2001 Dodge Dakota: engine failure

Filed Jun 26, 2014 · Brakes · 140,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns 2001 dodge dakota. The contact stated the brakes seized and started to emit smoke. The contact had to engage the low four wheel drive to stop the vehicle. The ABS warning indicator was illuminated.the vehicle was taken to the dealers who diagnosed that the ABS brake modular, the brake master cylinder and wiring harness as being defective and had to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 140.000.

Filed Jan 3, 2006 · Engine · 61,300 miles · OH

On thursday, december 29, 2005, I was returning home from findlay, oh, I was about 37 miles from home when the check gauges light came on and the oil pressure gage dropped to 0. I was able to get off the highway into a parking lot at which time the truck wouldn't start. I had the truck towed to the dealership where I bought it. The service department checked it out and said I needed a new engine due to sludge build up caused by improper maintenance. I change my oil on a regular basis. I have a dodge neon with over 120,000 miles and my previous car was a 1987 chevy nova with over 199,000 miles.

Filed Sep 13, 2005 · Brakes · 52,000 miles · NC

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.

Filed Apr 7, 2005 · Electrical · CA

My 2001 dodge dakota truck has experienced the failure of its power control module (PCM) not once but twice in 2004. The original unit failed 57,500 miles and the second unit failed at just 7,000 miles. Pcm failure means that electric power is cut unexpectedly to the engine leading to engine failure. In my case this happened once on a narrow hilly roadway and the second time in the fast lane of a freeway. Such failure do not provide warnings and happen suddenly and unexpectedly. In both cases loosing power also meant loosing braking and power steering. While neither incident resulting in accidents for me, they could easily have (part luck & part skill). Yet I have seen little regarding this matter. What is so sinister about this is that the "bug" is difficult to trace because it re-appears only randomly (initially I thought that I needed a tune-up or had received bad batch of fuel). There is no maintenance required of this unit and it has a warranty of 8/80,000. I have written to dodge regarding this matter requesting, among other things, an explanation of why these units failed and the hazards such failures place the driver and fellow motorists into. The manufacturer has responded but only in regard to the matter of reimbursement for car rental related to the second incident above where I was on a trip. Nothing has been responded to with regard to the "reliabilty" of the units. The incident date below is the initial situation.

Filed Apr 1, 2004 · Engine · 85,000 miles · CA

While driving at 45 MPH an alarm sounded warning the consumer to check the instrument panel. Oil pressure gauge registered very low oil pressure. Consumer checked the oil level with the dip stick and found it to be up to par. Dealer examined the vehicle, and found a sludge build up in the engine. A new engine was needed.

Filed Feb 3, 2004 · Brakes · 42,780 miles · MA

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.

Filed Jul 11, 2003 · Engine · 32,000 miles · LA

Engine failure due to sludge.

Filed Apr 2, 2003 · Engine · 48,980 miles · CA

With only 48k miles on my truck, I had total engine failure. The problem was oil sludge that built up around the valves and blocked the flow of oil. The blocking of the flow of oil prevented the rest of the engine from being properly lubricated causing the engine to cease.

Filed Feb 22, 2002 · Engine · TX

1-11-2002 oil pressure problems. I had the vehicle towed to the nearest dealer..donalson motor company in silsbee, texas. After 2 days they phoned me to tell me the engine had suffered a "catastrophic engine failure". The cause was "dirty oil". I run royal purple-a high dollar synthetic oil. The price tag for all of this was 5600.00. I took a oil sample to the maufacturer to have tested. Both chemists that tested the oil reported the viscosity of the oil was intact. The oil was not the cause of the engine failure. I took this back to donalson and was told the oil was the cause. I found an mechanic who gave me an estimate of 3300.00 for the same engine. When I went to pick up my truck donalson informed me that they would do the work for 3000.00. They have had my truck for 1 month and 19 days, I went to pick it up and the airconditioner was no longer blowing cold air(I did not have this problem before). I took the truck back to them and was told that the AC had been contaminated while rebuilding the motor and it would cost several hundred dollars to fix!!!.