAREING OUT. I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED WITH ANY ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM IS TURNING THE VEHICLE WANTS TO OVER TURN, WHEN TURNING CORNERS OR ON CURVES ON HIGHWAY. WHICH I AM SURE CAN BE DANGEROUS TO ALL. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS DOWN A MOUNTAIN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD AND HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,105.