Dodge Dakota Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 6,626 consumer complaints across the 25 model years of the Dodge Dakota (1987–2011) that have at least 5 complaints. 2000 has the most, with 806. Across all years, the part named most often is suspension (1,745 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Dakota model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 44 | 42,000 | 6 | 68 | 64 · Typical | Falling |
| 2010 | 35 | 49,900 | 7 | 53 | 31 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2009 | 18 | 44,000 | 5 | 50 | — | Falling |
| 2008 | 91 | 53,433 | 2 | 53 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2007 | 145 | 50,196 | 4 | 54 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 285 | 55,000 | 5 | 53 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2005 | 470 | 58,630 | 6 | 62 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 206 | 51,000 | 1 | 43 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 296 | 34,495 | 4 | 30 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 678 | 39,100 | 5 | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 678 | 50,000 | 7 | 25 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 806 | 52,000 | 5 | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 641 | 60,000 | 4 | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 545 | 68,500 | 5 | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1997 | 446 | 72,417 | 5 | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 189 | 88,750 | 1 | 10 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 208 | 98,425 | 0 | 4 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1994 | 166 | 120,000 | 3 | 3 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 134 | 80,000 | 1 | 3 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 216 | 112,500 | 1 | 2 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1991 | 128 | 75,000 | 4 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 63 | — | 3 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 63 | 124,990 | 3 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 55 | 83,025 | 3 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 20 | 69,000 | 2 | 0 | — | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Suspension1,745 27%
- Brakes1,240 19%
- Transmission and drivetrain968 15%
- Steering687 11%
- Air bags684 11%
- Engine cooling501 7.7%
- Electrical system445 6.9%
- Fuel system224 3.4%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2001: “Hello my I am disapointed this is the 3rd cam shaft sensor ill have to replace after much research this is a common error on whoever designed this in result car can shutsown while driving leaving you with no control or perhaps when starting vehicle willll not stay running why isnt there a recall to fix this poblem for intake manifold”
NHTSA complaint #11165444, filed 2019-01, 189,000 miles2002: “This is the second time one of the break lines has rusted thru. This time I hit the brakes hard to miss two dear and the pedal went to the floor. I only could stop the truck with the emergency break. The truck has not been used off road and has been driven in virginia is hole life. The first time my mechanic caught a leak in the line before any problem.”
NHTSA complaint #11143793, filed 2018-10, 230,000 miles1998: “My truck has a bad PCM I have it rebuilt 3 times and the same problem will start once then will not start put a PCM in from a 8cyl runs all day not well because its from 8cyl everything has been replaced and still will not start I have seen a lot of this same thing on line this is my first Dodge nd it will be my last and all of this is from the Dodge dealer”
NHTSA complaint #11120464, filed 2018-08, 119,974 milesOther Dodge models
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About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology