1988 Dodge Dakota Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about steering, mainly a recall on the steering gear and rack and pinion mounts, with complaints filed mostly in the late 1990s. Repairs are described as delayed by missing parts, certified welders, and scheduling, and some owners describe loosened or cracked mounts that led to a front end out of line or wandering at highway speed. Mileage is rarely listed in these complaints, so it is hard to tell how the problems develop with age.

1. 1
   Steering

   Steering recall repairs delayed by missing parts

   • 19 complaints (35%)
   • median 118,100 mi at 20.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2008

   Owners with the steering rack and pinion mount recall describe repairs that waited on missing parts, certified welders, or manufacturer instructions. Some say the dealer would not schedule an appointment, required the vehicle to be left all day, or said the recall was not a high priority, and loaners were described as not provided. According to complaints, a dealer estimated a wait of months for a welder, and a vehicle was left at the dealer only to be told the repair could not be finished because of a broken part. None of these complaints list mileage, and they were filed between 1996 and 1998 while the recall was open.

   Recall 96V094000

   What to check: Check the VIN against NHTSA recall records for campaign 96V094000 and ask for written proof that the steering gear repair was completed. Complaints describe repairs held up by parts, welders, or scheduling, so a completed repair record is worth requesting.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Received recall notice (#96v094000) rack and pinion steering. Called dealer & took vehicle in to the mechanic. Was told needed to wait for special welder & would notify owner. Received another recall notice. Called back to dealer. Mechanic again said needed to wait with other vehicles for welder specialist to do the repairs on steering.”

   NHTSA complaint #822785, filed 1998-04

   “Vehicle on recall. According to dealer, was told to bring vehicle in & leave it. Would take one day to fix. Took vehicle & left it. Returned to pick it up & was told nothing was repaired on rack & pinion due to a broken part under vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #824224, filed 1998-06
2. 2
   Steering

   Rack and pinion mount or steering part failures

   • 9 complaints (16%)
   • median 118,100 mi at 20.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2008

   Owners describe rack and pinion mounting points that broke loose, stress fractured, or pulled away, along with worn bushings and a rack that failed. Symptoms include a front end out of line, a vehicle that wanders at highway speed, and a noise underneath followed by hard steering after a turn. A complaint says the rack and pinion was damaged during recall repair, and another says the manufacturer stated a later steering failure had nothing to do with the recall work. Mileage is listed only in the 2008 report, at about 118,000 miles, and the other reports were filed between 1996 and 1998.

   Recall 96V094000

   What to check: Have a mechanic inspect the rack and pinion mounting points, the frame cross member area, and the bushings for cracks, loose bolts, or wear, and check front end alignment. Ask for documentation of any recall repair that involved the steering gear or rack and pinion.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Re: steering recall as issued... Nhtsa action # pe96003 for Dodge Dakota vehicle. Recall was for steering box other than rack and pinion steering. I'm the original owner of this vehicle and have had a issue with a wandering vehicle at highway speeds for many years. Dealer could never find a problem. I found the steering rack and pinion mounting points stress fractured, weld nut mounts pulled away. Visual cracking around area at the back of the cross member. Dodge said recall was only for the steering gear box mounts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10223107, filed 2008-04, 118,100 miles

   “Had recall work done on dec. 17 and on dec.18 made a right hand turn heard noise underneath and then vehicle became hard to steer. Took vehicle back to dealer and said he needed to call chrysler, rack & pinon was worn out. Chrysler stated that this failure had nothing to do with recall repairs.”

   NHTSA complaint #806725, filed 1996-12

Buying note. For someone considering a 1988 model year vehicle, check whether the steering gear and rack and pinion mount recall was completed, using the VIN and dealer records, before buying. A pre-purchase inspection that checks the steering mounts, frame area, and front end alignment can show whether the reported steering problems are present on that vehicle.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 23 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.