1998 Dodge Dakota service brakes, hydraulic problems

“The contact owned a 1998 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 25 MPH and attempting to slow the vehicle with the brake pedal depressed all the way to the floorboard, the vehicle failed to come to a complete stop. As a result, the vehicle careened off the roadway and into a ditch. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The occupants were all transported to an area hospital by EMT for treatment. The driver was treated for chest pain caused by the steering wheel; the contact was treated for a broken arm; the oldest rear seat occupant was treated for a facial injury, losing two front teeth; and the youngest rear seat occupant was treated for a concussion. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 97V170000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 5,000.”

“1998 DAKOTA BRAKE LINE (STEEL) RUSTED THROUGH AND RUPTURED RESULTING IN CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE (RIGHT FRONT). THE DEALER BLAMES THE FAILURE ON ROAD CONDITIONS IN WESTERN VIRGINIA (SALT). THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 80000 MILES. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 32 MPH WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP BUT THE BRAKES FAILED; AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES. THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE CALIPERS AND BRAKE PADS FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ABS COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,882.”

“THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE LINE ON MY 1998 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK FAILED COMPLETELY AND SUDDENLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS (LIGHT BRAKING). UPON INSPECTION, ALL FRONT BRAKE LINES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE DISTRIBUTION JUNCTION AND FROM THE DISTRIBUTION JUNCTION TO THE FRONT BRAKES (LEFT AND RIGHT) WERE HEAVILY CORRODED. LAST WINTER, THE BRAKE LINE LEADING FROM THE DISTRIBUTION JUNCTION TO THE REAR BRAKES FAILED UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, HOWEVER; SOME BRAKING ABILITY REMAINED. THESE TWO FAILURES OVER A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME-FRAME LEAD ME TO BELIEVE IT MAY BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH ALL METAL BRAKE LINES. *TR”

“SERVICE BRAKE HYDRAULIC LINES RUPTURED TWICE. ONCE AT 55,622 MILES ON AUGUST 13, 2007. THIS OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, ABOUT MID WAY BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE TRUCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE DEALER REPLACED 7 BRAKE LINES AND THE 2 REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS BECAUSE THE BLEEDER SCREWS WOULD NOT OPEN. TODAY, MARCH 5, 2010 AT STILL LESS THAN 60,000 MILES THE FRONT BRAKE LINES RUPTURED NEAR THE RADIATOR WHERE THEY CROSS BETWEEN THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE TRUCK. THIS OCCURRED ON A MAIN HIGHWAY WHILE BRAKING FOR A RED LIGHT. BOTH TIMES THE TUBING (METAL PIPING) CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNING SIGNS SUCH AS SLOW LEAKAGE, LOW FLUID LEVEL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR, ETC. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE COASTED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT BEFORE THE CONTACT COULD APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED AT LEAST THREE LINES AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT OTHERS MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A LATER DATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,249. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF UPDATE 09/24/08. *JB”