10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
31,800 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2001 Dodge Dakota:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #5

May 082006

Dakota 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,000 miles
For the 2nd time the fan motor for the A/C, heater has stopped working all together. The dealer had the truck for over a week the first and it really never seem to work right. The front head lights work when they want to.

- Owings, MD, USA

problem #4

Jun 292005

Dakota 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,000 miles
Recently investigated a fire in a 2001 Dodge Dakota R/T pickup truck equipped with a 5.9 liter gasoline engine. Fire originates at and confined to the central timer module and the C1, C2 & C3 wiring harness connectors attached to the module. The central timer module is located behind the kickpanel at the front lower left side of the passenger compartment below the fuse panel and the parking brake pedal. The vehicle was parked for approx. 30 minutes prior to the fire. If any one else has experienced a fire in this location or would like additional information, please contact steven C. rowe fire investigation at 610-285-6542 or by E-mail at scrfireinv@direcway.com.

- Kutztown, PA, USA

problem #3

Jun 022005

Dakota 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,500 miles
The dashlights and headlights started flashing and headlights will not come on at all. Also, the remote would not open doors, took vehicle to dealer, and havd to replace central timer module (ctm). Dealer unhooked the module and conected it back, and itworked for about 30 minutes.

- Simpsonville, SC, USA

problem #2

Mar 122004

Dakota 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,500 miles
The vehicle is a 2001 Dodge Dakota quad cab equipped with a factory towing package. On March 12, I was driving the vehicle on I-215 pulling a trailer. I smelled something burning, then the cabin filled with smoke. The turn signals, brake light, and emergency flasher ceased operating. A combination flasher unit had failed and burned, with the plastic case partially melted. The heat had damaged the combination switch, which also failed, and the plug into the wiring harness was also partially melted. The Dodge dealer changed the failed components, and they failed again, this time with no trailer attached. The dealer finally attributed the failures to a short circuit in the wiring installed by the factory which connected the factory installed trailer socket to the electrical system. I have advised Dodge of the problem, and they maintain that their wiring was not defective because they believe that the short originated in the trailer wiring. They made this determination without examining the trailer. Even if the short did in fact start in the trailer, the factory designed and installed wiring harness should have prevented the short from destroying these vital safety components. The freeway I was on when the fire occurred was packed with rush hour traffic, and it was extremely difficult making my way to safety pulling a trailer without the use of the signal lights.

- Poway, CA, USA

problem #1

Nov 132003

(reported on)

Dakota

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Vehicle was taken to the dealer for recall 03V389000 repairs concerning dashboard wiring harness. The repairs were done, but vehicle was still having problems with windshield wipers/ horn/ interior and exterior lighting systems. The dealer was asking consumer to pay $500 to diagnoses and resolution of the problem. Consumer was requesting a call back.

- England, AR, USA