1999 Dodge Dakota: brake failure

Filed Oct 19, 2011 · Brakes · 150,000 miles · KY

I was coming to a stop when suddenly the brake pedal sank all the way to the floor. A hole was later noticed in the hard brake line just below the driver's side door. The entire line is completely rusted as are the lines leading to the other brakes. Luckily, nobody was injured.

Filed Sep 28, 2009 · Brakes, Steering · PA

1999 dodge dakota had ball joints and tie rod ends replaced. Now the consumer has a problem with the brake line and wants to know about any recall information for this vehicle. *nj the consumer was informed the brake line looked a little worn. Within a week after the ball joints and tie rods were replaced the brakes went out. The consumer returned to his mechanic and had the brake line replaced.

Filed Sep 23, 2008 · Brakes, Steering · 69,000 miles · NY

Caliper bolts separating from spindle causing caliper to fall on to brake rotor. Loss of braking to wheel, difficulty steering vehicle. Spindle (steering knuckle) had to be drilled out and re tapped and threaded. Heli coils (9m) installed to hold caliper bolts. New calipers and rotors installed. Further inspection determined that upper ball joint failed. All ball joints will be replaced since the upper ones are not serviceable and I do not trust the lower ones. There has been no recalls for model year 1999 dakota however there are several tsb's #050399, 0200600 and several thousand complaints on the internet. Why hasn't this safety issue been addressed by the federal safety agency?

Filed Aug 21, 2008 · Brakes · 105,000 miles · IL

After applying the brake to shift gears, the brake pedal went all the way to the floor with very little resistance. The brake light came on the dashboard. When I got out of car, there was a large pool of brake fluid under the driver side door. Upon further inspection, I noticed the brake fluid leaking from the rusted brake line.

Filed May 8, 2008 · Brakes, Suspension · 69,000 miles · WI

Ball joints failed on all four wheels. Left front ball joint broke and burned out the brakes. Brakes failed.

Filed Mar 24, 2008 · Airbags, Brakes · 75,377 miles · IN · crash · 1 injury

Around 03/04/2008 I was driving through a credit union parking lot and hit a sheet of ice I engaged my brakes to slow down, but my anti-lock brakes did not work and I slid 25' into an SUV causing some costly damage to both vehicles. Both vehicles were disabled and had to be towed. Also,the airbags on my vehicle did not engage and fortunately I only sustained a minor head injury.

Filed Nov 6, 2007 · Brakes · 70,591 miles · IL

Aug. 24, 2007 ABS @ brake warning lamps light, brake pedal went to the floor. Made appointment at a dealership. Aug. 25, 2007 1) I found master cycl. Was empty (no brake fluid.) 2) found hole in rusted brake line under drivers side door.3) found all brake lines were rusted underneath side of truck. Aug. 28, 2007 had truck towed to dealership. Aug. 30, 2007 called customer assistance center to check on recall for rusted brake lines. No recalls. Given case # 16686272. 1st estimate for repairs $350.00 to 400.00. 2nd estimate for repairs $500.00 to 600.00. 3rd estimate for repairs $700.00 to 800.00. Sept. 11, 2007 repairs completed. All brake lines underneath truck were replaced with original parts. Total 8 lines. Total bill was $865.24 minus a 10% coupon I had total now $781.92. Service manager comments: he has a similar truck, after seeing my rusted brake lines, he is going to have all his brake lines replaced on his truck. Sept. 14, 2007 called customer assistance center for the 2nd time. Gave them updated repair information & told them this is a very serious safety issue & are lucky that I was driving not my wife or one of my children when the brakes went out. Asked for refund for repairs, turned down.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes · 73,000 miles · NE · crash · 1 injury

Brake pedal broke when the SUV applied his brake hard to stop for the pickup in front of him. I was behind him about 4 to 5 car lengths going between 40 to 45 MPH, I hit the brakes they worked for a split second and the pedal went to the floor. I rear ended the SUV. The accident caused about $3500 damage to the SUV, $2500. To the pickup in front of it and $6500 to $7000. Damage to my 19999 dodge dakota. The point that the brake linkage connects to the brake pedal broke off the brake pedal.

Filed Aug 7, 2003 · Brakes · 25,000 miles · CA

Consumer applied brakes when approaching a stop sign. The pedal went all the way to the floor and vehicle keep rolling. Consumer pump brakes several times, then the "anti-lock" and "brake" warning lights illuminated. The functionality of front brakes was partially restored. Dealer diagnosed and replaced front brake pads and turned rotors.

Filed Jul 11, 2001 · Brakes · FL

Rotors have been replaced 4 times and turned 5 times in a year, rear hubs relaced 3 times in a year and I still do not have brakes. Dealt with chrysler and speedway dodge. No one can fix the problem. Chrysler needs to replace this vechicle. The dealerships, 3 of them say that is just a dodge. If that is just a dodge, why are they allowed to sell them. Having no brakes is a very serious problem. I have filed complaints with the better business bureau, the dealerships the federal safety agency and still no answers or luck in getting this vechicle fixed.*ak (tiresize: 255/65/r15)

Filed Feb 14, 2001 · Brakes · NH · crash

Brakes failed while approching oncoming traffic, applied brakes and vehicle continued on until it rear ended another vehicle. Dealer/manufacturer were not notified at this time. Please feel free to provide any further details on this matter.

Filed Jan 15, 2001 · Brakes · GA

I applied my brakes to slow the truck going down a hill. The brake pedal went to the floor and the engine shut off. By applying extreme pressure I was able to slow the truck and eventually stop it by driving off the road into the grass. Looking at the truck the next morning showed a worn rubber hose in the brake line. The rim of the right front wheel had rubbed a hole in the line. It appeared there was a bent bracket that supports the brake line and that's what allowed the line to "get into" the wheel. I haven't run over any debris that could cause the bracket to bend and the truck hasn't been in any accidents. It's my opinion, that if a brake line is to be mounted that close to the wheel, it should be well shielded or secured with hardware that could not be so easily deformed and allowing the brake line to move toward the wheel. The wheel only touches the line when the wheel is turned all the way to the left. The left front brake line is about an inch or inch and a half from the left wheel and is not worn. This is a serious safety defect in my opinion, as I was driving on mountain roads the day before the incident. The sharp curves on the mountain roads is probably where the damage occurred as there were many sharp curves where I had to turn the wheel as far left and right as I could to make the curves.