1999 Dodge Dakota service brakes, hydraulic problems

“I WAS COMING TO A STOP WHEN SUDDENLY THE BRAKE PEDAL SANK ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. A HOLE WAS LATER NOTICED IN THE HARD BRAKE LINE JUST BELOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE ENTIRE LINE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AS ARE THE LINES LEADING TO THE OTHER BRAKES. LUCKILY, NOBODY WAS INJURED. *TR”

“BRAKE LINE FAILURE, REAR BRAKES SEIZED. REPLACED REAR BRAKE SHOES AND WHEEL CYLINDERS 6,500 MILES AGO (APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 YEARS AGO). SEVERAL WEEKS AGO 9/23/2011 MY TRUCK SUFFERED REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURE - STEEL LINE THAT RUNS FROM FRONT TO BACK - FAILURE ADJACENT LEFT REAR TIRE WITHIN FRAME HOUSING. I DISCOVERED THE LINE WALL FAILURE WITHIN AN AREA OF EXTREME CORROSION OF THE LINE - APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES OF THE BRAKE LINE WITH REMAINING NINE PLUS FEET OF THE LINE IN LIKE NEW CONDITION. FURTHER REVIEW DISCOVERED THE LEFT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO BE SEVERELY CORRODED, IE SHOES, SPRINGS, ADJUSTERS, ETC. AS WELL AS THE LEFT FRONT ROTOR ASSEMBLY. REVIEW OF THE PHYSICAL BODY OF THE TRUCK FOUND THE LEFT FRONT CAB BODY MOUNT TO BE "GONE" (RUSTED AWAY!) AS WELL AS SEVERAL AREAS OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BODY PROPER ALSO EXHIBITING OXIDATION (TWO YEARS AGO THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AT ALL). THE REMAINDER OF THE TRUCK, CENTER SECTION AS WELL AS THE RIGHT SIDE (BRAKES INCLUDED) TO BE IN LIKE NEW CONDITION EXHIBITING NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, WITH NO CORROSION. MY CONCLUSION, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF OTHER "GEAR HEAD FRIENDS", IS THAT THE NEW ICE INHIBITOR BEING ADDED TO THE CENTER…”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WOULD NOT RELEASE, CAUSING THE ROTORS TO BECOME EXTREMELY HOT. THE CONTACT REPLACED ALL OF THE FRONT BRAKE COMPONENTS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,900.”

“POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING WITH NO VISIBLE REASON. NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION LISTS A RECALL FOR 1999 DODGE DAKOTA FOR INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN LEFT FRONT BRAKE TUBE AND POWER STEERING HOSE. CALLED CHRYSLER TO SEE IF WE COULD STILL ACT ON THIS RECALL AND THEY TOLD ME NO SUCH RECALL EXISTS. IS YOUR SYSTEM ACCURATE IN REPORTING THIS RECALL AND CAN WE STILL HAVE THIS VEHICLE CHECKED OUT? IT WAS JUST BOUGHT BY MY SON IN SEPTEMBER 2009 SO HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED WITH THE ORIGINAL RECALL. RECALL NO. 00V193000. *TR”

“1999 DODGE DAKOTA HAD BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED. NOW THE CONSUMER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LINE AND WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT ANY RECALL INFORMATION FOR THIS VEHICLE. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE LINE LOOKED A LITTLE WORN. WITHIN A WEEK AFTER THE BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS WERE REPLACED THE BRAKES WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO HIS MECHANIC AND HAD THE BRAKE LINE REPLACED. *JB”

“CALIPER BOLTS SEPARATING FROM SPINDLE CAUSING CALIPER TO FALL ON TO BRAKE ROTOR. LOSS OF BRAKING TO WHEEL, DIFFICULTY STEERING VEHICLE. SPINDLE (STEERING KNUCKLE) HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT AND RE TAPPED AND THREADED. HELI COILS (9M) INSTALLED TO HOLD CALIPER BOLTS. NEW CALIPERS AND ROTORS INSTALLED. FURTHER INSPECTION DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED. ALL BALL JOINTS WILL BE REPLACED SINCE THE UPPER ONES ARE NOT SERVICEABLE AND I DO NOT TRUST THE LOWER ONES. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS FOR MODEL YEAR 1999 DAKOTA HOWEVER THERE ARE SEVERAL TSB'S #050399, 0200600 AND SEVERAL THOUSAND COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. WHY HASN'T THIS SAFETY ISSUE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE NHTSA? *TR”