Dodge Dakota Door Lock & Latch Problems

Door Lock & Latch complaints by model year

Which parts fail

• Doors › Latch
  38
• Tailgate › Latch
  3
• Hood › Latch
  2

Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  518%
• 25k–50k
  829%
• 50k–75k
  932%
• 75k–100k
  27%
• 100k–150k
  311%
• 150k+
  14%

What owners report

The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the vehicle had been shipped to them. While the vehicle was parked, the contact inspected the vehicle and observed that the frame was severely corroded. The contact also noted that the frames of all the vehicle doors were corroded as well. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was not formally diagnosed; however, the mechanic informed the contact that the frame was severely corroded, the vehicle was structurally compromised, and they were unsure whether the vehicle could be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 81,892.

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated the four wheel system disengaged on its owns while driving at unknown speeds. The doors malfunctioned and locked and unlocked while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 140,000. The approximate current mileage was 150,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the key fob failed to lock and unlock the vehicle. Additionally, the driver's side master window control was also inoperable and the doors could not be locked or unlocked. The contact then started the engine and the 4-wheel drive warning light illuminated. The headlights and tail lights had also failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken the dealer for diagnosis where the dealer stated that the central timer module would need to be repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 02V322000 (exterior lighting) however, the contact was advised by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall campaign. The contact believed that the failure described in the recall was the same failure that had been experienced with his vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 128,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Dodge Dakota. The headlights and automatic locks on the left side of the vehicle were inoperable. The mechanic stated that the body control module needed to be changed. Two months later the failure recurred. The mechanic then stated that the central timer module needed to be replaced. The module was repaired on the vehicle. Since the repair no other failures occurred. The contact spoke with the dealer regarding recall #02V322000. The dealer stated that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The current and failure mileage were 60,000. Update 05/10/07

June of 2006, my fifteen year old son was sitting in my 2002 Dodge Dakota listening to the radio. My wife heard a crash and when we ran out to investigate, the truck was down an embankment. What kept the truck from flipping over was that it slammed into a tree from the rear and was pinned. Police, ems and an ambluance was called to the scene to rescue him the truck. My son was unconscious and only slightly responsive to voice commands. He was taken to william beaumont hospital in royal oak, michigan where he was admitted for tests and x-rays. He has a closed head injury and suffers from headaches and has to examined and treated periodically. I did not think anything more about the accident until a television news report confirmed that there was a recall for Chrysler (trucks) jumping out of gear. I was not getting any cooperationfrom the local dealership or from Chrysler. …

Right rear door lock made buzzing noise when locked, which is startling when auto-lock engages on acceleration. Dealer repaired, and as I left parking lot, it began again, and was repaired. About 3 weeks later, left rear lock did the samething and was repaired. Of course, the dealer did not believe me until I took time off of work to take it to them. I asked them to replace all remaining motors, but they refused since it was still in warranty and not broken yet. Two months later, rear driver side automatic winow did not work.

My husband was driving his 2001 Dodge Dakota home at night, on a country road, around August 5, 2008 and the headlights flickered on and off. When he got home, the windshield wipers went haywire, the horn continued to honk, the door locks began locking and unlocking, and the air bag light came on. We found out the central timer module (cmt) and clock spring had failed and was told the truck was unsafe to drive. We had both repaired for $530. I was told that recalls existed on several Dodge vehicles but not one of them specified our truck. I contacted Dodge and they just said it was not my truck so I was out of luck. I then did some research on this on-line and found several forums with this same problem on this year of truck, plus several others, and they could not find any help from Dodge either. This is a really serious malfunction and could of cause a very bad accident. …

Headlights turning off and on and flashing while driving, power door locks not working during this time. If interior lights are on at this time they would flash on and off also. Found previous year models of Dodge Ram's and Dakota's have same problem which was recalled. Central timer module had to be replaced and reprogrammed. A vehicle with 60,000 miles should not have this problem. Could only drive in daylight hours until problem was resolved at my expense.