1990 Dodge Dakota Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report steering problems, especially the steering gear or rack detaching from the frame and leaving the truck without steering control; many of the reports reference a recall covering the same mounting hardware. Transmission troubles, particularly automatic transmissions and the transfer case, and antilock brake faults are the next most frequent themes. Mileage is not recorded in most of these complaints, so the reports describe what happened rather than when in the vehicle's life it occurred.

1. 1
   Steering

   Steering gear/rack detaches from frame

   • 12 complaints (19%)
   • typically at 6.0 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–1998

   Complaints describe the steering rack or gear box separating from the frame while driving, typically as mounting bolts loosening, breaking, or the frame cracking where the gear attaches, which leaves the wheel unresponsive. Several owners say a mounting pad tore away from the crossmember or the assembly cracked in half between bolts. According to the complaints, some vehicles were repaired after a recall notice arrived, while others could not get the work done because the dealer did not have parts or could not schedule the repair. Mileage is not recorded in these complaints; failures are described during ordinary driving and turning maneuvers.

   Recall 01V232000Recall 96V094000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 96V094000/01V232000 work was completed and request documentation, then have a mechanic inspect the steering gear mounting bolts and frame/crossmember area for cracks or repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving, when attempting to turn left, vehicle continued to go straight due to bolts holding steering column to frame fracturing, causing steering column to detach from frame, resulting in loss of steering control, no accident, has been fixed, consumer received recall 96v094 after repairs were complete.”

   NHTSA complaint #806916, filed 1996-12

   “Consumer states that while she was driving the vehicle on normal road conditions that the she stepped on the brakes and there was no steering what so ever and the rack and pinion fell from under the car. There was absolutely no steering.”

   NHTSA complaint #802444, filed 1996-09
2. 2
   Steering

   Recall parts unavailable at the dealer

   • 11 complaints (17%)
   • typically at 7.2 yrs old
   • filed 1996–1998

   These complaints focus on getting the steering recall performed rather than on a new failure: owners describe waiting months for steering parts, being told the dealership had none in stock, or being offered appointments only on weekdays. One owner reports the recall notice arriving after repairs had already been paid for and completed. Timing in these reports centers on the late-1990s recall campaign rather than vehicle mileage, which is not recorded.

   Recall 96V094000

   What to check: Confirm with a dealer, using the VIN, whether the steering recall was ever performed and get a written record of any completed campaign.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Owner received a recall notice concerning steering gear box. But was unable to get the vehicle repaired because the mechanic at the dealer told them they could only get it repaired monday through friday, not on saturday. Owner stated that's their only means of transportation.”

   NHTSA complaint #822198, filed 1998-04
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission and transfer case failures

   • 7 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 7.1 yrs old
   • filed 1996–1999

   Owners describe automatic transmission trouble including overdrive malfunction and repeated loss of first through third gears, with one truck reportedly needing gears replaced more than once before 7,000 miles. Another owner reports the transmission failed with essentially no warning despite recent servicing, and one describes replacing the range fork and shift hub inside the NP231 transfer case. Complaints note the dealer was notified and repairs were quoted at the owner's cost. One report places a gear failure under 7,000 miles and another cites a transmission problem around 67,000 miles; most reports do not include mileage.

   What to check: Test the automatic through all gears and overdrive from cold, check the fluid condition, and on four-wheel-drive models confirm the transfer case shifts cleanly through its ranges.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had trouble finding information on any upgrades, or modification that have been done to the np231d transfer case since date of manufacture on 10-89. I had to replace the range fork and range fork shift hub and am now experiencing difficulties with the replacements. If I can just get some feedback on this it would help me a great deal. Thank you for your time and effort in this situation.”

   NHTSA complaint #708783, filed 1999-07

   “This vehicle has had problems with the transmission and drivetrain since it came off the lot. The original dealership was extremely helpful while we still lived in the area. However, when we moved to minnesota the first transmission failure occurred. 1st 2nd and 3rd gears were replaced, there was less than 7,000 mi on the truck. The second failure was less than a year later, again 1st 2nd and 3rd crapped out. This occurred again about 6-8 months later. …”

   NHTSA complaint #705435, filed 1999-04

Buying note. The steering mounting hardware is the item to verify first: confirm the recall work was completed and have the frame area around the steering gear inspected. Beyond that, check the transmission and antilock brakes carefully on a test drive, since those systems account for most of the remaining owner reports.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 22 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.