NHTSA complaint: MOPAR P5007069 — EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
TWO YEARS AGO I PURCHASED A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD PICK UP TRUCK WITH APPROX. 63K MILES. AT 68,500 MILES I REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS, PADS AND CALIPERS. THE CALIPER BOLTS PULLED OUT OF THE SPINDLE ON EACH WHEEL AND ALLOWED THE CALIPER TO DROP DOWN ONTO THE ROTOR CAUSING THE BRAKES TO PULL TO THE LEFT SIDE AND OVERHEAT. WHEN I REMOVED THE CALIPERS THE BOLTS WERE REMOVABLE BY HAND AND THE THREADING IN THE SPINDLE WAS RUSTED OUT AND WOULD NOT HOLD NEW CALIPER BOLTS. I CONTACTED TWO DODGE DEALERS (PARTS DEPT) AND THEY STATED THEY KNEW OF NO PROBLEMS WITH THE SPINDLES. I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE BOLTS PULLING OUT OF THE SPINDLES ON THIS MODEL OF DAKOTA'S AND DURANGO'S. THIS IS CLEAR CUT SAFETY PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DODGE AND THE NHTSA SHOULD BE FORCING THEM TO MAKE THE REPAIR OR AT LEAST PROVIDE THE PARTS FOR A SOLUTION. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL DID BEGIN TO OVERHEAT AND ACTUALLY BEGAN TO CATCH ON FIRE WHICH REQUIRED ME TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND ALLOW IT TO COOL DOWN AND TEMPORARILY ADJUST THE CALIPER IN ORDER TO GET HOME. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation