Four problems related to hydraulic power assist steering system have been reported for the 2002 Dodge Dakota. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Power steering fluid leakage. I have to dump a whole bottle in once a week. Ball joints need replaced. Lifters in motor knock and have to be fixed.
During heavy rain, or in a car-wash, or running through too large of a puddle of water, the serpentine belt begins slipping an excessive amount. It will slip enough to cause the gauge that is showing the charge level to drop noticeably, and it will sometimes drop to the point of no longer showing charging at all. At this point the check engine light is also displayed, and it is now necessary to turn the ignition off and restart the truck to reset the gauge and light and have it begin displaying properly again. During a heavy downpour of rain, this problem occurred again as I was going around a curve and the power steering failed. This is obviously due to the fact that the power steering pump is driven by this belt. Had there been another vehicle in the oncoming lane of traffic, I would have had an accident that I could not have prevented due to this failure. I am not satisfied with the answer that there is nothing that can be done to correct this problem. This is a truck, and it should be able to handle some water. If this problem truly exists in all trucks like mine, then it is only a matter of time before someone has a serious accident and files a lawsuit against Dodge, or even a class-action suit if enough people are really affected by the same problem. Had I been in an accident when the power steering failed on my truck, Im certain that Dodge would have been held liable for both my damages and whomever I had hit. The problem might be resolved by replacing all the pulleys with wider ones and then a wider serpentine belt , or it might be resolved by adding some type of splash guard, but that would probably not resolve the water coming through the grill. One of my employees has the new hemi Dodge truck, and his belt is slightly wider, and he does not have this particular problem.
Truck bounces out of control when hitting small and large bumps in the road. Loss of steering control and very dangerous. Also, truck pulls to the right constantly. I was told by the dealer in waterville maine, that this is normal for a 4x4. Every time I bring it in for service, I complain, but I'm made to feel like it's all in my head. Once they replaced the rack, and tried new tires, but it made no difference. Under no circumstances can I release the steering wheel, and I'm hyperviglent of every approaching bump. Other people who have driven my truck, with me with them experience the same "normal problems". I've had the truck for just over a year now, and the problems haven't gotten worse, but remain constant. I will never buy another Dodge product, and I am very unhappy with the treatment from the dealer. If I wasn't to lose so much money, I would have traded it in 3 months after I bought it. As far as I am concerned, this truck is a lemon. For several months after I bought this truck, I polled every owner of the same truck, when it was convienent, and I received more simalar problems than not.
The consumer nearly had a collision due to the malfunctioning of the power steering system.