2001 Dodge DAKOTA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
678 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 413 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint is the most frequently named component, appearing in 162 of 678 complaints (23.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 150 | 22.1% |
| Steering behavior | 52 | 7.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 47 | 6.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 27 | 4.0% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 0.9% |
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 | 162 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 77 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 54 |
| Electrical System | 36 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 33 |
| Air Bags | 25 |
| Suspension | 22 |
| Tires | 21 |
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint: 162; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 77; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 54; Electrical System: 36; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 33; Air Bags: 25; Suspension: 22; Tires: 21
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 79 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 122 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 102 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 50 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 33 |
| 150,000 and above | 27 |
Under 25,000: 79; 25,000 to 49,999: 122; 50,000 to 74,999: 102; 75,000 to 99,999: 50; 100,000 to 149,999: 33; 150,000 and above: 27
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (122). 265 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 | 1 |
| 2001 | 48 |
| 2002 | 69 |
| 2003 | 133 |
| 2004 | 194 |
| 2005 | 66 |
| 2006 | 27 |
| 2007 | 17 |
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 |
2000: 1; 2001: 48; 2002: 69; 2003: 133; 2004: 194; 2005: 66; 2006: 27; 2007: 17; 2008: 24; 2009: 11; 2010: 21; 2011: 11; 2012: 5; 2013: 9; 2014: 8; 2015: 8; 2016: 3; 2017: 5; 2018: 4; 2019: 5; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2023: 1; 2025: 3
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 150 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 52 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 47 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 10005845 · 2003-02-14 (February 14, 2003)
FRONT BRAKE GRINDING WHEN HOT AND CONTINUAL REAR BRAKE DRUM WARPAGE. DEALER HAS TURNED THE DRUMS ONCE AND I HAVE HAD IT DONE INDEPENDANTLY TWICE. WARPAGE CONTINUES WITHIN 5-7000 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005845 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006669 · 2003-01-18 (January 18, 2003)
FRONT BRAKES BEGAN TO SHUDDER AT APPROXIMATELY 18K MILES. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO WESTMINSTER DODGE IN BOSTON, MA. AND WAS QUOTED $400 FOR REPLACEMENT OF FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I REALIZED BRAKE ROTORS SHOULD NOT WARP AT ONLY 18K MILES. I DRIVER 50/50 HIGHWAY/CITY AND DO NOT BRAKE UNLESS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. AT APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE PAD BEGAN TO RATTLE IN THE CALIPER. I CONTACTED DODGE AND THEY REFUSE TO COVER ANY OF THESE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. DODGE NEEDS TO REALIZE THEY HAVE AN ENGINEERING…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018747 · 2003-05-15 (May 15, 2003)
BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AND WERE RESURFACED AT 15400 MILES. DURING BRAKING THE TRUCK BOUNCED AND THE STEERING GYRATED LEFT AND RIGHT SEVERELY. TRUCK NOW HAS 29000 (APPX) MILES AND THE ROTORS HAVE WARPED AGAIN. SAME VIBRATION AND STEERING WHEEL GYRATIONS. DANGEROUS TO STOP QUICKLY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018747 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020793 · 2003-05-31 (May 31, 2003)
2001 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 DRIVING ALONG THE HWY AROUND CURVE AT 55 MILES AND HOUR POWER STEERING FAILED ALMOST HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK BEING FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. ODOMETER 29980.00 MILES. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK EVER SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT NEW, THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT (MIL) ON THE DASH. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. RECEIVED THE TRUCK BACK FROM THE DEALER DROVE 22 MILES TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AGAIN MIL LIGHT ON AGAIN. HAD TO REPLACE THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 29,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003172 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
AUTO TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY ON ACCELEARTION. REQUIRED TRANSDUCER AND SOLENOID GOVERNOR VALVE REPLACEMENT TWICE WITHIN ONE YEAR. FIRST TIME IT WS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, ONE YEAR AND 17,901 MILES LATER, REPLACEMENT WAS REQUIRED AND NOT COVERED UNDER DODGE WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. 44,095 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003172 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005670 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
SHIFTS INTO NETURAL WHILE DRIVING WILL NOT UPSHIFT FROM LOWER GEAR VECHICLE STILL AT DEALER STILL HAS NOT DIANOSONED PROBLEM HAS HAD SINCE 2/6/03 WHILE I PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 33,336 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005670 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021225 · 2003-06-07 (June 7, 2003)
NOTICED ANTIFREEZE SMELL COMING OUT OF HEATER VENTS AND STEAM FOGGING UP WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS, THIS IS THE THIRD FAILURE OF HEATER SYSTEM. WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MGR THAT COOLING SYSTEM WAS CONDUCTING ELECTRICAL CHARGE. DEALER HAD GROUNDED COOLING SYSTEM AFTER SECOND FAILURE BUT AFTER 5 MONTHS HEATER CORE FAILED AGAIN. CALLED CHRYSLER CONSUMER RELATIONS AND FILED A COMPLAINT CASE # 11323644 TALKED WITH DEALER ON 07 JUNE 03 CHRYSLER IS SENDING FIELD REP OUT TO LOOK AT TRUCK WAS TOLD THEY DON'T WANT TO BUY BACK TRUCK DUE TO MILEAGE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 53,375 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039103 · 2003-09-18 (September 18, 2003)
SEVERE FLOODING OF PASSENGER FLOOR OF VEHICLE. ELECTRICAL RISK. MOLD & ALLERGY PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010819 · 2003-03-20 (March 20, 2003)
I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A TUNNEL IN BOSTON AND MY TRUCK SUDDENLY DIED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER FAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT WAS STILL IN THE TRAVEL LANE. THE ODOMETER WAS FLASHING "NO BUS" AND ALL THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON. THE VEHICLE SHOWED NO MECHANICAL SIGNS OF FAILURE PRIOR TO STALLING AND MADE NO NOISE WHEN STALLING - IT JUST DIED. AFTER BEING TOWED OUT OF THE TUNNEL (30 MIN. AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLING), I ATTEMPTED TO START THE TRUCK AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD …
Owner-reported narrative. 31,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067162 · 2004-04-14 (April 14, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SLUDGE BUILT UP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067162 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086655 · 2004-08-11 (August 11, 2004)
MY TRUCK STARTED TO TAKE LONGER TO GET IT TO START AFTER TAKING IT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP IT WAS FOUND TO BE THE FUEL PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE ON THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING BACK INTO THE FUEL TANK THIS WAS NO SURPRISE BECAUSE WHEN THE SYMPTOMS FIRST STARTED I INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM ON SOME DAKOTA GROUPS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. YOU WOULD THINK DODGE WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THEN AGAIN THEY CHARGE $442 FOR A FUEL PUMP SO WHERE IS THE INCENTIVE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10225056 · 2008-04-10 (April 10, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN SHUTTING OFF AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE DOOR HINGES BEGAN COMING APART ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, AND THE MIDDLE OF THE DOOR ALSO BEGAN TO RIP. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE CONTACT WELDED THE DOOR IN PLACE; HOWEVER, IT HAS BEGUN TO COME APART AGAIN AND WILL NOT REMAIN LOCKED. THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS ALSO COME OFF TRACK. THE CONTACT HAD TO A…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225056 at NHTSA ↗