2006 Dodge Dakota steering problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND STARTED THE ENGINE, THE KEY WOULD COME OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE STRENGTH TO TURN THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK HENDRICKS DODGE (1468 SAVANNAH HWY, CHARLESTON, SC 29407, (843) 352-6931) AND THE MECHANICS WERE UNSURE IF A NEW STEERING COLUMN AND/OR NEW IGNITION SWITCH WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.”

“HAS DEVELOPED LOOSE STEERING. PROBLEM EXIST WHETHER MOVING OR NOT. THOUGH AN ACCIDENT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET, BELIEVE THERE IS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR IT TO HAPPEN.”

“AT ABOUT 62 K MI. STEERING BECAME STIFF, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. CHECK POWER STEERING FLUID AND TOPPED OFF. PROBLEM SEEMED TO DISAPPEAR OVER TIME. HOWEVER MORE RECENTLY AT ABOUT 70K MI. PROBLEM HAS RETURNED WITH STIFFER STEERING AND THEN WITH LOOSENESS. SEEMINGLY THAT I AM OVERCOMPENSATING MY TURNS. MY POWER STEERING FLUID IS NORMAL.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT THE ABNORMAL NOISE CONTINUED. ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME TIGHT AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INSPECTED BY A DEALER (CROSSROADS JEEP AND DODGE IN PRINCE GEORGE, VA, 1 (888) 704-5098), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA06004 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER HAD TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO LOSE STEERING POWER AND SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINON FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.”

“POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. AT THE TIME I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH IN TOWN. HAD POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK IN THE PAST WHICH WAS FIXED BUT ISSUE STILL OCCURS. TODAY IT HAPPENED THEE TIMES WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING. I CHECKED THE STEERING FLUID AND IT WAS FULL. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS A FEW YEARS OLD.”