U.S. public vehicle records

Dodge DAKOTA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

5,826 owner complaints analyzed

49 distinct recall campaigns

53,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1985 to 2011 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 3,140 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1,046 of 5,826 complaints (18.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	1,210	20.8%
Steering behavior	604	10.4%
Transmission and shifting	451	7.7%
Engine operation	156	2.7%
Electrical and battery issues	149	2.6%
Fuel system concerns	76	1.3%

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.

Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint

1,046

Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint

627

Air Bags

481

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

346

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor

337

Steering

263

Electrical System

240

Power Train

212

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint	1046
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint	627
Air Bags	481
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	346
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor	337
Steering	263
Electrical System	240
Power Train	212

Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint: 1,046; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 627; Air Bags: 481; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 346; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 337; Steering: 263; Electrical System: 240; Power Train: 212

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

649

25,000 to 49,999

784

50,000 to 74,999

758

75,000 to 99,999

438

100,000 to 149,999

345

150,000 and above

166

Under 25,000: 649; 25,000 to 49,999: 784; 50,000 to 74,999: 758; 75,000 to 99,999: 438; 100,000 to 149,999: 345; 150,000 and above: 166

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (784). 2,686 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.

1995

196

1996

194

2000

383

2001

401

2002

322

2003

664

2004

1,134

2005

514

2006

199

2007

148

2008

181

2009

134

2010

153

2011

119

2012

2013

2014

146

2015

237

2016

199

2017

132

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
1995	196
1996	194
2000	383
2001	401
2002	322
2003	664
2004	1134
2005	514
2006	199
2007	148
2008	181
2009	134
2010	153
2011	119
2012	90
2013	90
2014	146
2015	237
2016	199
2017	132
2018	63
2019	48
2020	20
2021	22
2022	10
2023	6
2024	4
2025	7
2026	10

1995: 196; 1996: 194; 2000: 383; 2001: 401; 2002: 322; 2003: 664; 2004: 1,134; 2005: 514; 2006: 199; 2007: 148; 2008: 181; 2009: 134; 2010: 153; 2011: 119; 2012: 90; 2013: 90; 2014: 146; 2015: 237; 2016: 199; 2017: 132; 2018: 63; 2019: 48; 2020: 20; 2021: 22; 2022: 10; 2023: 6; 2024: 4; 2025: 7; 2026: 10

Pattern summary

Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1,210 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 604 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 451 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 963897 · 1995-04-17 (April 17, 1995)

LEFT REAR DRUM FAILED; ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF BRAKE DRUM OUTSIDE OF BOLT HOLE PATTERN FAILED; NOTHING HOLDING BRAKE DRUM WHILE IN OPERATION; LOST CONTROL. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 963897 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 968155 · 1995-07-03 (July 3, 1995)

THE FRONT BRAKES NEEDED REPLACEMENT AFTER 20,000 MILES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 968155 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10223107 · 2008-04-02 (April 2, 2008)

RE: STEERING RECALL AS ISSUED... NHTSA ACTION # PE96003 FOR DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLE. RECALL WAS FOR STEERING BOX "OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION" STEERING. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD A ISSUE WITH A WANDERING VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR MANY YEARS. DEALER COULD NEVER FIND A PROBLEM. I FOUND THE STEERING RACK AND PINION MOUNTING POINTS STRESS FRACTURED, WELD NUT MOUNTS PULLED AWAY. VISUAL CRACKING AROUND AREA AT THE BACK OF THE CROSS MEMBER. DODGE SAID RECALL WAS ONLY FOR THE STEERING GEAR BOX MOUNTS. WHY WAS THE RACK A…

Owner-reported narrative. 118,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10223107 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 969571 · 1995-07-31 (July 31, 1995)

THE CAR NEVER HAD SWAY BARS AND THE MFG SAYS IT WAS BUILT WITH THEM WHICH MAKES THE STEERING ERRATIC AND LOSS CONTROL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 969571 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 504142 · 1996-05-06 (May 6, 1996)

MANUAL TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEARS IN WINTER MONTHS. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504142 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10053319 · 2003-12-31 (December 31, 2003)

THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND MELTED.*MR *PH *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 99,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053319 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10207185 · 2007-10-24 (October 24, 2007)

1987 DODGE DAKOTA CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED IN THE FIRE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED BEFORE CATCHING ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10207185 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 800498 · 1996-08-05 (August 5, 1996)

VEHICLE STALLS DURING OPERATION . PROBLEM IS EXPERIENCED AT ALL SPEEDS. AND OCCURRED EIGHT TIMES.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 800498 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10096295 · 2004-10-24 (October 24, 2004)

I WAS DRIVING DOWN 1994 AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED A HUGE FIRE. MELTING ALL THE WIRING AND DESTROYING THE TRUCK. THE DETROIT FIREDEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THE TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS. MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT BECAUSE I HAD BASIC COVERAGE. I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS A RECALL. I WAS NEVER CONTACTED. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1993 AFTER THE RECALL. I BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALER YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD HAVE FIXED IT. LUCKILY THE POLICE AND FIRE WERE CLOSE AND THEY PUT IT OUT BEFORE IT BLEW UP. THE FREEWAY WAS CLOSED FOR A WHILE AFTER THIS …

Owner-reported narrative. 167,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096295 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 975364 · 1995-11-24 (November 24, 1995)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED FIRE ON VEHICLE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 975364 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 502857 · 1996-02-28 (February 28, 1996)

FUEL TANK LEAKS DUE TO AN INCOMPLETE SPOT WELD. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502857 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999