1998 Dodge Dakota Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report front-end suspension work, especially worn upper and lower ball joints that frequently surface as popping or clunking noises and as alignments that can no longer be set. Complaints also describe brake pedal travel to the floor from corroded or ruptured hydraulic lines, and occasional transmission and cooling/heater problems. Many suspension reports come in between roughly 40,000 and 100,000 miles, and several owners link the wear to ball joints that cannot be lubricated.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Worn front ball joints (popping, loose front end)

   • 169 complaints (31%)
   • median 62,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (120 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,047 (median of 14 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2017

   Owners describe a popping or clunking from the front end, most noticeable in sharp low-speed turns, along with steering wander and uneven tire wear. Shops and dealers typically told them the upper and lower ball joints were worn and needed replacement, sometimes saying a wheel could separate; in several cases the joints were replaced more than once. Some owners note the original parts had no grease fittings, and complaints repeatedly compare the situation to a later-model ball joint campaign that does not cover this year. Reported from as low as about 28,000 miles up to roughly 100,000, with most mentions between 40,000 and 80,000 miles.

   What to check: Have a shop check all four ball joints for play and grease condition, and ask for service records showing whether they have already been replaced. Try a slow, full-lock turn and listen for popping.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My mechanic informed me that all 4 ball joints and the inner & outer tie rod ends need replacing on my 1998 Dodge Dakota. Since there is currently a recall for 2000-2003 dakotas & durangos and a class action lawsuit pending for 1998 durangos, I wonder if there is merit to my 1998 Dakota failure and the resulting expense.”

   NHTSA complaint #10102952, filed 2004-12, 105,000 miles

   “Lower ball joints had to be replaced at 42, 000 miles on my 1998 Dodge Dakota due to the repair shop being unable to perform a front end alignment. Mechanic told me that the upper ball joints will most likely need to be replaced within the next year or so depending on mileage put on the vehicle in that time.”

   NHTSA complaint #10051078, filed 2003-12, 42,008 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to floor / corroded brake lines

   Mentioned in 9 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the brake pedal sinking to the floor or giving little resistance when stopping, in some cases after a line suddenly burst or was found heavily rusted. Owners report the vehicle taking longer to stop or rolling through a parking lot until the parking brake was applied, and mechanics usually replaced corroded hard lines, hoses, calipers or the master cylinder area. Some reports note a clicking pedal and intermittent stopping problems. Mostly reported between about 55,000 and 135,000 miles, often on older trucks in wet or winter-road conditions.

   Recall 00V193000Recall 00V198000Recall 97V170000

   What to check: Inspect the steel brake lines along the frame and rear axle for rust or seepage, and check pedal feel with the engine running. Ask whether the lines or calipers have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “- the contact stated that while driving his 1998 Dodge Dakota, at a speed of 25 MPH in dry road conditions, when applying the brakes, the pedal gave no resistance, causing the vehicle to take longer than usual to come to a stop. In order to avoid a collision contact had to steer the vehicle onto the grass median. The contact can provide pictures if needed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10178926, filed 2007-01, 131,000 miles

   “Purchased truck in 1998 and since then the left front caliper seized and the rotor pads and caliper had to be replaced. The dealer covered this under warranty the truck had only 12000 miles and this occurred in 1999. Since that time the right front caliper also seized in 2002. The mileage on my truck was 62260 miles. The caliper pads and rotor had to be replaced and brake line.”

   NHTSA complaint #10110049, filed 2005-02, 62,260 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Heater and A/C blower cutting out; steering stiffness

   • 37 complaints (7%)
   • median 74,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2017

   Some owners report the blower motor stopping intermittently so no heat, defrost or A/C reaches the cabin, with the fix described as a hard-to-reach resistor. Others describe the steering being very hard or locked when cold until the vehicle warms up, a steering shaft replacement, and one case where a heat shield dropped onto the steering linkage. Mileage varies widely, roughly 60,000 to 135,000 miles, with steering stiffness noted in cold conditions.

   What to check: Start the truck cold and turn the wheel before it warms up, and cycle the blower through all speeds to confirm it stays on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While making a 90-degree right turn, the steering locks up. After a while the consumer was able to unlock the steering. Vehicle was taken to a repair shop. The mechanic confirmed that the heat shield from the intake manifold fell down onto the steering linkages, which was locking up the steering. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified.”

   NHTSA complaint #10108636, filed 2005-01, 103,000 miles

   “Fan blower going on and off. No defrost ,heat,AC available when blower is off. Seems like a lot of people are having this same problem. It is a 1998 Dakota. Everyone is saying the problem is a resistor, which is hard to get to. Seems as if the whole dash has to come off to get to this area. The dealership wants $85. For diagnostic. Close to $200-$300 problem for only a $9-$12 part. Sad just another problem for the Dodge lovers.”

   NHTSA complaint #10106426, filed 2005-01, 75,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission not shifting / overdrive cycling

   • 17 complaints (3%)
   • median 76,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2022

   Owners describe the transmission holding a gear while engine speed climbs, delayed or missed shifts, and a speedometer that sticks; one report mentions overdrive cycling. Repairs were handled at dealers or independent shops, and in some complaints the cause was not clearly identified. A rear differential growl was also mentioned alongside transmission-type symptoms in one report. Generally reported between about 59,000 and 79,000 miles, in some cases at higher mileage.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive at highway speed and watch for hunting or delayed shifts and a bouncing speedometer, and ask whether the transmission fluid and valve body have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I heard a clicking noise from the front end and a low pitched growl fromn the rear end. I brought the vehicle into the dealer, who determined that at 35,428 miles theat it needed two upper ball joints and a new differential (rear end) . Vehicle is a 1998 Dodge Dakota 4wd.”

   NHTSA complaint #10110118, filed 2005-02, 35,400 miles

   “The emine will die amytime! Going around cormers lor on expressway sitting in driveway idling. My family has had this vehicle sine 1999. This just started 6 months ago. Up until then it never happened. Replaced several sensors (tps,iac,map,coolant temp and also computer)so far nothing fixes it. I know Dodge knows about this and so do you!!! Something needs to be done there are too many Dakota/durangos on the road I am surprised no one has died or at very least been hurt badly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11114557, filed 2018-07, 114,000 miles

Buying note. Check the front suspension and brake lines carefully on this model year before purchase, since those are the most frequent owner reports, and ask for records of ball joint, brake line and transmission work. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent shop is worthwhile given the age of these trucks.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.