Problems with 2001 Dodge Dakota SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Applied service brake to avoid animal on highway and rear brake line failed. after an inspection of the brake system, it has been determined that all of the hydraulic line in the brake system should be replaced due to excessive corrosion. vehicle has had the brake fluid replaced every 2 years for the past ten years. the corrosion is on the outside of the brake lines and is extremely excessive for the age of the vehicle. this is a major safety issue and the current state of the service brake system is that of a 20 year old vehicle. the certificate of complacency for the material used to fabricate the lines should be presented to the nhtsa. *tr

Driving within the city limits of fort collins colorado and stopping for a traffic light the front brakes on my 2001 dodge dakota pickup truck locked up and would not release until the vehicle was allowed to sit for several minutes. i had the vehicle towed to a repair facility, where i was informed that the front left wheel bearing, both rotors and pads needed to be replaced due to excessive heat and wear. after the repairs were completed i proceeded to drive the vehicle for approximately 15 miles when the brakes again locked up after coming to a stop at a stop sign and began to smoke from excessive heat build up on the left front rotor. the vehicle was towed back to the repair facility where left front caliper was replaced and the vehicle was test driven, at which time the right front brake locked up in the same manner as the left front had. the repair facility researched the problem further and discovered via identafix.com that the hydraulic lines and calipers on both the right and left front brakes had to be replaced in order to fix the problem. this was not the only occurrence of this problem and it appears to be happening at around 70 to 80,000 miles. had this problem occurred while i was towing my travel trailer, which i had just done, and when going down a long or steep grade at the very minimum it would have been a very dangerous occurrence. this is a safety defect that chrysler corp. needs to address under recall for the affected models. *tr

2001 dodge dakota has had front brakes drag/lock up. has happened twice, both times the calipers/rotors got extremely hot and smoked. after first time, truck was taken to dealer, they found nothing wrong but could see that rotors had gotten extremely hot. after allowing car to sit for several hours, the problem seems to go away. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 dodge dakota. while depressing the brake pedal, he could feel the brake dragging from the front left wheel. the vehicle was taken to the dealer but they could not duplicate the failure. the dealer advised him that the front brakes were new and that there should not be any malfunctions. the vehicle was released to the owner, however the failure persisted. there were no recalls for the failure and there were no repairs made to the vehicle. the failure mileage was 61,615 and the current was 62,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 dodge dakota. while driving approximately 55 mph, he heard an abnormal rattling from the front of the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnosis of the failure. the failure persisted and progressively became worse within one year. the vehicle was taken to a local repair facility where the mechanic advised the caliber brackets were stripped. the mechanic re-drilled the caliber and bracket and installed a large bolt with a lock nut on both sides of the vehicle. the failure mileage was 85,000 and the current mileage was 96,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 dodge dakota. while driving approximately 60 mph, there was a pulling sensation and an odor was present when the brake pedal was depressed. the contact immediately pulled to the side of the road and observed that the wheels were excessively hot. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on two separate occasions. the technician stated that the failure was related to the calipers locking up, which damaged the rotors. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 59,776 and current mileage was 59,876.

I purchased the vehicle used with 39k miles i had it for a month and noticed vibrations when braking from 50 - 40 mph. i figured the brake rotors were warped. after about a year of this i took the rotors off and into a parts store to have them checked, they were warped and too thin to turn (lathe). i bought new rotors and pads, cleaned and greased the caliper slide pins and reassembled the brakes. after this the braking vibration went away. recently i was driving in heavy traffic and once i got to my exit i noticed smoke from the left front of the vehicle, also the brake pedal felt hard. i pulled over to find that the front brakes were smoking. i jacked up the front of the vehicle (wheels off the ground) and found that neither wheel/tire could be turned by hand. after the vehicle sat for approximately 5 hours to cool down the wheels could then be turned. took vehicle to repair shop that confirmed the brake pad wear indicated that for the most part the pistons and slides seemed to be operating properly. i am an a.s.e. certified master mechanic and have never seen brakes overheat like this and cause caliper lock up. happen. i believe there is something inherently wrong with these vehicles. *tr

Knowing the dakota's have brake issues, i replaced the front rotors with aftermarket slotted rotors in hopes that the rotor would stay cool & not warp. however even after adding new rotors i have had on three separate occasions one or the other front rotors have locked up. after the first incident i completely drained & replaced all the brake fluid w/synthetic brake fluid. i had no problems for about 2 months before they locked up again. this time i replaced both calipers, it's only been a month everything is working for now. dodge should recall! either there brake booster or calipers are flawed because the brake caliper tend to stick causing overheating, wrong to the point where the pads are so hot your engulfing other vehicles in smoke!

I have a 2001 dakota quad cab 4x4 purchased new and the inside of the front rotors wear out extremely fast. they become damaged on the inside of the rotor appearing extremely rusted and as if maybe they overheated on the inside. 64,000 and this has happened 2 times. dealers deny this is common , my brother has a 2002 (purchased new) and has had the same problem. ball joints failed on both trucks , steering rack and rear differential leaks on both . *tr

Clock spring - no horn - no drivers side airbag have replaced 2 sets of front brake calipers and lines on this truck due to front brakes locking up while driving. nearly causing accidents. *tr

Dt*: the contact stated while having the vehicle serviced, the dealer noticed the brake pads and rotors were worn and needed to be replaced. also, upon starting the vehicle, the key would not turn the ignition switch. the dealer determined the switch needed to be replaced. the contact removed the switch and cleaned it with no further problems. updated 11/30/2006 - the check engine light was illuminated constantly. the dealer determined there was a vacuum leak. the wheel cylinder locked up. *nm

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 dodge dakota. the contact stated that while approaching a traffic light, the brakes failed to engage. the abs and brake warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a mechanic. the technician diagnosed that the brake module was defectived. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was unavailable and the current mileage was 139,000.

At 32,000 miles front end vibration when breaking. problem-warped rotors. corrected by 'turning' rotors (resurfacing). at 58,000 miles front end vibration when breaking. problem-warped rotors. corrected by 'turning' rotors. at 70,000 miles front end vibration when breaking. problem-warped rotors. corrected by replacing rotors. at 90,000 miles front end vibration when breaking. problem-warped rotors. corrected by 'turning' rotors. at 100,200 miles front end vibration when breaking. problem-warped rotors. dealer suggests replacing rotors. this seems to be a recurring problem. the same thing occurred on my 1997 dakota. the dealer told me then that the rotors warp when they are hot(from use) and then get wet. (so i guess i shouldn't use the brakes in wet/rainy conditions) the warped rotors are caused by a design flaw, either the brake system is not 'sized' properly (ie insufficient stopping power causing excessive heat build-up) or the rotors are inferior(metal grade). i believe most owners do not complain about this problem because the dodge dealers convince them that this is routine maintenance. the truck is great otherwise. *nm

I have taken my vehicle several repair places (brake specialists) including 2 dealerships (multiple times). they tell me my rotors are warped, or that they can find nothing wrong!!! starting at around 20,000 miles i started getting hard vibrations in the front end, replaced rotors and pads, fixed problem. then, 5,000 miles later it started again, had rotors turned and replaced pads, fixed problem. 5,000 miles later it happens again, i decide to deal with it for a little while. 2,000 miles of driving with warped rotors, and right front caliper locks up, nearly causing a fire!!. replaced both calipers, rotors and pads, problem fixed again. problem recurs roughly every 5,000 miles. i drive very carefully to ensure that i am not causing any undue stress on the brake components. the expense of repairing the brakes every 5,000 miles is roughly $200 to $400 dollars depending on what i find upon inspection. i am an industrial mechanic so i do this work myself. i purchased copies of daimler chrysler master tech videos to makes sure that i am not missing something. i have purchased several manuals for my vehicle , some from dodge and some aftermarket in my search for a more permanent solution to this problem. this problem is very dangerous, to me and to others around me when driving. i am currently at 90,000 miles and have decided that this problem needs to be addressed by someone... i hope you can help. *jb

Traffic was moving in front of grace covenant church, there was an officer directing traffic. my husband put on the brakes at the moment he realized traffic was not moving any longer. the brakes locked up. when you look at the tire marks on the road, it is apparent the right side tire locked first (the tire mark is much longer) then the left side tire locked (tire mark on road much shorter). he was unable to stop the vehicle before it struck the vehicle in front. the airbag did not deploy in this accident. the concern is that this truck is believed to have abs which means it was malfunctioning since the tires locked up. the concern is this may have contributed to the accident in that he was not able to get the vehicle stopped in time. it was a hard impact which it appears will cause the vehicle to be totaled. *jb

Had a sudden stop in 100 degree weather, when pulled off, the truck felt as if it were pulling a load and a strong burning rubber smell was coming from the front end. ended up having it towed to the dealership where it was found that the front calipers had seized up. dealership was not certain as to what caused the problem. truck only has 52,000 miles on it. ended up putting all new braking system on the front end. a year ago had the same problem, brought into the dealership and they told me it was a sensor that controlled the abs. can't figure that one out, only have abs on the rearend, not on the front. it is a scary thing when you are on the highway and you have that burning smell and smoke is bellowing from the front wheels. dealership claims no fire would've occurred. tained. *jb

Front brakes rubbing on rotors causing brake pads to smoke. this caused the warping of the brake rotors. replaced brake pads and rotors. this fixed the problem for about 1 (one) month. this time after smelling the brakes and seeing smoke, i tried to pull off the road but the truck would barely move. this is not the first problems with the brakes. i had found the front left caliper mounting bolt had become loose and stripped the bolt hole. i heli-coiled the hole and loctited the bolt in place.

Consumer states: that abs light, engine light, and brake lights came on at the same time. the clutch packed in the rear differential is half inch long , and its job is to hold the clutches and lemon slipped differential, and it failed. it came out and shredded speed sensor in rear differential. *ak

I have a 2001 dodge dakota with a bad brake system. i feel the braking system is inadequate for the weight of a dakota. i'm the second owner purchased at 29,000 miles. the first owner had the front rotors replaced under warrenty. i now have 70,000 miles and had 4 front brake jobs. 1st time turned rotors replaced pads,that lasted about 10,000 miles. 2nd time replaced rotors with factory ones,again lasted about 10,000 miles,3rd time replaced rotors with aftermarket vented ,to help cooling, again lasted around 10,000 miles,4th time was today i turned the rotors. i have talked to the dealer an they give me the run a round saying driver habbit. *jb

My 2001 dodge dakota is now experiencing its third occurance of warped rotors. the truck only has 37,000 miles on it. the problem reappears about every 12,000 miles. he dealer says there is no defect with the rotors. i don't believe them.*ak after looking at the dakota web site, i find there are many other owners that have experienced the same problem on almost the same recurring time schedule. the pulsating caused by the warped rotor could affect the abs system during hard braking. it is time for the manufacturer to deal with the problem.

I have a problem with my fwd. i had replaced module/contrlo, anti-lock brake,trasfer case gear and the modulefor the transfer case.and the shift motor (vacuum). and also the propeller shaft, with universal joints replaced also. and to top it off my fwd service light is on again,also i have no low gear in fwd light is blinking.and front end still makes noise. i have a 2001 dodge dakota quad cab. *ak

Rotors are warping and being severely scored. my caplipers were badly rusted with in a year which did not let it slide properly and cause uneven pressure on the pads. this cause a pad to disintegrate while braking. i have since replaced my brake pads with performance ferro carbon pads and cross drilled vented rotors. the rotors no long warp but they are still being badly scored. and i have to keep a constant eye on pad wear. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 dodge dakota. while the contact was driving approximately 35 mph, the brakes were engaged and the vehicle began to travel into a different lane without assistance. the failure occurred four different times. the vehicle was taken to a an independent mechanic where the front calipers and brake pads were replaced. also, the front rotors were resurfaced. the vehicle was taken to the dealer on two separate occasions for the identical failure and the same repairs were performed on the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the third time for the identical failure occurrence. the contact was waiting on a response from the technician regarding the extent of the repair. the failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

Brake rotors very rusted and disintegrating with metal flaking off and had to be replaced with less than 30,000 miles. i did not experience any warping of the rotors or shaking of vehicle when braking as others have. the badly deteriorated rotors were discovered when i took the vehicle in for routine maintenance for a cross country trip. after reading other similar reports regarding the brake rotors on 2001 dodge dakotas, it appears that daimler-chrysler has a problem with these brake parts and has not addressed the problem. *ak

Dodge dakota, quad-cab, 2001 ? after heavy usage (i.e. commuter traffic) front brakes seize and lock up; leaving brakes engaged while driving. suspect rotor warp from the heat of the brake pads thus rendering the front brakes fully engaged until the rotor cools. dealer inspected brakes / rotor after each incident (3) to find no obvious direct cause and only made the suggestion to bring in for service when incident occurred again.*ak

I purchased the vehicle used but it had new brakes. i had it for a month and drove approx. 1000 miles and the brake rotors became warped. i had them turned and they were fine. i drove the vehicle for approx. 5 more months and 6000 miles and the rotors became warped again. the vibrations occur very badly when braking from 50 mph-40 mph. when braking from a higher or lower speed than 40-50 there are only minor vibrations. i also have noise coming from the front drivers side suspension when turning at slow speeds and going over a bump/curb(such as to enter/leave a driveway). *jb

When the consumer attempted to apply the brakes, they did not respond. as a result the consumer ran into the bushes. provide further details. *jb

2001 dodge dakota quad cab - faulty front and rear brake design i am a mechanical engineer by training. the front rotors and rear disc brakes are of poor design and function. they overheat, warp and begin to pulse. this occurs as a result of small brakes coupled with the large diameter tires and heavy weight of the vehicle. i have had to replace all brakes twice within 3 years (60,000 miles) as a result. these breaks do not brake well and are extremely soft. i have had numerous close calls as a result of these brakes. i would also like to point out that when coupled with this abs system most vehicles continue to "lock-up" and slide creating a potential for serious accidents.*ak

When braking any speed, the rear driver side tire locked up. this caused the consumer to rear end a vehicle. the dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. the cause was not determine. please provide more information. *nm the first incident the consumer pulled into the driveway and hit own vehicle. *tc

Main concern is brakes. the front calipers are sticking and the rotors are warping which is causing the truck to pull one way or the other when stopping. on slick roads the truck will turn sideways on a fast stop and now they have to be pushed almost to the floor board to get them to work. i told them something was wrong the day i bought it after about 20 miles of ownership it took many phone calls and 8 months to get them to fix it and the day i picked it up we drove it and still was not right so they kept it 2 more days and late it is not working again. windshield wiper on right side at very end does not touch window on all of the dakota trucks which when in use it skips across the window. it makes a loud noise when using and can not see out that side of front window because of the skipping. there are many other things wrong with this truck but the brakes, wiper and drivetrain ( more so on the brakes ) is a lot of peoples problems. with the brakes like they are it makes for a very unsafe truck. i could get rid of it but could not live with myself knowing how unsafe the brakes are on this truck. i think i got a lemon and wish they would just take this truck back. if i knew how to do it i would. i am disable and can't trust this truck. i can show you on the web where many people are having brake and other problems. the fix they came up with is quality aftermarket brake parts. i did not buy a 20k truck to fix myself. it should at least last a year. i have another dodge truck with none of this kind of problem and its a 1994 with over 100000. also the back brakes don't even feel like they are working. i have anti lock on the back but not the front and when they tried to fix the front i was told they put anti lock pads on it and that's not what i have. *ak *sc

The brakes on my dakota have been causing problems since there was approximately 7,000 miles on the truck. the truck now has about 20,000 miles and the rotors need turned down and new brakes. there seems to be something wrong with the brake system that would cause them to go bad so quickly.*ak

The consumer's vehicle rear ended an oil tanker while driving at 45 mph. upon impact, none of the frontal air bags deployed. the driver sustained knee injuries, and the passenger sustained a hair line fracture to left foot, angle, and ribs. she also suffered from back pains. this was the second collision where the air bags didn't deploy. *ak *tc the consumer's husband applied the brakes, but the vehicle failed to slow down. the brakes felt like they were slipping. *sc *jb

Vehicle vibrated when brake were being applied at any speed. consumer believed the problem was causes by warped rotors. *ak

Pe 03-032 , front susp. upper ball joint:the vehicle was taken in for an oil change and the consumer found that the upper ball joints were worn. *jb the vehicle's rotors were also warped. *nm

I'm a little disturbed at this page...."number of deaths"? does somebody have to die before consumers are protected? my complaint is for the brakes on my 2001 dodge dakota quad cab. i no longer expect my brakes to stop me when i need them which means to avoid an accident, i had better always be looking for a way to steer around an obstacle! on two occasions i can remember, i had to steer around a stopped vehicle because my truck would just not stop in time. i've done some research on my own and there is enough evidence on the internet that proves there is a real defect in the braking system used on dodge dakota trucks from 1999 to 2002 from what i've read. when you read of one person complaining about warped rotor's and having no brakes when you need them, that's one thing. but when you read countless complaints of these same things..what has to be done? how many people have to die? obviously it's about money...you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out. chrysler would rather ignore problems and take a hit on a couple law suits every year after someone dies. it must be cheaper for them to operate this way because otherwise they wouldn't be doing it. now it's your job to promote safety...is it not? if it is, then you should make our highway's safer by removing dangers from them..such as dangerous vehicles with brakes that fail.*jb

I own a 2001 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 sle that we purchased new. in the last 6 months, and with only 49000 miles on the truck currently, the following failures have occurred: (1) (from february 2004 to present) the factory-installed external wiring harness (for towing a trailer) melted from the inside out, shorting out the electrical system. (2) brakes would pulsate anytime brakes were applied. dealer attributed this to warping of rotors and replaced pads and turned the rotors. dealer noted a spring on driver-side caliper was missing and replaced it as well. (3) the heater/ac controls failed. (4) went for state inspection and inspector failed truck due to failure of upper ball joints and brakes. the same brakes i just had fixed in february. premature failure of ball joints attributed to "typical problem for dakotas/durangos". well if it's typical, why isn't there a recall?? the dealer had no answers. failure was a result of calipers not releasing properly causing the rotors and brake pads to "glaze". dealer opted to pick up the tab for the new rotors and the new pads, only at my request. the new calipers and brake lines still cost me $800. again i'm wondering why i'm paying for so much on a truck that is only 3 years old with only 49000 miles. (5) unknown problem at startup when engine is cold. pressing the accelerator causes the engine to sputter. problem exists until engine is warm then goes away. two dodge dealerships and neither can figure out the problem as there is no computer error code coming up. all items mentioned were paid for by me unless otherwise specified. had any of these issues been a result of negligence, or lots of mileage, or had the dodge dealership(s) opted to pay for items that were the obvious result of poor craftsmanship, i wouldn't complain. but, the failures relating to the brakes could quite possibly have resulted in an accident which risks my life and that of my wife, and dodge doesn't seem to care. *ak

Rotors warped at 25000 miles. had dealer replace rotors with brembo rotors and pads with raybestos ceramic pads. received from dealer after replacement- brakes dragged. took back to dealer twice- finally, dealer discovered that abs system is non-functional. dc paid for the parts to repair system- labor was my expense ( i had timed out of warranty). dealer says that new pads are cracked from damage done after repair. have to replace pads. *ak

I have a 2001 dodge dakota quad cab and while approaching a stop sign, stepped on the brake pedal which went completely to the floor, and nearly caused me to rear end another vehicle. when i brought it to the dealer they stated to me that the the brake pad was sheared off by the rivets, causing a metal to metal contact with the rotor.*ak

While applying the brakes, the vehicle jerked uncontrollably. consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and took it to the dealer for inspection. mechanic determined that the rotors needed to be replaced due to corrosion. *ak two weeks before talking to the dealer, the consumer was informed that the front rotors were coming apart and could not be turned. (defective steel, big chunks of metal missing, laminated steel) the dealer stated that it seemed like pockets were in the rotors. *sc *jb

Brake rotors warping on 2001 dodge dakota. cause uneven where on brake rotor and eventual replacement less than 10k.

Dodge dakota rotor warps. i have less than 16,000 miles and the car began shaking upon applying brakes. increase stopping distance. took vehicle to dealer and was told my rotors were warped. offered to turn at my expense. no other solutions offered. researched problem and found to be widespread. taking vehicle back to dealer. also liftgate improperly latches unless slammed hard. a/c blower motor went out in winter and was unable to clear windows.

Front rotors become hot and warped. it was under warranty and rotors were rotated and put back on. received the vehicle back and it still felt like rotors were still warped... a lot of shaking in the steering wheel and brake pedal. *nm

While driving, a strong odor of burning brakes was smelled. there was a large plume of smoke coming from the front left wheel well, and the vehicle was pulling to the right. the truck had to be stopped for fear of fire or injury. dodge states that the front left caliper seized, causing damage to the relatively new front rotors and pads i purchased. last july, approximately 7 months ago, the truck's right front brake caliper seized, causing a similar situation only on the opposite side of the vehicle. dodge refuses to admit fault in supplying faulty parts to customers. brake calipers should not fail under normal driving conditions after 36,000-42,000 miles. after numerous other mechanical problems with this vehicle i have lost complete confidence in it, and believe it to be a safety hazard for myself and others on the road.*ak

While braking front disc brake rotors would cause the vehicle to pulsate. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak

Warping of brake rotors on dodge dakotas. i've owned 2 dakotas - both had problems with the front rotors warping at low mileage with light use. *la

Brake pedal pulsated when applying brakes at various speeds. vehicle had been to the dealer on three separate occasions to have the rotors turned. however, the problem recurred. consumer was concerned that the front rotors were wearing out prematurely.*ak

I currently own a 2001 dodge dakota 4x4. when applying the brakes, the truck would vibrate violently. the dealer told me that the rotors were rotting from the inside out. i believe this is a defective component. *la

While driving at any speed when the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle did not slow down. when the pedal was depressed, most of the time there was a loud sound. the dealer had tried to repair the problem at least 5 times with no success. the master cylinder/rotors and calipers were replaced. *ak when the antilock brake system disengaged, the problem was not present. the problem returned when the abs re engaged.the dealer and manufacturer refused to repair under warranty. a repair attempt was made 8 times. *cb

My 2001 dodge dakota has problems with brake rotors warping and the manufacturer will not admit to this being a problem even though thousands of owners are having this problem. my rotors had to be turned at 15,000 miles, and they need it again at 40,000 miles. *jb

At 21000 miles, i noticed a clanking sound in the front of the vehicle. when the dealer checked it out, the brake pad clips had rusted away and one rotor had excessive wear. however, chrysler refused to pay for repairs, which cost over $400.00. *la