Dodge Dakota loss of power problems

Filed Jul 16, 2016 · Engine · 124,000 miles · FL

I bought the subject pickup in 2014, I found after driving it that the engine would lose power, wouldn't idle smoothly, and it would backfire thru the throttle body electronic fuel injection. The problem was and is intermittent, it sometimes happens when pulling into traffic, making me trying to pull over to the curb. I took it the local dodge dealership [rocky top dodge, sevierville tn] to have it fixed, they tuned it up, cleaned the throttle body and a few other things and said it was ok. I paid them $650+, pulled out of the dealership, and there it was doing the same thing. I immediately turned around went back to the dealership, they kept it for 4 more days, then told me they didn't know what the what was and couldn't fix it. I been driving just about everyday since with this problem. I tried contacting dodge, they were suppose to have a regional rep contact me, that never happened. It just amazes me that I am the only person in the country having this problem. I did take it upon myself to change all of the engine sensors, that costs me $300 to do it myself. I am just highly frustrated with dodge that they can't tell me what's wrong with this truck and fix it. I need help since it's a safety issue.

Filed Jun 9, 2016 · Transmission · 160,325 miles · WA

Truck is going into 4wd by itself. I almost crashed going at a high speed. Truck steering wheel locked up, tires locked up, truck lost all power and turned off. The 4x4 light turns on and off. When using the keyless entry button on remote I can hear a clicking and grinding noise under truck. The 4wd engages without me even being in the truck it happens sometimes when I ise the remote to unlock truck. I jad the 4wd engage also while making a turn. The wheels ceased up and couldnt get truck to advance. This has been happening since 2 weeks ago. Started with the 4wd light turning on amd off and progressively getting worse.

Filed Aug 17, 2015 · Electrical · 58,142 miles · MO

Driving vehicle and activating the left turn signal. The signal had failed causing the vehicle computer to fail and removing power from the transmission. The check engine light was illuminated and instrument panel lost power. Diagnostic error indicated a bad shift indication. Replaced switch and resolved issue.

Filed May 27, 2015 · Electrical, Steering · 25,000 miles · IL

Crank position sensor failed causing total loss of engine power harsh downshift from transmision at speed and loss of power brakes and power stearing could get someone killed if it was in a intersection or on the highway replacement should be free + towing

Filed Mar 30, 2015 · Steering · 98,000 miles · FL

Rack and pinion seal busted while driving at some point resulting in loss of power steering fluid.

Filed Jul 20, 2014 · Engine · 153,000 miles · CA

While I was traveling uphill the engine shut off as I was going over the freeway overpass to enter the south bound freeway entrance. I lost all power steering and brakes and had just enough power to roll downhill past the freeway entrance to turn on a street to roll to a stop just as I turned the corner. Thank goodness I wasn't on the freeway when this happened or have any cars in front of me as I was rolling downhill because I didn't have brakes. I tried to start the engine and got no power, but noticed the mileage reader said "no bus". I had the truck towed home. For the next 2-3 months the truck would start sometimes and run for about 15 minutes and shut off and other times it would just turn over as if it had a bad alternator.the strange thing is when it was 70-74 degrees outside and below the truck would start and run for about 15 minutes before shutting off and when you tried to start the engine right after it would just turn over and not start. If it was close to 80 degrees or hotter outside, the truck would never start, it would just turn over like a bad alternator. After doing some research on the "no bus" code, I found out that this was an indication that the power control module (PCM/ECM computer) was bad. After further research I found that heat affected the PCM and that's why it started on some days and not others. I bought a rebuilt PCM and the truck did the same thing after a month and a half. This part should not be sold by as a rebuild because the computer board melts and leaks a greasy like substance. My brother in-law has experience with computers and said it resembled melted heat coating from the computer board. We had success with a remanufactured PCM. This part should be recalled and corrected. There is a list of people on the dodge forum who have suffered with the same issues and I'm sure someone out here has wrecked or died over this.

Filed Jan 19, 2014 · Body, Brakes · 235,000 miles · IA

At idle/park my 1996 dodge dakota 4x4 v8 5.2l slt will sputter and sometimes kill the engine. Now I'm not sure if that's a safety feature so the engine doesn't over flood itself, but I've replaced the iac valve, pcv valve, distributor rotor/cap, and spark plugs with no improvement. I recent had a problem where the conditions out we're somewhat icy and mid turn into a parking lot I took a blow to a fire hydrant because the vehicle killed itself, meaning loss of power steering and power brakes. I was fine, but my vehicles body took the damage. Luckily the airbag system didn't deploy but this issue has been brought up a lot with the 1995-1996 dakotas. And honestly I'm scared that the vehicle might do this while on the free way. Also, of 3 o2 sensors that's just above the catalytic converter, all three have left the vehicles check engine light on and have tested faulty. I have yet to return to the exhaust systems shop to see if they can fix it due to it being under warranty, but my mechanic said that it mostly because there's an unneeded amount of extra power going to the o2 sensor which is causing it to fault. Anyhow, I appreciate anything that can be looked at into this, because I do live on a hilly suburb and I rather not take the fault of my vehicle failing and damaging state, neighbors or even my own property, let alone myself getting hurt.

Filed Jun 4, 2013 · Steering · 60,090 miles · WA

Sudden loss of power steering when turning, requiring sudden and unexpected manhandling of steering wheel to straighten wheels. Inspection of power steering fluid level, post-incident, showed substantial loss of power steering fluid but no fluid leakage under the vehicle when parked, indicating leakage only occurred when vehicle was being driven. Outer tie-rods changed at 57,676 miles. Vehicle inspection, at 59,814 miles, showed no leakage underneath, power steering fluid level was at full. Inspection of vehicle, at 60,289 miles showed fluid leakage from both rack and pinion boots, worse on the right than on the left. Rack and pinion has to be replaced. This probelm was obviously sudden onset with no warning. The sudden loss of power steering constitutes a dangerous and unexpected driving hazard that very well could result in a crash. This vehicle is seven years old, has just over 60,000 miles on it. It has been maintained regularly and inspected every 2 to 3,000 miles. There is no reason, beyond poor engineering, that the tie-rods and rack and pinion should have malfunctioned at this mileage..

Filed Mar 28, 2013 · Fuel system · 42,000 miles · DE

My wife and I were driving to dinner. Weather was cold it was dark outside but no other issues. Fuel gauge was reading between empty and 1/4 tank. We were driving on a busy stretch of highway route 1 north of dover delaware heading south. Traffic was moderate at the time. We were operating at a speed of 55mph when the engine suddenly stopped operating. I was able to safely maneuver the truck off the road. I attempted to restart the vehicle with no luck. I called aaa who brought some gas with them. They put 1 gallon of gas in and the vehicle started right up. An issue with the fuel gauge was reported to the selling dealer shortly after we purchased the truck (the vehicle was purchased new). The fuel gauge needle would fall to the "e" position and the low fuel indicator light would illuminate (even with a full tank of gas). The needle would then slowly recover to its original position. I took the truck back to the dealership for repair, but they could not replicate the issue so they did not repair the faulty gauge. Sudden loss of engine power is a serious safety issue. I should be able to rely on the instruments/gauges to provide accurate information so that I can operate my vehicle in the safest manner possible. This fuel gauge issue is a safety hazard. Loss of engine power due to erroneous fuel gauge readings resulted in loss of power assisted brakes and steering which made controlling the vehicle more difficult.

Filed Mar 30, 2012 · Transmission · 137,141 miles · TX

Car lost power and locked up while driving. Check engine light came on. Scanner showed code p0740; torque converter problem. Had to overhaul transmission and replace the torque converter.