Differential Unit Problems of Dodge Dakota - part 1

Came to a stop behind 2 vehicles in left turn lane. When traffic light green arrow came and accelerated there was a loud bang and truck would not move. Car behind skidded to a stop to avoid truck. Tried reverse and drive with no affect then looking under truck ther was rear differential oil puddling under center pumpkin. Group of people helped pushed truck into lot backwards since would roll forward. Towed back to work and inspected next day 8/3/19 and pinion nut had backed off. Pulled diff cover and found several chunks of metal from damage. Build date 08/04 152,000 miles with 9 1/4 rearend. Apparently there was a recall on the ram 1500 with same rear end and within this build date. Would not the Dakota also be included? l.

See all problems of the 2005 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while traveling 55 mph, the rear wheels seized. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was found that the differential along with several other components needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 68,000.

To whom it may concern, I want to inform this organization and future people whom would want to buy a 1/2 ton adodge ram or Dakota to reserch it first. I took my 2007 Dodge Dakota 4x4 to the dealer with just over 60,000 miles due to the rear end making noise. The dealer found 1 retainer clip that holds the clutch packs to fail prematurely and cause servere damage to the rear differential. I need to replace the pinion bearings, carrier bearings, and clutch pack along with the same retainer clips that will break in another 60,000 miles or less. When I took my Dakota to the dealer and explained to them my symptoms of rear end noise, they exactly knew what I was talking about. They told me they seen this on multiple Dodge half ton trucks and Dakotas. I asked if there was a recall, and they said Chrysler knows about it and will not issue one. I was appaled to here so many owners of these trucks having to pay for a poorly deisgned differential with inherrient dangerious problems. If one of those clips broke while driving on the highway and my differential would lock up and I would get in a crash. I called Chrysler head quarters for some type of assistance and was rendered with none. This problem needs to be fixed and addressed or people will be killed. This is not as serious as Toyota's problem with their vehicles, but it took people to die in accidents for a recall to be issued. Lets not do that and get something rolling on this. Thanks for you time. -patrick.

See all problems of the 2007 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the transmission failed. The vehicle made a loud booming sound when the failure occurred. One week prior to the failure, the transmission had been serviced. The rear differential was also replaced for the third time the week before the transmission failed. The vehicle was at the dealer at the time of the complaint. The current and failure mileages were approximately 75,000.

Clips in rear differential broke (believe they held the spring to the clutch plates). Car is Dodge Dakota 2000, with 80,000 miles of light use ( no towing, light and infrequent hauling) beleive there is a design defect with the clips that may cause premature failure in the rear differential.

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I have a 2001 Dakota quad cab 4x4 purchased new and the inside of the front rotors wear out extremely fast. They become damaged on the inside of the rotor appearing extremely rusted and as if maybe they overheated on the inside. 64,000 and this has happened 2 times. Dealers deny this is common , my brother has a 2002 (purchased new) and has had the same problem. Ball joints failed on both trucks , steering rack and rear differential leaks on both .

See all problems of the 2001 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

Rear diff in my 2002 Dodge Dakota failed and almost caused me to get in a head on collision.

See all problems of the 2002 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

The 9. 25? limited-slip differential in our 2002 Dodge Dakota crew cab failed after components of the differential disintegrated at 75,000 miles. Pictures available. This failure could have resulted in a catastrophic failure if a very slight noise had not developed during parking lot turns. A quick google of this problem resulted in numerous reports of this problem including catastrophic failures at highway speeds.

The rear end in my 2003 Dodge ram burned up. I first noticed a burning smell like propane gas which started to make me and the family sick. Pulled over to the side of the road found nothing. Then after driving 20 minutes longer the abs light came on. Next I observed orange sparks coming from the back of the truck. Pulled over again and climbed under truck and burnt my arm instantly when touching the rear pumpkin. Sat on the side of the road for 3 hours to let cool down. Then drove to the dealer 30 miles away. Engine light came on and speedometer gauge was jumping all over the place. Truck was also shifting improperly. Dealer said the rear got so hot that it melted the rear abs sensor and the speedometer sensor.

See all problems of the 2003 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

We have had the rear end of our 2003 Dodge ram 1500 replaced in our vehicle three times in the 2 years. The ring and pinion was shattered the first time we took it in. The replacement parts did not solve the problem and had to be replaced again in may 05. We had to pay 219. 00 and again the rear end went out in Aug 05.

I took my truck to have an oil change and 60,000 mile service at the dealer. I was told that the rear end needed to be overhauled because the brackets to my rear differential were broken, and if I did not have it repaired, the brackets would fall down into the spider gears and while I was driving, it would cause the truck to lock up. I took it to get another opinion and was told the same thing. I was also told that if they repaired it back to the way it was manufactured, I would continue to have the same problem. . Read more...

I just had my 2003 Dodge ram quad cab 1500 series truck in the dealership for its 30,000 miles service and the dealership told me that they found the differential locking clip had fallen off and had done damage to the inside of my rear. They said that I was very lucky that they found it now since it could have cased a serious accident if it the rear had locked up at highway speeds. I have done some homework on this issue and have seen that there is a very high failure rate on this problem. I am very concerned as I do a lot of towing with my camper and family. I have also seen where there has been a very high failure rate on the rear axles breaking. My dealership did not replace my rear differential but had rebuilt it. I wanted a new one but they told me it was an isolated incident and haven't heard of many differentials failing. What can your organization do to help me?.

While pulling away from a stop light the pinion nut fell off, causing the rear end to lock up. This caused the pinion to twist inside the differential, and lock up between the differential casing and the ring gear.

I heard a clicking noise from the front end and a low pitched growl fromn the rear end. I brought the vehicle into the dealer, who determined that at 35,428 miles theat it needed two upper ball joints and a new differential (rear end) . Vehicle is a 1998 Dodge Dakota 4wd.

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Vehicle was experiencing a clanking noise while driving at any speed. Vehicle was taken to a repair shop, and mechanic determined that the differential needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified.

See all problems of the 1999 Dodge Dakota 🔎.

I just replaced the ball joints on my 2001 Dakota. They were very loose and had alot of "play". I'm lucky I got mine repaired before it caused an accident like others I've recently heard about. I've also replaced the front drive shaft, rear u-joints and rear differential all within the last year. I have to believe that all this is related. I'm probably up over $3,000 in repairs for these things.

Owner says that the differential went out on the vehicle after only 53,000mi. Vehicle was purchased brand new. Owner took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that there was broken pieces of disc. Owner feels that what happened was to premature based on the milage of the vehicle. Provide further details.

The vehicle's ball joint had to be replaced at 24,000 miles. The rear limited slip differential fluid needed to be replaced.

(1) noise from rear end (2) bearings failed, all pinion and carrier (3) replacement of bearings and seals only 75,000 miles on vehicle.

Failed transmission, failed upper and lower ball joints failed rear differential and clear coat delamanting on all panels of truck.

1. Rear end making alot of noise. 2. Rear end locked up, truck went off the road. . Rear end rebuilt.

Front drive axel, left mount broke. Dodge has a TSB # 889 issued on Aug 2000, regarding this. This TSB covers the front axel pinnion nose bracket bolts which may losen. These loose pinnion bracket bolts cancan cause the bracket to break off. In addition a customer satisfaction notification was issued to replace bracket bolts. At this time Dodge is talking about $3,400 for repair at my cost. Otherwise I'm still work on resolving this issue. Vehical has 52,000 miles on odometer with less than 50 miles on front drive axel.

While driving at a slow speed the pinon gear shaft broke causing the drive shaft to fall out in the middle of a busy roadway. The rear differential locked shortly after the driveshaft fell into street. The truck had 56,000 miles on it and Chrysler/Dodge refused to cover any part of the repair.

Took Dakota to dealer for front and rear differential service (fluid change). Dealer called and said rear differential (limited slpi) failed and had to be repaired. A pin slipped out of position and the rear differential was slowly destructing itself. I asked why this happened and was told it was paobably due to abuse. Since I don't tow, take it off road or overload it this explanation does not make any sense. Almost all of the milage is highway.

At a full stop you feel like a "bump" in the transmission, or just like someone hit you from the back. It doesn't do it all the time. It normally happens when driving the vehicle for more than half hour in traffic or local roads with frequent stops. Dealer haven't been able to reproduce the problem, which started at 1500 miles. They service the differential but the problem still persists. They haven't been willing to drive it enough even when I left the vehicle for them to try for more than 24 hours. Vehicle now has 17,000 miles, has been serviced every 3000 miles in five start dealer.

My 03 Dakota's axle air breather came loose due to a faulty mounting clip. As a result the cap at the end of the tube, which is supposed to prevent water (due to submerging or splases from riding in the rain) became inverted and served as a reservoir to suck up water into the axle. Dodge claims this is impossible without submersion. This truck has never been in more than a few inches of rain water from the street.

Rear differential on vehicle locked up and the pinion shaft behind the forward differential bearing sheared and the entire drive shaft fell out of the truck. The consumer believed the vehicle was made with poor quality or sub-standard parts.

Failure of rear differential.

Without warning, just after exiting a freeway, the rear wheels of my 1997 Dodge Dakota truck, locked up. I was stuck in traffic and was not able to move. Tow truck arrived , and advised that the rear axle had locked-up. This truck has only 52,423 miles.

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I bought new a 2001 Dodge ram 1500 quad cab 4 wheel drive with the off road package one of the options that was suppose to be included and installed from the factory was a anti spin differential also known as a post traction or limited slip well I noticed this truck didn't have very good traction in rain or snow unless I put it in the four wheel drive mode it should of had better with the anti spin rear end well I just passed my 36000 mile factory warranty and I was doing maintenance on said truck while changing the gear oil in front and rear differentials I discovered that the rear is not equipped with the anti spin option that was said to have been installed and that I paid extra for [how many other of these trucks did they sell with advertised option that was not installed ] I have called the dealer and the Dodge 800 number all I get is the run around as well as the b. B. B which by the way says Dodge does not participate in and just because my truck just went out of the factory warranty [ mileage wise] is irregardless as I paid for said extra option of this anti spin differential and either want it installed or some money back [to have it installed would be in excess of 1500. 00 dollars and one thing it is consumer fraud and false advertising also the anti spin differential is a added safety option that I paid extra for and did not receive.

The rear differential makes a clunk noise when taking off from a stop at medium acceleration. I had it in to the dealership four times for this problem. Three of the times they greased the slip yoke and sent me home. The fourth time they replaced the pinion shaft and three weeks later it does the same thing. It is not right for a truck with only 28,000 miles on it to have these problems.

Rear end gears are trashed.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

At 4,000 mile dealer replaced differential. Within a year dealer replaced parts in differential on two occasions, and problem still reoccurred. Manufacturer notified, and sent a representative. Informed that vehicle did have a defect, and should be turned back in. But, consumer wanted to keep vehicle.

Whine at 45 mph, complained at first service, replaced rack and pinion ger kit + some bearings, etc. Noise still there. Replaced again at 35964// replaced again on vacation out of town @ 40k due to being advised it was possible too dangerous to continue driving it. Whine still there. . . Replaced again at 52k + bearing axle shafts. . . Whine is still there. . . Concern that a deeper more internal part (never replaces) is causing all this wear & eventually will cause an accident on the road.