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Dodge DakotaYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 6,626 NHTSA owner complaints across 25 model years, the Dodge Dakota years to avoid are 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, and the strongest years are 1988, 1990, 2010 and 2011. The Dakota has 49 safety recalls on record.

Dodge Dakota
Years to avoid'99 '00 '01 '02Use caution: 1997, 1998, 2005Best years'88 '90 '10 '11Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints6,626Top: SuspensionSafety recalls491987–2011 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.

Best & worst years

Dodge Dakota years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Dakota median. Tap a year for its full report.

'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2011Best82/10044 complaints · 6 recalls2010Best87/10035 complaints · 7 recalls2009Not rated–/10018 complaints · 5 recalls2008Best71/10091 complaints · 2 recalls2007Solid60/100145 complaints · 4 recalls2006Solid43/100285 complaints · 5 recalls2005Caution31/100470 complaints · 6 recalls2004Solid53/100206 complaints · 1 recall2003Solid44/100296 complaints · 4 recalls2002Avoid25/100678 complaints · 5 recalls2001Avoid25/100678 complaints · 7 recalls2000Avoid22/100806 complaints · 5 recalls1999Avoid26/100641 complaints · 4 recalls1998Caution29/100545 complaints · 5 recalls1997Caution32/100446 complaints · 5 recalls1996Solid52/100189 complaints · 1 recall1995Solid45/100208 complaints · 0 recalls1994Solid50/100166 complaints · 3 recalls1993Solid59/100134 complaints · 1 recall1992Solid49/100216 complaints · 1 recall1991Solid62/100128 complaints · 4 recalls1990Best78/10063 complaints · 3 recalls1989Best78/10063 complaints · 3 recalls1988Best80/10055 complaints · 3 recalls1987Not rated–/10020 complaints · 2 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Dodge Dakota problems

All model years combined: 6,626 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Suspension174552
Service brakes, hydraulic1084118
Power train968112
Steering68744
Air bags686254
Engine and engine cooling50234
Electrical system44560
Structure21314
Tires19116
25 other systems1515156
49 recalls

Dodge Dakota recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

60%Passenger side: inflator module19V-018 · 2010–2011 · Jan 15, 2019 · 1,413,222 vehiclesDo not drive49%Passenger side: inflator module18V-021 · 2009–2011 · Jan 9, 2018 · 328,177 vehiclesDo not drive18%Front assembly: seat heater/cooler17V-820 · 2005 · Dec 20, 2017 · 16,900 vehicles34%Passenger side: inflator module16V-352 · 2005–2011 · May 24, 2016 · 4,648,270 vehiclesDo not drive41%Driver side: inflator module15V-313 · 2005–2011 · May 26, 2015 · 4,077,169 vehiclesDo not drive32%Ignition: switch14V-795 · 2006–2007 · Dec 16, 2014 · 54,164 vehicles23%Air bags14V-770 · 2005 · Dec 3, 2014 · 250,896 vehicles75%Driveline: differential unit13V-038 · 2009–2011 · Feb 6, 2013 · 278,674 vehicles–Driveline: differential unit12V-474 · 2009–2010 · Oct 2, 2012 · 44,300 vehicles–Equipment: electrical12V-420 · 2010–2011 · Aug 28, 2012 · 32 vehicles–Lever and linkage: column shift07V-555 · 2001–2002 · Dec 4, 2007 · 576,418 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission06V-341 · 2007 · Sep 7, 2006 · 4,770 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 49 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

20 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Dakota

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · 2005–2011 · still open
    Open
  2. Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · 2005–2007 · still open
    Led to recall 14V-668
  3. Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · 2005–2007 · closed Mar 2, 2015
    Led to recall 13V-172
  4. Clutch Interlock Switch MalfunctionPE14013 · 2006–2007 · closed Dec 23, 2014
    Led to recall 14V-795
  5. STEERING WHEEL AND STEERING SHAFT BOLTSEA06004 · 2005–2006 · still open
    Open
  6. STEERING WHEEL AND SHAFT BOLTSPE05056 · 2005 · closed Mar 9, 2006
    No recall
  7. UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATIONEA03023 · 1997–2003 · closed Feb 11, 2005
    Led to recall 04V-596
  8. STEERING COLUMN SEPARATIONDP03002 · 1993–1995 · closed Jul 22, 2003
    No recall
  9. FRAME CRACKSDP02009 · 1995–1996 · closed Jan 8, 2003
    No recall
  10. FRONT SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGEEA01010 · 2000–2001 · closed Aug 17, 2001
    Led to recall 01V-233