2000 Dodge Dakota engine and engine cooling problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SPUTTER OR HESITATE PRIOR TO STALLING AND WHEN THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT IS FLASHING, HE IS NOT ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS TO PLAY WITH THE REMOTE TO GET THE LIGHT TO TURN OFF, AND STATED THAT ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,900.”

“HEATER CORE IN DODGE DAKOTAS. THE HEATER CORE IN DODGE DAKOTAS SEEMS TO BE A REALLY BIG ISSUE WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE PART. WITH A BAD HEATER CORE, ANTI-FREEZE IS EXPELLED THROUGH THE AC VENTS AS A STEAM WHICH IS INHALED BY THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. INHALING ANTIFREEZE CAN HAVE MANY RESULTS: ANTIFREEZE FUMES CAN CAUSE EYE IRRITATION AND UPPER-RESPIRATORY IRRITATION. ADDITIONALLY, INHALED FUMES, PARTICULARLY IF FROM A MIST, CAN CAUSE BREATHING DIFFICULTIES, HEADACHES, DROWSINESS, BLURRED VISION, IRREGULAR EYE MOVEMENTS, NAUSEA AND VOMITING. MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS SHOW THAT REPEATED INHALATION OF ANTIFREEZE FUMES MAY AFFECT THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. COMA MAY OCCUR IF THE INHALED ANTIFREEZE FUMES WERE IN MIST FORM. DODGE REALLY NEEDS TO MAKE A RECALL ON THESE FAULTY HEATER CORES. I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS WHERE AT LEAST 5 HEATER CORES HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITHIN 50,000 MILES. THAT IS WAY TO FREQUENT FOR JUST COMMON WEAR AND TEAR. IT IS EXPENSIVE FOR THE CONSUMERS TO FIX AND HAS SOME BAD HEALTH RELATED ISSUES FROM INHALING THE ANTIFREEZE CAUSED BY THIS FAULTY PART. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE CONTACT PLACED OIL IN THE VEHICLE. HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN SHAKING EVEN WORSE. HE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND CALLED THE DEALER. THE DEALER RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE AND GAVE THE CONTACT HIS ORIGINAL VEHICLE BACK, BUT DID NOT RETURN HIS MONEY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,100.”

“THE TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROX 25 MI PER HOUR. THERE WAS A LOUD THUMP. SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT OF THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER. FLAMES WERE VISIBLE UNDERNEATH. THE HOOD BLEW OPEN AND FLAMES POURED OUT. IN LESS THAN 4 MINUTES THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES, THE SERVICE CAP ON THE RADIATOR HOSE RUPTURED. THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 117,000.”

“TIMING COVER HOUSING THAT ALSO HOUSES WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT, HAS POOR CASTING QUALITY WHERE COOLANT ENTERS HOUSING FROM LOWER RADIATOR HOSE RESULTING IN EROSION OF MATERIAL AND ULTIMATELY LEAKS OUT RADIATOR FLUID. AFTER SPEAKING WITH CHRYSLER CORPORATE, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO FURNISH PARS FOR REPAIR OR LABOR TO COMPLETE REPAIRS. EVEN WITH HAVING INFORMATION THAT AN AVERAGE OF 24 PARTS PER WEEK ACROSS U.S. ARE BEING ORDERED AND REPLACED THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO ACT UPON THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE MADE DUE TO POOR PRODUCT QUALITY FOR ENGINE COMPONENTS THAT ARE ESSENTIALLY NON-CONSUMABLE. *TR”