Problems · by component

2005 Dodge Dakota service brakes, hydraulic problems

67 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Dodge Dakota cite service brakes, hydraulic, 14% of all 470 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
67
14% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes, hydraulic

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle vibrated, pulled to the right, with a burning odor coming into the cabin of the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and diagnosed that the caliper had failed. The calipers had been replaced six times; however, the failure persisted and became more frequent. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2023Service brakes, hydraulicODI 11515548
“MY BRAKES LOCKED UP COMPLETELY AND MY TRUCK SLID LIKE IT WAS ON ICE FOR 200FT BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE CAR STOPPED AT THE INTERSECTION AHEAD. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND NOW IT HAS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHICH THE CALIFORNIA LAW CONSIDERS ME AT FAULT BECAUSE I REAR ENDED THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. I THINK CHRYSLER IS AT FAULT BECAUSE THEIR ANTI LOCK BREAKS DID NOT STOP THE BRAKES FROM LOCKING AT ALL NOW MY TRUCK IS TOTALED AND ANOTHER PERSONS CAR IS DAMAGED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 16, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicCrash reportedODI 10440219
“ON 21ST BRAKES STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. ON MONDAY BEFORE GETTING IT TO THE SHOP I HAD NO BRAKES. BRAKE CALIPERS LOCKED UP AND OVER EXTENDED L REAR HARDWARE FALLEN INTO DRUM AND DAMAGED SHOES & CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID. JUST HAD THE ROTORS AND PADS DONE LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO. *TT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10432801
“AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55 - 75 INTERMITANTLY THE TRUCK WILL BEGIN TO VIBRATE. IF YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS IT GETS WORSE. IF YOU THEN APPLY THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO SHAKE ALMOST VIOLENTLY, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSES. IF I SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 30 MPH IT STOPS AND MAY HAPPEN AGAIN QUICKLY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR A WHILE. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 OR 4 TIMES AND THEY STATE THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT BALL JOINTS, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS 3 TIMES AND RECENTLY PUT ON THE 3 SET OF BRAKES AND ROTORS ALL ON ADVISE FROM DODGE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. VERY UNSAFE. HARD TO CONTROL THE TRUCK. I NO LONGER DRIVE THE TRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY. HAVE CALLED DODGE CHRYSLAR AND THEY STATE TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I GET THE RUN AROUND AND SENT ON MY WAY. AS FOR AT DATE OF INCIDENT, THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. I JUST PICKED A DATE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2011Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10414938
“SEVERE SHAKING OF TRUCK WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR AT TIMES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BECAUSE OF AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, I WAS INFORMED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THEY KNEW OF AN ONGOING CONCERN REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND NEVER NOTIFIED OWNERS ABOUT IT. I CONSIDER IT A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SHAKES SO BADLY YOU HAVE TO STOP BRAKING IN ORDER TO GET IT TO QUIT. THERE ARE TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY YOU HAVE TO USE THE BRAKE. I THOUGHT THE TRUCK WAS GOING TO ROLL OVER ONE TIME. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR I ALMOST REARENDED SOMEBODY INFRONT OF ME. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 31, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10403839
“2005 AND EARLY 2006 DODGE DAKOTA'S EQUIPPED WITH THE 8.25 INCH REAR AXLE HAVE A DEFECTIVE BRAKE DESIGN. THEY UTILIZE A SINGLE SPRING BETWEEN THE REAR BRAKE SHOES WHICH CREATES VARYING DEGREES OF BRAKE SHUDDERING UPON APPLICATION. IN ADDITION MANY OF THESE TRUCKS ARE EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE AXLES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE SHUDDERING PROBLEM. IN LATE 2005, DODGE ISSUED A TSB TO THEIR DEALERS ON HOW TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS. THIS WAS SOON SUPERSEDED BY TSB 05-002-006. I PURCHASED A TRUCK WITH BOTH THE DEFECTIVE BRAKES AND DEFECTIVE AXLES IN AUGUST OF 2005. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF EITHER TSB BY CHRYSLER CORPORATION. I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT SINCE MY VEHICLE IS OVER ONE YEAR OLD THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MUCH OF THE COST OF REPAIRING THESE FACTORY DEFECTS TO AN IMPORTANT SAFETY SYSTEM. DODGE ISSUED TWO TSB'S AND BEGAN INSTALLING A PROPERLY DESIGNED REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY ON ALL NEW DAKOTAS BUILT AFTER JANUARY 2006. I BELIEVE THAT DODGE SHOULD ISSUE AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY RECALL FOR ALL AFFECTED 2005 AND EARLY 2006 DAKOTA TRUCKS AND REPAIR THEM FOR LITTLE OR NO COST TO THE OWNER. THIS PROBLEM HAS UNDOUBTEDLY INCREASED THE RISK FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENTS DUE TO DIMINISHED BRAKING…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 29, 2010Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10373325

Showing 6 of 67 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.