2005 Dodge DAKOTA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
470 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
58,630 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 328 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 138 of 470 complaints (29.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 91 | 19.4% |
| Steering behavior | 44 | 9.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 36 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 3.0% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 2.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 138 |
| Power Train | 58 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 33 |
| Steering | 33 |
| Electrical System | 30 |
| Seats | 30 |
| Suspension | 27 |
| Suspension:Front | 18 |
Air Bags: 138; Power Train: 58; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 33; Steering: 33; Electrical System: 30; Seats: 30; Suspension: 27; Suspension:Front: 18
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 83 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 60 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 68 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 43 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 54 |
| 150,000 and above | 20 |
Under 25,000: 83; 25,000 to 49,999: 60; 50,000 to 74,999: 68; 75,000 to 99,999: 43; 100,000 to 149,999: 54; 150,000 and above: 20
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (83). 142 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 41 |
| 2006 | 37 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2008 | 21 |
| 2009 | 25 |
| 2010 | 26 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2014 | 26 |
| 2015 | 80 |
| 2016 | 63 |
| 2017 | 34 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2005: 41; 2006: 37; 2007: 16; 2008: 21; 2009: 25; 2010: 26; 2011: 20; 2012: 16; 2013: 19; 2014: 26; 2015: 80; 2016: 63; 2017: 34; 2018: 21; 2019: 13; 2020: 4; 2021: 4; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 91 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 44 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 36 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 10110144 · 2005-02-08 (February 8, 2005)
THE REAR TIRE HAS BLOWN WHEN HITTING A POT HOLE AT LOW SPEED (APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH), CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LINING. TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST. EMERGENCY BRAKE LINING MUST BE REPLACED AT MY COST.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,865 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110144 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112312 · 2005-02-28 (February 28, 2005)
ANYONE OVER 5'11" CANNOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER WITHOUT SLOUCHING OR TIPPING THEIR HEAD SIDEWAYS. THE VIEW IS BLOCKED BY THE STEERING WHEEL. NO ONE AT THE DEALER HAD EVEN SAT IN A SIMILAR VEHICLE A MONTH AFTER I BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION. THE ONLY WAY TO SAFELY SEE THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE INDICATOR, HIGH BEAM INDICATOR OR OIL LIGHT IS IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A TILT WHEEL. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AFTER DRIVING THIS VEHICLE LESS THAN 100 MILES. TO DATE THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING AND TELL ME IT COULD COST ME $3400 - $5000 TO RECTIFY.
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120712 · 2005-05-11 (May 11, 2005)
I PURCHASED A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK FROM VENICE DODGE/NISSAN, VENICE, FL ON MARCH 13, 2005. THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH IS NOT TILT, BLOCKS MY VIEW OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. CALLED DODGE CORP. AND THEY SAID I SHOULD HAVE NOTIED THIS BEFORE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK. I SAID THIS IS MY FAULT BECAUSE OF DODGES DESIGN ERROR? DODGE CORP. SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WENT TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT.. SERVICE MANAGER LOOKED AT STEERING WHEEL. HE IS AT LEAST 6 FT 1 INCH TALL, PUTS SEAT BACK, SAID HAD NO PROBLE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10120712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126064 · 2005-06-21 (June 21, 2005)
DT:CONSUMER BOUGHT NEW VEHICLE, DODGE DAKOTA, CONSUMER FOUND THAT WHEN HE TRIED TO BACK OUT OF A NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY THAT WAS ON AN INCLINE VEHICLE BOGGED. VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD INTO THE ROAD. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE SAME AS PREVIOUS YEAR DODGE INTREPID. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION AUTOMATICALLY WENT TO SECOND GEAR. VEHICLE DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO CLIME ON INCLINE IN REVERSE BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION BEING IN SECOND GEAR. CONSUMER SAYS THAT WHEN VEHICLE WOULD CLIMB …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139845 · 2005-10-17 (October 17, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 5 TIMES. THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED GEARS, AND THERE WA SA CLANKING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED THE PUMP AND THE CONVERTER. IT WILL STICK IN GEAR, AND IT SEEMED TO HAVE NO POWER WHEN GOING UP A HILL IN REVERSE. DEALER SAID TO KEEP BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS. MANUFACTURER SAID TO THE CONTACT CALL CONSUMER OFFICE AND FILE A COMPLAINT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,554 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139845 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148476 · 2006-01-24 (January 24, 2006)
SUNDAY 1-22-06 THE CD PLAYER QUIT WORKING IN 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THIS TRUCK HAS 6, 540 MILES ON IT. TODAY 1-24-06 THE BATTERY WAS DEAD WHEN I WOKE UP DUE TO THE CD PLAYER TRYING TO EJECT THE CDS ALL NIGHT LONG. I DROVE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE TO ORDER A NEW RADIO. I DROVE OVER 30 MILES TO GET TO THE DEALER AND 30 MILES BACK. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 6,525 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148476 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250131 · 2008-11-29 (November 29, 2008)
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT(POWER) HEATER BURNT PADDING AND SCORCHED SEAT FABRIC. VEHICLE WAS LEFT IDLING TO WARM UP. I RETURNED TO FIND SMOKE COMING FROM SEAT. I FOUND WIRING CONNECTOR AND UNPLUGGED HEATER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250131 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165914 · 2006-08-18 (August 18, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD,RESTARTED, AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE UPGRADED.
Owner-reported narrative. 24,158 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166112 · 2006-08-21 (August 21, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, BUT RESTARTED EACH TIME. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FLASH, BUT THERE WAS NO REPAIR AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/04/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166112 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10310450 · 2010-02-15 (February 15, 2010)
2005 DODGE DAKOTA 4X2. CHRYSLER FUEL LINE PART# 68043248AA. FUEL LINE LEAK NEAR TANK. WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED ON, FUEL SPRAYS OUT OF THE HOSE UNDER PRESSURE FROM FUEL PUMP. LOOKING AT THE TANK THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL, GAS CAN BE CLEARLY SEEN SPRAYING FROM THE HOSE ONTO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK BED AND INTO THE WHEEL WELL THEN PUDDLING UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK. A LOT OF FUEL COMES OUT AND PUDDLES UNDER THE VEHICLE. WE WERE NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM BY A DRIVER IN ANOTHER OTHER VEHICLE THAT SMELLED GASOLINE. THEY FOLLOWED US…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462710 · 2012-06-22 (June 22, 2012)
I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND INSTANTLY NOTICED A STRONG RAW GAS SMELL IN THE CAB. THINKING IT JUST OVERLOADED BY NOT STARTING IT FOR A MONTH, I WAITED FOR THE SMELL TO GO AWAY, BUT IT DIDN'T. LOOKING THROUGH THE REAR WHEEL WELL, I DISCOVERED THE FUEL HOSE FROM THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK HAD SPLIT AND WAS SPEWING GASOLINE ALL AROUND AND UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK. JUST TURNING ON THE KEY, WHICH STARTS THE FUEL PUMP AND PRESSURIZES THE FUEL LINE, CAUSES GAS TO BE DISCHARGED AT A HIGH RATE. THE TRUCK IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, WELL MAINTAINED, AND H…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,235 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462710 at NHTSA ↗