2000 Dodge Dakota: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Nov 5, 2003 · Brakes · 93,426 miles · ID

Shuddering and vibration in brakes when stopping at all speeds. Have replaced pads, and rotors twice. Had rotors turned once in between changes. Have seen many other complaints and service bulletins issued on this. Why is no one doing a defect investigation?

Filed Sep 15, 2003 · Brakes, Steering · 20,000 miles · AZ

Power steering fails. Lose control of steering at highway speeds after about 1.25 hours. First occurance in august 2002, then october, 2002. Did not drive on highway for extended period until august 2003 - failed again and again on mountain roads, exits, straightaways while passing, gentle curves. November 2002 dealer replaces rack and pinion and bushings at 23,997 miles. August 18, 2003, 31424 miles, dealer replaces column, intermediate shaft and bolt per starline. Sep 3, 2003, 31904 miles, dealer replaces all four control arms - cannot replicate problem as they will not drive the required miles, I'm their test dummy. The knobs for air conditioning also broke at this time - charged to fix this. Manufacturer says to contact dealer, dealer won't drive necessary miles - I still have to check the sep 3 repair to see if it really fixed the problem. Each time the alignment is out and they will not fix this as part of the warranty item although I maintain my vehicles' alignment. The brakes have been relined at 26k miles because the dealer said they were shuddering - which I had not experienced until they repaired them. Shocks have been replaced, have been trying to get the rear struts replaced due to excessive sway and loss of control when carrying a load, another thing they claim not to replicate.

Filed Aug 27, 2002 · Brakes · TX

After about 13000 miles, application of brakes caused increasingly severe shuddering of front of truck accompanied by significant extension of braking distance (at least 30%). Narrowly avoided what could have been a major collision. Suspected failure of ABS, took car to dealer who diagnosed it as warped rotors in the front. Dealer turned rotors and reported essentially zero wear on the brakepads. Dealer also replaced brake pads. Dealer surmised that there was a chronic material problem with the dakota disk brake system. This problem appears to manifest itself again now, some 8000 miles later. When I recently contacted chrysler by e-mail and explained the problem, their response was merely that there was currently no open problem (hence no action). What is hard to fathom is that the federal safety agency with some 100 user complaints about the very same safety-related problem does not appear to be pursuing this issue. Corrective action by dodge in the form of a recall and replacement of the failure-prone disk system is clearly warranted in this situation. Please advise what, if any, action the federal safety agency is taking, or plans to take, to address this problem. This truly is a matter of "people saving people."

Filed Aug 11, 2002 · Brakes · TX

Even with light application of brakes, progressively severe shuddering of entire front end. Service dept. Determined warped brake discs and incorrect brake pad (oem). Disks were turned and brake pads replaced. Now, 5000 miles later, same problem (pulsating condition upon light brake application) manifests itself. What is the federal safety agency doing to get dodge to take corrective action? This situation is a safety hazard and needs to be corrected!!! There are over 100 complaints in your database about the identical problem with the same vehicle. Have described the situation to chrysler but doubt that they will respond with a constructive solution without some pressure from the federal safety agency. After all, this is all about "people saving people" so let's have some action before we have another firestone-like disaster on our hands.

Filed Dec 14, 2001 · Brakes · NY

Vehicle shudders on braking (violently on hard braking), dealer says both rotors needed to be replaced although the original brake pads are still in good condition.

Filed Oct 30, 2001 · Brakes · SC

Rear brake pulsating or shuddering. Have research problem and seems to be wide spread.

Filed Oct 1, 2001 · Brakes · FL

Front disc warp severely, front end shudders when brakes are applied, turned and replaced rotors several times

Filed May 29, 2001 · Brakes · NC

Bought truck new, 1200 miles later under normal driving conditions the brakes started shuddering. At 5000 miles dodge replaced the rear drums under warrantee because of warpage that was causing braking to be more difficult and less controlled. 1500 miles later they started warping again. With 9000 miles on the truck (normal driving conditions) I brought the truck in with the shuddering problem and they told me that it wasn't bad enough to replace or turn under warrantee. 3500 miles later they were bad enought to replace but by the the time I brought the truck in for service they were out of warrantee (12k). Dodge told me they needed to be turned or replaced at my expense (12,500 miles on the vehicle). They continue to warp and cause the truck to shake and pull under normal braking. This is unacceptable for factory installed equipment.