Five problems related to brake hoses, lines/piping, and fittings have been reported for the 2001 Dodge Dakota. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
I was driving at approximately 25mph, when I tapped brakes suddenly,. The brake pedal dropped to the floor and I had to use parking brake to stop. After pumping brake pedal, the brakes began to work again. I looked for signs of broken brake lines and/or fluid and all looked well. I have heard other reports identical to mine and others pertaining to 2wd models where the brakes lock up at higher speeds instead of not working. Fortunately, I was driving slow and was on a residential road with little activity. If I had to stop suddenly for a car, kid or pet. I would have hit them.
Rear brake line below drivers side blew out. Lost brakes had to down shift to slow down and had to get towed home.
Applied service brake to avoid animal on highway and rear brake line failed. After an inspection of the brake system, it has been determined that all of the hydraulic line in the brake system should be replaced due to excessive corrosion. Vehicle has had the brake fluid replaced every 2 years for the past ten years. The corrosion is on the outside of the brake lines and is extremely excessive for the age of the vehicle. This is a major safety issue and the current state of the service brake system is that of a 20 year old vehicle. The certificate of complacence for the material used to fabricate the lines should be presented to the NHTSA.
2001 Dodge ram 4x4 drivers side rear brake line rusted through creating a leak when trying to stop in driveway at home. Had bushes in front of parking spot blocked by railroad ties as a landscape divider. The truck ran into and partial through railroad ties into bushes to stop the truck. No repair made yet on truck.
My rear brake line broke and in the process of looking up torque specifics on the new one I bought I have discovered that this is happening a lot with Dodge. The lines are rusting through because I believe regular steel is being used instead of a treated or stainless which would resist corrosion better. Luckily I was able to downshift and use my emergency brake instead of facing a tragedy. I can see where some people would panic and not think to do this to pull of the road safely. It is a scary feeling to push the brakes and have nothing happen. The way the brake lines are run is also very inconvenient and most of the time require the gas tank to be removed which is difficult for most and can be costly to have a mechanic do it. I was fortunate in that the line broke just above the gas tank so I was able to pull it through the retaining clips.