Brake Disc Rotor problems of the 2003 Dodge Dakota

Brake vibration at 40,000 miles brake rotors rusted through to friction surface causing large pits and raised areas. Rotors replaced.

I was required to pay $198. 03 to the dealership to resurface the front rotors of my 2003 Dodge 1500 lonestar pickup. The service tech verified that I still have 8mm of original brake on the front and 10mm of original brake on the back. Since I am past the 12000 miles required by Chrysler they feel that this is a normal wear problem. Because of the brakes pulsating each time I applied them I had no choice but to have the problem corrected as it was becoming worse. I fail to see this as normal wear if my brakes are in such good condition. I feel that it is a poor design or material problem that needs to be corrected by Chrysler and not the owner of the vehicle. I have viewed web sites that show many owners of 2003/2004 Dodge 1500 with this same problem and the service tech stated the same thing.

I purchased a new 2003 Dodge Dakota 4. 7l v-8 quad cub. At approximately 6,000 miles, I noticed a shudder in the truck when the brakes were applied. It became worse with mileage, and at 15,000 miles, the vehicle felt unsafe when stopping due to horrible shaking and shuddering. It also felt I had less stopping power and distance. I took it to the dealership, and they advised I had warped brake rotors. They replaced the rotors at my expense. Approximately 3,000 miles later, the vehicle showed the same symptoms again. I took it back, same diagnosis. I asked the service representative why this continued to happen. She told me "Dodge is using junk parts". I asked why they didn't put better parts on if they knew this and she said that was up to Chrysler, not the service dealer. Approximately 3,000 miles later I had to take my truck back again, for the same problem. Again, when I asked why this continued to happen, I was advised "junk parts". I contacted Dodge via their website explaining my problem and they advised me to use a different service dealership. Even with the new rotors, my truck feels it has inadequate stopping power. After reviewing Dodge Dakota owners website, I saw that there are many other owners experiencing the same problem. Please help Dodge owners with this problem. Dodge is clearly using inadequate brakes for their trucks, sacrificing on stopping ability and quality. Dodge does not seem to care about the owners safety. Please help Dodge take accountability for their inadequate equipment. I would be happy to provide any other information or documentation to assist with resolving this issue.

Repeatedly and frequently warping brake rotors, which cause poor stopping.

No events leading to failure just regular driving. Unusual rotor warpping on my 2003 Dodge Dakota so far has cost me over $800 dollars in repairs my complaint is on the poor engineering of the brake system. Worst vehicle I ever owned should of stayed with Toyota!.

Front/rear brakes wore out, causing vibration in the steering wheel when braking. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. . . . . . Consumer has had four replacements of brakes. Vehicle unsafe to drive.

My truck has less than 25000 miles and the front brake rotors have warped and cause terrible vibration of the steering wheel when applying the brakes.

Brake rotors warped after 6000 miles, brake pads squeal after less than 100 miles. Waited until 22,000 miles to have inspected, and told the warranty on product is only 12,000 miles 12 months. Refused to replace warped rotors with less than 25,000 miles on vehicle, and pads still in good condition despite squeaking.

Front oem rotors are too weak for the factory installed 20" wheels. I had to have my rotors turned at 13k miles because of uneven wear.

I've had problems for about 6 months with my brakes. I don't think that they work as well as they should. And then about 6 months ago I assumed that something was wrong with my rotors because when I applied the brakes there was a shimming in the front end. I took the truck to the Dodge dealer where I bought it and was told that it was okay because it was a new truck. I took it back again with the same problem with the rotors and this time the dealer told me that he knew what was wrong with it before they even checked the rotors. This time they turned the rotors and this fixed the problem but now it is doing the same shimming again. The truck now has a little over 15,000 miles on it and I feel that there sould not be any problems with the braking system this soon.

I have had problems with the brake on my 2003 ram 1500, at 14000 miles had front calipers replaced, new front rotors and they turned the rear rotors. This was all because of warped rotors I now have 23000 miles on teh truck and will again be taking it in to have the rotor replaced. I can't believe that there are so many complaints filed and nothing has been done. Maybe we need to contact the media. I know that when more people start die from this problem the media will be all over it. Just like the tires problems on Ford SUV's. Please do some thing before it is to late.

Bought 2003 Dodge Dakota with 4-wheel disc brakes. Vehicle had only 3 miles on it at time of purchase. Disc brake warpage starting at only 3000 miles. It slowly became worse and finally all four rotors were turned at 13000 miles. Now at 15000 the brakes are beginning to pulse again.

Normal wear and tear on vehicle, operated under optimal driving conditions. Front rotors warped beyond repair after 18000 miles on the vehicle. Dealer refuses to replace due to warranty expiration. Rotors should not have warped after only 18000 miles.

Front brakes on 2003 Dodge ram 1500 quad cab developed major pulsation and decreased stopping ability at 6500 miles. Returned vehicle to dealer and was informed that the front rotors were indeed warped and replaced under warranty. Seems to be an all to common problem with the complaints seen on this site and beleive that the NHTSA should look very hard into these problems before someone gets seriously injured or killed. How many complaints does it take to get involved? after the new car warranty is up at 12k miles it will become the owners expense for these "wear items" and strongley urge NHTSA to investigate these sub-standard components and demand Dodge to correct the problem and extend warranty period to at least 36,000 miles and prorate the difference for all subsequent brake jobs for existing new car purchasers based on what they publish for brake service mileage.

Front brake pulsation. Rotors machined at 13000, 18000 and problem keeps recurring. Dodge will not admit any problems and will not repair under warranty as it is a wear item. This truck is less than a year old and only sees highway miles, not stop and go driving. The brakes are pulsating again at 22000 miles. What is the solution to this problem Dodge? I've worked on cars for 15 years at gm. Let me know what the problem is and I'll fix it myself if need be.

Within the first year of owning this truck I had to have the rotors resurfaced twice and within the first 18 months had to have the rotors and calipers replaced. Dealer denied warranty completely (not covered) called Chrysler someone named mike said they didn't have anything to do with it. It was probably the way I drive.

Unsafe condition of steering wheel shake and brake pedal pulsating because brakes are pulsating due to advanced and premature rotor warpage. This truck has 18k miles, and was repaired previously (obviously ineffectively) for the same problem.

Front rotors on my 2002 Dodge cc 4x4 Dakota warped at 18,000 miles. Had them turned and the rear brakes adjusted. Warping again after 8000 miles. Dodge dealer (sam leman Dodge in morton illinois)will not acknowledge a problem. They offered to cut rotor at my expense.

Warped rotors on front brakes cause truck to violently shake when trying to stop truck.

After 10,000 miles on my 2003 Dakota, I had to have the rotors (all 4) turned because they were warped. Dealer did it for free. At 20,000 miles they are warped and needed turning again. Dealer not paying I have to pay them. I am not the only one with rotor problems, it appears the brakes aren't made for a truck this size but for a smaller version of it. This needs to be fixed by Dodge.

After 6,000 miles on my 2003 Dakota, I had to have the rotors (all 4) turned because they were warped. Now dealer did it for free. Again 13,000 miles they are warped need turned again. Dealer not paying I have to pay them. It is close to another 6000 miles and they are starting to behave in the way they did with pedal pulsating and vibrating and the truck rear end feeling like it is bouncing up and down and I know the same problem is there, and this time it is going to be replace all 4. I am not the only one with rotor problems, it appears the brakes aren't made for a truck this size but for a smaller version of it. This needs to be fixed my Dodge.