Problems with 2001 Dodge Dakota POWER TRAIN

I have a 2001 dodge, dakota, quad cab, 4x4. shortly after the warrenty expired(36000mi.), i developed a poping noise in the front end when turning over bumps. sense then it has progressively gotten worse. i had it inspected and was told it was ok, just typical truck noise due to bumps. after hearing about the problem with the balljoints, i had it re-inspected (many miles later) only to find that i am lucky that a wheel has not came off (bad joints). also, if the truck sets overnight (or 1 or more days)when you first crank the truck and put in gear(reverse) the transmition will slip. took to the dealer while still under warrenty they said it was typical that the torque converter would drain down and that you had to put it in neutral for a few seconds to let the converter fill before putting in gear. i still have the problem!*ak

Transmission would jump out of gear while driving 50-55 mph. dealer contacted. feel free to provide any further information.*ak

Vehicle will start to move to the right when the consumer applies the brakes while driving. problem gets worse when driving at higher speeds. vehicle has been to the dealer three times, but the repairs do not work . contacted dealer. *ak consumer states the caiplers have been replaced on several occasions, also the vehicle was realigned, also there was an oil and transmissin leak.*jb

I do not have the exact dates for each time the transfer case has failed, my documents are in the vehicle, still in in the shop. the dealership has lead me to believe that it might be the way it was driven (of course). i assured them this was not the case and offered for them to drive the vehicle (if they can repair it again) as long as they drove it 20 miles per day and engaged the 4 wheel drive system for at least 1/2 mile per day. these are the exact driving conditions each time the transfer case has went out. my only other stipulation is that whomever drove it, did not transport children in this vehicle. (no takers so far) we live out in the county and off the main road. four wheel drive is utilized not because of rough terrain, but because of the 45 degree incline (saves wear and tear on our tires). another vehicle has been purchased to get back and forth to work and because i am terrified to drive this truck for fear of losing control due to yet another mechanical failure. we are not talking windshield wipers here. russel at the dealership has contacted the manufacturer and has "not received adequate answers" to his questions regarding this transfer case. he also stated that they "no long made this transfer case" which "should tell him something." he has checked the gears in the transfer case to ensure the right gears were in there and they were. he also thought that maybe the previous owners did not engage the 4 wheel drive system. my response was "that would explain the first transfer case...what about the other two? we have purchased dodge products for well over 5 years now and look at nothing else when purchasing a new vehicle. it appears however, that when you need them to right a wrong, it is the consumer who is the victim, not the big corporation. i will rethink the purchasing of dodge vehicles from now on and can assure the chrysler corporation that my cummings diesel will be the last dodge product purchased in this household. dt

22 month old child hit gear shift lever from park to drive. vehicle was turned off, and the key was not in ignition as it started to roll back in garage. manufacturer was sending out an inspector for vehicle. please provide more information.*ak

When the vehicle takes off from a dead stop the vehicle does not want to move. the transmission slips and right after that the "check engine light comes on. the vehicle does not shift properly and the vehicle runs at a high rpm until the vehicle is shut off. the problem then corrects itself temporarily. i have had this truck serviced at frederick dodge 4 times. first it was diagnosed as being low on transmission fluid(claimed it was not topped off at delivery) and it was causing rear sensor on trans to shut down transmission. second time brought in for same problem, told that rear sensor is bad, that was replaced, third time, same problem, told that software for tcm needed to be updated. fourth time, tcm and transmission being replaced. truck is still in shop. totally fed up. truck has less 9500 miles on it. *ts *jb ***dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12-12-02 cut over to artemis***763038

Truck was in park shifted unexpectedly into reverse, causing truck to hit a dock damaging tailgate.*ak

Consumer stated the right front cv boot on front axle was open and caused loss of lubricant, vehicle being towed to dealer. cv axle was separating at seal, the repairs were made, however the vehicle was sold.*ak *jg

I was driving in rush hour traffic. traffic had stopped and when it started moving again, the vehicle would not go into gear. there was no grinding. there was nothing. it was like there were no gears there at all. *ak

Defective power train and the goodyear tires.

While on a long trip transmission started slipping, vehicle at dealership at this time. *ak consumer stated that the dealer rebuilt the transmission under warranty and while test-driving their work, it failed and they rebuilt it for the second time, the vehicle is still shifts improperly. *yd

Vehicle can be shifted into any gear without applying brakes. dealer has been contacted twice for correction of problem. please provide further details.*ak

Vehicle stalls and does not change gears properly. dealer has been unable to locate source of problem. please provide further details.*ak

Front brakes clunk when applied,dealer replaced rotors. transmission won't shift properly,dealer ordered and replaced new valve body. lower engine needed to be replaced,because of valve tapping. a/c has bad odor when on. front end squeaked around boots front end has bad knocking sound. 2 goodyear tires slow leak. problems started at 1,254 miles, and keep going at 26,000 miles. *ak

Shift lever will go into any gear without pressing the brake down. sometimes shifter indicates vehicle is in drive when it's really in reverse, drivers feels this is very unsafe. dealer has not found a solution. *ak shifter pops out of drive or reverse, steering wheel does not lock when key is removed from switch, dealer serviced 5 times. *tt

I bought my truck with 5,000 miles on it. the transmission hits the rev limiter from 1st to 2nd gear when passing or going around vehicles under the speed of 30 mph. from my research there are thousands of dakota owners experiencing this same problem. i've taken mine to the dealer 3 times and each time they were unable to fix it. my warranty ran out and i got tired of taking it to them. i now have 55,000 miles on my dakota and it still hits the rev limiter each time i press the gas pedal down to the floor from a stop or at 30mph. the only time it shifts from 1st to 2nd gear is when the engine is cold. after that, it hits the rev limiter everytime. why isn't there a recall for this problem?? there's been numerous times i have almost had a wreck due to the tranny not shifting to move out of the way of traffic. one day i may not be so lucky.*ak

I own a dodge dakota quad cab 2001 5.9 v8 the brakes have always sucked. the front rotors warped over and over again i'm forced in buying a bigger kit that will cost me $3,000. the rear end leaks and the dealer says its natural. these two problems have been with me for 6 months after purchase. i will not buy another dodge again. i think the transmission is going now and the steering pump is going too. the truck has 66,000 miles now. it looks nice but hp , brakes and over all performance sucks. if i was in the creative end working for dodge i could improve their vehicles greatly. *jb

Consumer stated vehicle was parked and when consumer went to check on vehicle, it had rolled down a mountain. consumer also stated had gotten recall# 01v077000 but hadn't got recall fixed yet. vehicle was totaled. *slc

While driving at 30 mph consumer heard a loud boom. pulled over, and noticed that driveline was on the ground and fluid was all down the road. consumer felt if this would have happened on highway someone could have been seriously hurt.*ak

This is second notice. now there was a minor accident. what next?no safety defect.

When the engine is on and while turning / shifting or placing vehicle in reverse rpms will drop from 650 down to 300, and there will be no power for vehicle to move. please provide more information.*ak

Consumer stated that while driving out of the drive way or out of the parking the transmission will stay fine but when driven on the high way the transmission will jump out of gear without a warning. please provide more information.

I bought a 2001 dodge dakota sport with a 6 cylinder so far there has been 3 cv shafts put in it and i am wondering why i have to keep replacing the cv shafts in this truck, it is getting very aggravating i bought the truck with 9100 miles on it may of 2001 two month after i got it i had to replace the power steering pump and the cv shaft. i've had to replace the cv shaft 2 other times since then right now it has about 43500 on it now why does this problem keep occurring. *nm

I feel that the problem with the front brakes has to do with the new all wheel drive system. the transmission problem is very scary because sometimes it takes a few seconds to down shift and that may lead me into haveing an accident. the seat is a big comfort issue seeing that is where you sit to drive. the engine idle makes me feel like the truck is going to stall out and i will have to restart it not good if you are sitting in a line of moveing cars

While driving 65 mph right wheel came off, then left wheel, came off. rear axle had sheared off vehicle. *ak

Recall 01v077 was completed on vehicle, however after repair, consumer drove onto driveway which is on a steep incline, waited for garage door to open and while consumer had foot on brake, the vehicle rolled back 2 feet or so, consumer pressed on gas to find engine had cut off, transmission specialist stated this is normal and it is a safety feature. *slc

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 dodge dakota. the contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph up a hill, he attempted to down shift from fifth to fourth gear, but the vehicle inadvertently shifted into reverse. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a diagnostic test. the technician stated that the transmission would have to be rebuilt and the transmission components needed to be replaced. the contact also stated that there was no lock out to keep the vehicle from shifting into revere when the vehicle was moving forward. the vehicle was repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 100.

Transmission continues to shift erratically, despite being seen by two different dealers. the tcm seems to be an issue. reprogramming it doesn't seem to fix the problem. the factory tsb has been done twice but has failed to remedy the problem. vehicle will sometimes lurch up into 2nd gear at lower speeds without warning or down to 1st from 2nd without warning despite traveling at a constant speed of approximately 20 mph. after 22500 miles the vehicle has developed a moderate to severe problem when braking. the vehicle seems to hop in the front end during braking and the brakes seem to loose effectiveness momentarily. closer investigation revealed both front shocks had failed. the front brake system seems to be in good working order. no leaks, normal pad and rotor wear, no grooves on rotor, the front shocks were replaced but the vehicle continues to have the braking hopping pulsating problem. *jb

Vehicle able to shift out of gear without applying brake pedal; manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that was not cover under a recall. *ak

While driving slowly in first gear vehicle surges back and forth violently.when this happens, consumer has to stop vehicle and start it up again. *ak consumer states the problem is becoming more frequent. *slc

The right rear tire/wheel protrudes farther out from body then left tire/wheel assembly. i'm concerned this could effect the drivabilty,handling and safety of the truck in a accident or in an evasive maneuver. *ak

Consumer stated the vehicle stopped moving while driving, the problem was due to the third gear separating in the transmission, the was problem repaired, however consumer sold the vehicle. *jg *ak

when vehicle is in park it will continue to move, as if it was still in drive.*ak