Problems with 2002 Dodge Dakota SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Truck has been driving like something was grinding against my front right wheel for a week or so, i didn't think anything of it, it had just become an annoyance. id look under the wheel and everything looked okay and in shape, no damage was being done. the other day i drove a short distance and heard a pop, like something had popped near the wheel, i pulled over and could see no damage. i continued to drive and noticed that the grinding had stopped and my wheel seemed to be functioning correctly. i arrived to my destination with no problem. when i left the destination to return home, i started feeling heavy pull to the right on my steering wheel, if i let go of the steering wheel i would have gone into a ditch or the woods or another car. i then started noticed smoke coming from my right wheel, i was a few blocks away from home and figured i could make it, i started noticing my brakes were not working too well, and anytime id push on the brakes more smoke would arise, i went the 3 stop signs to my house and pulled in, ran around and saw that behind my wheel had caught on fire, took about 5 minutes to put the fire out with water and some cat litter we had lying around. it was so hot that it wouldn't cool down for about 45 mins to an hour. we would throw water on it and it would sizzle. i quickly removed the tire to prevent any damage to it. i noticed it had started to melt the plastic boot cover on the suspension. when you looked at the wheel you could see it had snapped off on the bottom half, causing the whole wheel to tilt inward which then caused a full on grind of the wheel and the brakepads and whatever else is down there causing such friction that it caught on fire. i then did research online and found that their had been a recall for this exact issue... :( *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact was driving 35 mph when the contact applied the brakes, but the brakes seized. later, the contact discovered that the hub of the brake had burned and was an abnormal color. neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was contacted in regards to the failure. the failure mileage was 45,000. updated 09/21/11*lj the consumer stated he replaced the caliper, brakes, hoses, brake pads and turned the rotors. updated 10/05/11

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the front passenger side brake caliper needed to be replaced. the caliper was replaced once in the past because it would fail to release completely after the brakes were engaged, allowing the brakes to overheat. the caliper would not release until the vehicle was allowed to cool off. the vehicle was taken back to an authorized dealer after the second occurence where it was not repaired because the failure was no longer covered under warranty. the failure mileage was 17,000 and the current mileage was 32,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated that a knocking sound could be heard coming from the brakes whenever they were applied. the vehicle would also jerk during the failures and smoke would be seen coming from the brakes. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. the manufacturer was notified, but offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 117,000. updated 08/31/11 *bf the caliper guide was rubbing causing the brakes to sound like metal on metal. the brakes smoked and became hot three to four times in a period of a year. updated 09/01/11

Front brakes seized up causing the pads to smolder and smoke. this is the latest instance. the first time, the brake pads and rotors were replaced. *tr

Rear brake line failed (leaked) due to rust and corrosion. the rusted part of line runs between fuel tank and inside frame. luckily the line failed in my driveway. my wife and daughter were in the vehicle earlier and it could have been disastrous! i have been reading online of case after case of similar experiences by other dodge owners. the line should be stainless steel or change the routing so that it can't have a chance to corrode as quickly. there should also be switch/stop valve in-line to avoid total loss of braking (control). should definitely be a recall item.

tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the front driver side brake abnormally locked while driving 50 mph. the vehicle began to smoke and was left parked for several hours. the vehicle was neither inspected nor repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the current and failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. while driving approximately between 40-50 mph, the brakes began to lock without warning when pressure was applied. the contact drove onto the emergency lane for a few minutes and was able to continue driving in spite of the brake malfunction. the failure occurred on three occasions. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic twice. the front brakes, brake pads and brake hose were replaced at different times. the failure persisted after the vehicle was repaired. the recent vehicle failure was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 84,200.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota quad cab. the contact stated that the front brakes continued to lock, grab when trying to stop and the brake lights failed to illuminate. the vehicle was taken to the dealer three times for diagnostic testing but the dealer informed him that there were no failures. the vehicle was also taken to a midas mechanic center where the brake rotors, calipers, and brake pads were replaced a couple of times and still the problems exist. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 122,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota quadcab. while driving at approximately 10 mph, the front brakes locked and the vehicle would only accelerate at a very low speed. the contact stated there was an extremely strong burning rubber smell. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnosis and was not repaired. the failure occurred once before and was taken to an authorized dealer where they were unable to diagnose the failure. the failure and current mileages were 73,000. updated 11/19/10 *cn the consumer stated the front brakes locked up. updated 11/23/10. *jb updated evoq 12/22/10*jb the consumer stated the brakes locked up again on july 18,2011. the consumer also stated while under the 30 day warranty, the vehicle caught on fire under the hood. updated 08/31/11 updated 10/20/11,. *jb

One front brake failed to release resulting in excessive heat and smoke, difficult steering and stopping. will replace calipers, pads and rotors. *tr

Brought 2002 dodge dakota into dealership a total of 6 times since may 2010 because of problems with the front brakes. the first time the brakes were shuddering so bad when braking on a hill, it was difficult to hold the steering wheel straight. the dealership recommended replacement of the rotors and pads to resolve the problem in light of the fact that they supposedly visually passed inspection, and had plenty of pad surface remaining. the day following replacement, i took the vehicle out and noticed a distinct clicking below the brake pedal when braking. i took it back to the dealer, where they kept it for a day, told me they thought they fixed it, and returned it to me. as soon as i drove into my driveway, the passenger front was seizing and smoking. i called the dealership and they came to pick it up. it remained at the dealership for a few days until they disassembled the slide on the caliper, cleaned and regreased it, and resurfaced the new rotor. the problem reoccurred again within two weeks, when i had to return it again. this time i brought it in while the brake was pouring out smoke. they kept it for a week, and then decided the brake line required a replacement. less than 3500 miles later, i was out of state visiting family. as soon as i arrived in that town, i could smell the brake burning again. took it to the dodge dealership there where they said it was apparent that both front calipers had been sticking for some time and required replacement and well as the rotors resurfacing due to the heat. there is obviously some problem with the brake system or materials dodge uses now for their vehicles... too many failures amongst too many people. while brakes seizing is preferable to them not working at all, this is just not acceptable. these are brakes, not brain surgery... *tt

Driving at interstate speed, vehicle started abruptly pulling hard to the left. i stopped the vehicle, the brakes were hot, and i needed to accelerate greater than normal to get the car to move. let the truck sit until brakes cooled off, and the problem didn't re-occur even after taking it to the dodge dealer. they could not replicate the problem. said they could start replacing brake parts in hopes of fixing it. the first incident was at 37,000miles, and just out of warranty. (sept. of 2005 was first time) the problem has happened about 8 times in the 54,000 miles i have on it now. no mechanic can tell me what's wrong, and it occurs intermittently out of the blue. i'm finding out that many, many other owners of the same make/model of vehicle have had similar incidents. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the front brakes intermittently locked while driving various speeds. the brakes would lock unexpectedly, until the vehicle was stopped and remained off for an undetermined amount of time. occasionally when the failure occurred the brakes would smoke during the failure. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. the failure mileage was 22,000 and the current mileage was 27,000. updated 07/28/11*lj updated 08/01/11

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. while driving approximately 30 mph, the contact applied pressure to the brake pedal while approaching a stop sign. the brakes seized and the vehicle skidded and swerved. the contact was able to control the vehicle as the brakes returned to normal and the accelerator pedal was depressed. the failure recurred intermittently when driving at different speeds. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostics but the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 76,000.

Front brake calipers,brake lines,brake pads,and rotors had to be replaced. brakes were binding up and would not let the brake pads to release. *tr

At low speeds or when panic stopping at higher speeds rear wheels abs will lock up. at 40mph approaching an intersection light turned yellow and i hit the brakes and rear locked up, i let off and applied/lockup/skid, let off applied/lockup/skid, let off applied/lockup/skid then stop, lucky i had sufficient room to stop. simply trying to park has become an adventure. took it to a dealer before above incident and was told that the brakes are fine but that rear were out of adjustment, and they swapped drums left to right and adjusted the brakes and it made it better for maybe a week or two. *tr

Front brakes locked up while driving. occurred once, was able to pull to side of road without causing an accident. had to replace front l&r, rotors, calipers, pads, hoses and fluid. *tr

While driving the vehicle, the front brakes lock on. this has happened at least 3 times. the most recent time, i was driving 60 mph on the highway then i noticed a burning smell. the only solution is to park the vehicle and allow the brakes to cool down. at 60 degrees outdoor temperature, this took about an hour. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds in hot weather, he noticed that the brakes would smoke when they were not applied. the contact had to coast to the side of the road and wait for the brakes to cool down in order for the smoke to go disappear. the vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor had it been repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and advised them that they had not heard of the failure. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was approximately 72,000. updated 07/21/11 *bf updated 08/05/11

Left front brake overheated, vehicle pulls hard to the left and very poor braking. nearly had a bad accident at an intersection. looked on the internet and found several other people had same problem. will do my own maintenance when i found out the true fix. *tr

2002 dodge dakota consumer is concerned about brake line *cn the consumer stated the vehicle was manufactured with inferior materials. the gas tank straps broke and the transmission and brake lines had rusted and were leaking. the repair shop replaced the brake line and brake hose. *jb

Http://www.carcomplaints.com/dodge/dakota/2002/brakes/brake_cylinder_lock-up.shtml just view the web site above. the brakes on the passenger side of my 2002 dodge dakota lock-up and a significant amount of smoke came out of the wheel well. i was surprised to find out that this is occurring on many other dakotas. do a search online for dodge dakota smoking brakes and you will be amazed at the number of complaints out there. i truly think this is a safety issue that should be addressed. *tr

2002 dodge dakota front brake calipers sticking. left, right or both calipers will not fully release after multiple brake applications resulting in heat build up in rotors, pads & calipers. this can be reduced by using the brakes less or expedited by using them more. the failure occurs consistently with multiple brake applications. the result is hot brakes and wheels with speeds <40mph or very hot, once igniited brakes at highway speeds. pad rotors, and brake fluid have been changed & sliders greased, zero change. first incident occured at approximate incident date, then exponentially more frequently after. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. the contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, he noticed that the brakes were getting hot and seizing. the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic, but the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. the brake pads, shoes, and calipers were repaired. the failure continued. the manufacturer had not been notified. the failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

Truck operating normal until braking at intersection. truck then pulled violently to the right upon braking. smelled and noticed smoke coming from front of truck. upon stopping had smoke coming from passenger-side front wheel/rotor. got to the point where i was concerned that a fire was imminent due to the excessive heat. the tire/wheel on the front passenger-side was extremely hot. next morning, the truck drove normal, no sign that the brake/rotor was damaged. plan on taking in for thorough inspection. noticed fifteen (15) similar complaints for 2002 dodge dakota with unexplained master cylinder lock-up. http://www.carcomplaints.com/dodge/dakota/2002/brakes/brake_cylinder_lock-up.shtml. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. while driving approximately 30 mph, the contact noticed smoke rising near the front passenger side wheel and the vehicle began to veer to the right. the contact discovered that the front passenger side brake caliper failed. the failure occurred numerous times. the contact replaced the front passenger side caliper and rotor and remedied the failure. the manufacturer was not notified. the vin was invalid. the failure mileage was 50,000.

Front wheels (brakes) locked up on my 2002 dodge dakota for no apparent reason. *tr

It happened a few times. i would hit my brakes, and they would be solid, i would not slow down,if i release them and hit them again,then thy would stop. by that time i would be half through the intersection. i called chrysler, but they seem to care. *tr

.. front passenger brake seized. occurred during high traffic time with along with pull to right/could cause accident..came clear the next morning/ occurred again 1 mo. later.. i replaced brake hose ,caliper ,rotor and brake pad, only been about 3 days since replacing. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. while driving 30 mph, the brakes failed. the contact stated that the brake pedal extends to the floor when it is depressed, but does not stop the vehicle. the purchase date was unknown. the current mileage was 81,000 and failure mileage was 79,000.

Continued problems with front brakes. had to replace the rotors at 35,552 miles (see odi #10200119), had to turn those rotors at 46,295 miles (see odi #10200122), had to replace front brakes at 50, 230 miles (see odi #10200127), had to replace front left calipers at 51,116 miles (see odi #10200129). two weeks after replacing the calipers, drove short distance (all highway miles). when i stopped the truck, strong brake smell coming from underneath the front end. i let the car sit for a while and continued on. now it's intermittent. calipers appear to be sticking again - intermittently. vehicle pulls and brakes feel inconsistent like they are coming on way too hard but then pulsing. *tr

After only 5 years and less than 22,000 miles, the front hydraulic brake lines from the frame to the caliper failed from intense rusting while the vehicle was on the road. avoidance of a serious accident was only a matter of luck. the intense rust rate in the forward wheel well also caused brake pad release failures which caused increasing continuous drag and overheating of the brake and wheel assembly. no observation of the problem by dealer during ball joint recall work just 9 months prior to failure. owner replaced hydraulic lines on both sides. owner is now concerned with possible failure of front suspension components due to unusual rust rates. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. while driving approximately 20 mph, the calipers seized on the passenger side rotors. the failure occurred several times and the contact replaced the calipers himself. the manufacturer was notified. the approximate failure mileage was 44,000. updated 9/4/14*cn

Continued problems with front brakes. in july 06, rotors had to be replaced with only 35,552 miles on the truck (see odi #10200119). in march 07, the new rotors had to be turned at 44,6295 miles (see od #10200122). in may 07, vibrations in the front end returned and there was a strange rattling noise coming from the front end. dealer replaced the brakes at 50,230 miles (see odi #10200127). i drove the vehicle about 17 miles (all highway miles). when i stopped, smoke was rolling out of the front left side and there was a strong brake odor. i took it to the dealer the next day. technician indicated it was sticking calipers. technician replaced front left caliper. total cost $121. (note - dealer did not charge me for labor on caliper replacement.) *tr

Purchase 02 dodge dakota report brakes 3 time dodge found now problems . brakes,crash no injuries,also @40k miles intake leak,water pump @36 dodge will not help with any repair cost they say its out side of warranty. *jb

Rattling noise heard in the front end and pulsing brakes when stopping. took vehicle to dealer. technician indicated the front brakes were making the noise. replaced the front brakes. i've had problems with the front brakes on this vehicle over and over again. in july 06, the rotors had to be replaced (see odi #10200119) with only 35,552 k on the truck. the new rotors had to be turned in march 07 (see odi #10200122) wiith ony 46,295 on the truck. at that time the person writing up the ticket asked me when i had the front brakes replaced because, in her words "they look brand new". strangely, only 2 months later at 50,230 miles, the technician indicated the brakes had to be replaced. these were the original brakes. total cost was $146. *tr

Brake failure. brakes would not apply and consequently ran through a busy intersection at 50 mph barely avoiding crossing traffic and stopped traffic. found missing caliper pad. replaced all pads on front and turned the rotors. also replaced the rear cylinder seals. 1 week later right front brake severely overheated and was red hot after a seven mile commute home with only seven stops at low speed (normal braking). mechanic found evidence of burned outer edge of rotor. pads actuated normally. re-turned right rotor to verify no warping had occurred. no parts required. brakes have lost some stopping power since before the first incident and my confidence has been effected. cost of repairs $400+. *jb

Front rotors replaced at 35k (see odi #10200119). only 8 months later, at 46,295 miles brakes started pulsing again. took the vehicle back to the same dealer. they indicated the rotors had to be turned. technician also suggested clean and adjust the rear brakes. total cost was $137. *tr

Front brake caliber locked up. stop and go traffic and brakes locked up. *jb

The front right brake calipers locked up on the vehicle causing the brakes to be applied without pressing on the brakes. after replacing the right calipers, rotor (warped from heat), and brake hose, 12 miles away, the left caliper locked up. this is a huge safety issues because the brakes are applied without the intention of the driver.*jb

Tl* - the contact owns a 2002 dodge durango. when the contact engaged the brakes and the abs took over. the brakes squeaked and did not immediately stop the vehicle unless the contact took foot off the pedal and applied the brake again. the contact removed the abs fuse and the brakes worked normally. however, the speedometer was also connected to that fuse so the speed was not registering correctly without the fuse. the contact was driving 45mp at the time of the failure. *ak

Tl* - the contact stated that while driving his 2002 dodge dakota on approximately december 15, 2006; while traveling at 40 mph, the brakes failed and to avoid hitting another vehicle he struck a curb. the contact stated that the abs does not engage properly. the contact stated that the brakes do not stop the vehicle during sudden stops. the dealer test drove the vehicle and stated it is operating as expected. the contact stated there have been no warning indicator lights. the vehicle has approximately 91,000 miles. *nm

Under normal driving conditions in the northeast i have experienced two separate instances where the front brakes would not disengage or remained partially engaged while driving. first failure at approximately 30,000 miles, mechanic found calipers to operate normally but replaced all pads and rotors due to heat damage evident on "passenger side" front. second failure at approximately 35,000 again found calipers operating normally but replaced front brake line, brake fluid, pads and machined rotors. mechanic unable to determine why the brakes freeze when everything appears to operate as designed. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 1 mph and attempting to park in a garage, a noise was heard from the rear of the vehicle. upon inspection, the contact noticed that the right rear brake shoe lining was destroyed. also, on the rear left side the bonded lining was separated. the contact stated the parking brake had never been used. the vehicle was not seen by a dealer. the manufacturer was notified.

Within 29,500. total miles covered in 4.5 years, there have been 5 episodes when either the front left or front right brake partially seized, which caused the vehicle to veer to one side upon application of the brakes, and emitted smoke. two dealers have offered no plausible cause or remedy. original brake pads, both front and rear, and the front discs and read drums were found to be badly worn at a mere 20,000. miles of light service resulting in all pads being replaced and the rotors and drums being turned. now at 29, 500. miles the front rotors are showing signs of warpage. ok, i'm not an expert, but i've driven about 15 vehicles over a total of a million miles and my feeling is that these brakes are undersized and constantly run too hot. the short brake life is nothing short of astounding. as the dealers seems stumped, my next move is to install racing brakes on the front complete with multiple piston calipers and drilled and slotted rotors. i'm betting that the smoking episodes will stop. one look at this vehicles complaints is all the nhtsa should have to see that there is a design problem, here. *jb

Pulsing vibration in front end while braking. dealer indicated the front rotors were "warped and pitted" and needed to be replaced. vehicle only had 35,552 miles on it, but it was out of warranty because of time limit. dealer did not cover under warranty. cost of replacement $165.00. *tr

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 35 mph the front brakes locked up without warning. the road was dry and the braking condition was normal. the contact further stated the brakes felt sluggish, as if riding on a flat tire. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the master cylinder, rotors and pads were replaced which corrected the problem.

Bought truck new in 2002. since then, the driver's side front caliper has seized up and locked that brake 4 times. the caliper squeezes the pad against the rotor causing the steering wheel to pull hard left, then the rotor overheats and smokes. i pull over before a fire starts. have replaced calipers, pads, hoses, but symptoms still persist. i have to stop and wait until the brakes cool down (about an hour) before they function normally. once i get to a repair shop, the brakes function normally and they tell me everything is fine. i looked online and found that i am not the only one this is happening to. on one site alone (http://www.carcomplaints.com/dodge/dakota/2002/brakes/brake_cylinder_lock-up.shtml) there are 15 others who are dealing with brake failure. *tr

2002 dodge dakota purchased new 10/2001. march 2004 noticed grinding noise when applying brakes. brakes were metal against metal. dealer replaced rotors and pads (and charged for service) at 20940 miles. march 2006, noticed pulsing when applying brakes. different service center said rotors were rusted and replaced; also cleaned and adjusted rear brakes and performed front caliper "slider service." mileage 40239. i believe brakes should last more than two years and/or 20000 miles. *jb