2000 Dodge Dakota Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report front-end suspension work, especially upper ball joints, and repeated front brake rotor warping, both showing up at relatively low mileage. Transmission and cooling-system complaints and a scattering of airbag non-deployment reports make up most of the rest of the sample.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Worn or separated upper front ball joints

   • 258 complaints (32%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 4.3 yrs old (171 state mileage)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 16 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2011

   Owners describe squeaking, popping or clunking from the front end, often first noticed over bumps or while turning, with uneven front tire wear following. Many reports say the joints were found worn at state inspection or during an alignment, and some describe the joint separating and the front wheel collapsing or coming off at low speed. Dealers and shops typically replaced upper and lower ball joints, and several owners mention parts being on back order and repairs costing several hundred dollars or more. Mostly reported between about 10,000 and 100,000 miles, with many first repairs under 60,000 miles.

   Recall 04V5960001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the upper and lower ball joints were replaced and when, and have a shop check for play and corrosion before buying. A clunk or pop over bumps is a reason to look further.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Subject vehicle: 2000 Dodge Dakota r/t, iles: 49000; usage: daily driver-city/hwy only; complaint: excessive upper ball joint play early failure. At approximately 35,000 miles I noticed a slight clicking sound coming from the front right suspension. I lubed the front end using the appropriate tool and grease nipples but found that there was no fitting on the upper ball joint. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10102126, filed 2004-12, 35,000 miles

   “I bought a 2000 Dakota 4x4 used, with 42,000 mi. In oct. 03. Went to get a missouri state inspection certificate, I was told upper & lower balljoints were going bad . July 04, truck started to pull to the right.it s an expensive repair that I cannot afford right now. I saw a news story on this issue and realized I am not alone. I belive Dodge makes a great truck. They should stand behind there name, as well as product.”

   NHTSA complaint #10102573, filed 2004-12, 42,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Front brake rotors warp repeatedly (pedal pulsation)

   • 196 complaints (24%)
   • median 20,000 mi at 3.7 yrs old (47 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2014

   Owners describe vibration or pulsation through the brake pedal and steering when braking, sometimes at highway speed, and say turning or replacing the front rotors only fixed it for a while before it returned. Several reports mention multiple rotor replacements within the first 30,000 to 80,000 miles, and a few describe a front caliper sticking and overheating. Some owners report rusted brake lines; one long report describes brake fluid lines rusting through in salt-belt states. Commonly reported in the first 30,000 to 80,000 miles, with some repeat repairs at intervals of about 20,000 miles.

   Recall 00V193000Recall 00V198000

   What to check: Drive and brake from highway speed to feel for pulsation, and look at the condition of the front rotors and brake lines. Ask for receipts showing when the rotors, pads and lines were last replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Multiple issues with the disc brakes in my Dakota. Original rotors warped once, I had them turned (paid for by me), they warped a second time. I paid the dealership to replace with new rotors. These rotors warped. The dealership paid to replace this set of rotors. I was on my 3rd set of rotors by 75000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10029311, filed 2003-07, 30,000 miles

   “I have needed to have the rotors on my 2000 Dodge Dakota quad cab for the second time now and it only has 39k miles on it! The truck vibrate uncontrollably from highway to anything above 30mph when you try and stop. This problem has been persistant since about 12000 miles on the odometer. Ill Dodge ever stand behind this or make a good replacement part or do we all have to get into an accident??”

   NHTSA complaint #10055184, filed 2004-01, 12,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, rough shifting or failure

   • 58 complaints (7%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 4.9 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2023

   Complaints describe rough or delayed shifting, the transmission seeming to drop into neutral, and in some cases the unit failing outright and needing a rebuild. A few owners report fluid escaping from the fill tube, and several mention the dealer replacing a valve body and solenoid or rebuilding the transmission after repeated complaints about shift quality. Mostly reported between about 55,000 and 110,000 miles.

   Recall 00V1970003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check transmission fluid level and color, and drive enough to feel upshifts and downshifts from cold and warm. Ask whether the fluid and filter were serviced and whether any valve body or solenoid work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2000 Dodge Dakota quadcab - I was going forward in my driveway when I stopped the truck and put it in park , engine still running. I got out of the truck and after about 15 seconds it engaged itself in reverse. It smashed through a gate and I got injured when I got caught between the gate and the left front fender of the truck. When the truck stopped I got in and still found it indicating in park . The driveway was level. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10000865, filed 2003-01, 16,647 miles

   “I've had my oil changed at the dealer the day I got it..and for the next few times, I changed mine twice and have one of the reciepts...but it still covers the duration of the two according to the owners manual. My 4.7l equipped Dakota blew up....I purchased a warranty for over $1k at purchase, but they will not honor it now because they say its lack of maintenance...how I dont know!!! Now they expect me to pay for a new motor....what a load of crap!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10105777, filed 2005-01, 68,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, the front suspension and front brakes are the items most worth inspecting closely, along with a proper test drive to judge transmission behavior. Service records showing recent ball joint and brake work, and confirmation of completed recall repairs, tell you more than mileage alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.