2001 Dodge Dakota engine and engine cooling problems

“ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON. THIS WAS DUE TO THE FAN CLUTCH NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE IS BROKEN IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND SO IS NOT REPORTING OIL PRESSURE ACCURATELY. THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR THIS. *KB”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CENTRAL TIMING MODULE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART THE IGNITION LIGHTS FLASH WHEN HE REMOVED THE KEY, THE HORN BLOWS, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD GET THE PART BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WILL ARRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 179,000.”

“THE HEAT QUIT WORKING IN OUR 2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. IT WOULD NOT WORK ON ANY OF THE BLOWER SETTINGS. I BEGAN LOOKING UP POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE FUSE, AND IT STILL DIDN'T WORK. I ALSO REPLACED THE RESISTOR. WHILE LOOKING ONLINE FOR OTHER OPTIONS, I REALIZED THAT MANY VEHICLES FROM DODGE FROM THAT YEAR AND SURROUNDING YEARS HAD A COMMON PROBLEM. EVERYONE HAD MENTIONED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED. SURE ENOUGH, I WENT AND CHECKED AND IT WAS MELTED JUST BEFORE WHERE THE RESISTOR PLUGS IN. *TR”

“COOLANT WAS LEAKING NEAR CAP, COULD NOT REPLACE BECAUSE DEALER CLOSED ,DEALER ONLY PART,TRIED DUCT TAPE FOR TEM. FIX UNTIL DEALER OPENED, DID NOT STOP LEAK, WAS STILL WET AT CAP GAVE CAP A TWIST TO INSURE TIGHTNESS,,, PLASTIC HOUSING SUFFERED MAJOR FAILURE, SPLIT APART AND COVERED ME WITH SCALDING COOLANT,2ND DEGREE BURNS ON 10% OF ME.. BEWARE IF YOU HAVE THE 2.5 L ENGINE THEN YOU HAVE THIS SETUP. ALL DODGE NEEDED TO DO IS MAKE THAT THIN PLASTIC PIECE OF JUNK A BIT THICKER. *TR”

“MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED BUT THE DAY I WAS GOING TO BRING IT IN THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AND THE MOTOR IS NO MORE GOOD. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS GOOD AND IT WAS GOING ON FOR A WHILE. MY FATHER CHANGED THE HEAD GASKETS BUT IT DID NOT HELP. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE SALES LOT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THEY FILED BANKRUPTCY AND WERE CLOSED DOWN. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR ONE ISSUE UNDER THE RECALL, BUT ANOTHER ISSUE HAD TO BE REPAIRED FOR $700 AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE SHE WAS THE SECOND OWNER, SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,289. UPDATED 09/10/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED EVEN AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, HE IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE GEAR SHIFT. UPDATED 09/11/08*JB”