1998 Dodge Dakota Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 60about this part
- Share
- 11%of 545 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 70,798miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 60 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1998 Dodge Dakota, 11% of the 545 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,798 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 98 Dodge Dakota has had the exhaust catalytic converter replaced 2 times already under warranty, the last one about 10 month ago, now it rattles like rocks in a tin can again, now my mileage is over the warranty by about 9000 miles and they say they will not replace unless I pay! Obviously there is a major problem nation wide with this emission componet.”
NHTSA complaint #10139168, filed 2005-10, 89,000 miles“I am on my third catalytic converter on a 1998 Dodge Dakota, I just hit 70,000 miles and there seems to be an aweful lot of bad catalytic converters on this vehicle. Now the dealer tells me the biggest safety problem with my truck is the upper and lower ball joints (it'll cost almost $1000), these are the same as used on the durango and they have had all kinds of problems also.”
NHTSA complaint #10066225, filed 2004-04, 70,000 miles“Catalytic converter has been replaced 4 times in 4 years. Now at the 5th year it need to be replaced again and the dealer refuses because they did it 14 months ago and it's no longer under their 12 month warranty and is no longer covered under the federal 8 yr, 80,000 mile warranty because I'm at 109,000 miles, therefore it will cost me over 600$ to replace a defect in their equipment. I can't afford to put 600$ into my car every 14 months for such a major component plus all the other minor upkeep a vehicle takes.”
NHTSA complaint #10051013, filed 2003-12, 11,000 miles“I have a 1998 Dodge Dakota. I bought it with 11,000 miles on it. During my warranty at about 20,000, the truck would backfire when shifting up a gear.towson Dodge had my truck for a day and said that they couldn't duplicate the circumstances and it cost me $75 anyway. Around 45,000 miles my truck was running real poor with no power. The catylitic converter clogged up so bad the truck stopped running. The goodyear place where I took it, carney tire, didn't tell me of the federal warrenty on converters and replaced it and the muffler for a few hundred dollars. …”
NHTSA complaint #10118004, filed 2005-04, 45,000 miles“Warm weather causes 98 Dodge Dakota 3.9 engine to stall at any speed, anytime. Engine completely dies and takes 20 to 30 min for engine to cool while off. Then able to restart, but problem persists within 5 to 15 minutes after cooling. Consequences are I have paid to have PCM replaced, as well as fuel pump. Could cause death on freeway when everything dies at 70 MPH. Almost caused wreck today. No known fix, have spoke with chrysler and dealership on many occasions with no answer.”
NHTSA complaint #10278472, filed 2009-07, 90,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10223854Sep 7, 2016Service - Four Piece Oil Pan Gasket All Cummins Equipped Vehicles ONLY - The replacement oil pan gasket can be a four piece gasket rather than a single piece gasket. This applies…
- 10191460Feb 26, 2016Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.
- 10020666Aug 1, 2006Reprogram pcm and inspect catalytic converter.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 | 1% |
| 2007 | 3 | 2% |
| 2006 | 9 | 3% |
| 2005 | 12 | 3% |
| 2004 | 12 | 6% |
| 2003 | 34 | 11% |
| 2002 | 34 | 5% |
| 2001 | 53 | 8% |
| 2000 | 50 | 6% |
| 1999 | 70 | 11% |
| 1998 | 60 | 11% |
| 1997 | 49 | 11% |
| 1996 | 27 | 14% |
| 1995 | 18 | 9% |
| 1994 | 14 | 8% |
| 1993 | 12 | 9% |
| 1992 | 19 | 9% |
| 1991 | 6 | 5% |
| 1990 | 3 | 5% |
| 1989 | 8 | 13% |
| 1988 | 4 | 7% |
| 1987 | 3 | 15% |
Other parts of the 1998 Dodge Dakota
217 complaintsBrakes
80 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
74 complaintsSteering
47 complaintsAir bags
32 complaintsSeat belts
20 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
20 complaintsElectrical system
19 complaintsBody and structure
19 complaintsTires
18 complaintsOther or unknown
13 complaintsFuel system
12 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Dodge Dakota
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology