1998 Dodge DAKOTA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
407 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
68,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 210 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint is the most frequently named component, appearing in 137 of 407 complaints (33.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 66 | 16.2% |
| Steering behavior | 47 | 11.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 19 | 4.7% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 1.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 1.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint | 137 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 104 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 18 |
| Suspension:Front | 17 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 15 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 10 |
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint: 137; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 104; Air Bags:Frontal: 18; Suspension:Front: 17; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 15; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 39 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 65 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 60 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 39; 50,000 to 74,999: 65; 75,000 to 99,999: 60; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 6
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (65). 197 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 65 |
| 2001 | 40 |
| 2002 | 27 |
| 2003 | 50 |
| 2004 | 122 |
| 2005 | 50 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 65; 2001: 40; 2002: 27; 2003: 50; 2004: 122; 2005: 50; 2006: 8; 2007: 8; 2008: 4; 2009: 5; 2010: 4; 2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2022: 3; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 66 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 47 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 19 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10024768 · 2003-06-23 (June 23, 2003)
THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER BRAKES AND STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024768 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036845 · 2003-08-29 (August 29, 2003)
BRAKE ROTOR WARPAGE AFTER LOW MILES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036845 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014753 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)
NAR 02/28/2003 MR THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023743 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
IN WINTER TIME TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WANT TO SHIFT OUT OF LOW GEAR WHEN IT SHOULD WILL EVENTUALLY USUALLY AT ABOUT 1500 TO 2000 RPM AFTER GETS REALLY WARM STILL WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. CHANGED FLUID MYSELF WITH ATF 3 OR 4. HAVE HAD AT SHOPS NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT CAUSES THIS THEY GUESS A LOT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037004 · 2003-09-01 (September 1, 2003)
TRANSMISSION THROTTLE VALVE ADJUSTMENT...KEEPS THE TRANSMISSION FROM SHIFTING AT THE PROPER TIME... WONT DOWNSHIFT WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. ALSO... SHIFTER LEVER CABLE ADJUSTMENT.... WRONG GEAR SHOWS UP ON CONSOLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10278472 · 2009-07-27 (July 27, 2009)
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. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10278472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 718166 · 2000-02-01 (February 1, 2000)
TRUCK BUCKED VIOLENTLY AND STALLED IMMEDIATELY AFTER GETTING DISCOUNT GAS, STALLED THEREAFTER SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND WHILE WAITING AT STOP SIGNS/RED LIGHTS . DEALER SAID IT NEEDED TUNE-UP, PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. DIFFERENT DEALER FIXED GASKET ON INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT WAS DRAWING OIL INTO ENGINE. SOON AFTER TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE BEFORE SHIFTING, THEN REV HIGH (FROM 2,000 RPM TO 4,000) SUDDENLY, THEN SHIFT TO NEXT GEAR. FIRST DEALER CLAIMED PINION BEARINGS WERE WORN, PROBLEM WAS NOT WITH TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM CONTINUED DAY AFTER PINI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 718166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10948781 · 2017-02-01 (February 1, 2017)
THE TRUCK HAS A ELECTRICAL ISSUE THE LIGHTS GO OFF AND ON OUT OF NO WHERE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN VERY DARK TWO LANE ROAD AND LIGHTS GO OFF. THANK GOD NOBODY TRIED PASSING IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC PR WE WOULD BE DEAD I REPLACED LIGHT SWITCH A FEW MONTHS AGO AND IT WAS FINE UNTIL RECENTLY STARTED DOING SAME THING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10948781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11074988 · 2018-02-26 (February 26, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 214,674.
Owner-reported narrative. 214,674 miles reported. Look up ODI 11074988 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160297 · 2006-06-20 (June 20, 2006)
AROUND 60,000 MILES I WAS LEFT STRANDED AFTER THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE REPAIR COST OVER 700 DOLLARS PLUS THE COST OF THE TOW. AT 90,000 MILE THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE TRUCK QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR INTERSECTION UP TRAFFIC AND PUTTING MY LIFE AT RISK. THIS TIME THE REPAIR COST 777.00 DOLLARS PLUS THE COST OF THE TOW. I DON'T FEEL THAT A FUEL PUMP SHOULD FAIL SO OFTEN. ESPECIALLY A SUCH GREAT COST FOR REPAIR. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160297 at NHTSA ↗