1991 Dodge DAKOTA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
101 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 101 complaints (29.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 35 | 34.7% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 11.9% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 11.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 30 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl) | 15 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 3 |
| Structure | 3 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 30; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl): 15; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 3; Structure: 3; Tires:Tread/Belt: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 98 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 25 |
| 1996 | 27 |
| 2000 | 23 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
1995: 25; 1996: 27; 2000: 23; 2001: 15; 2002: 2; 2003: 3; 2004: 1; 2006: 1; 2008: 2; 2012: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 35 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10006102 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
POWER STEERING PUMP IS LEAKING FLUID, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024039 · 2003-06-13 (June 13, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE COULD NO LONGER BE DRIVEN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040396 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)
THE FUEL SUPPLY TUBE WORE THROUGH THE FIREWALL AND FLOOR PAN WHICH CAUSED A FUEL LEAKAGE. *PH THE FUEL SUPPLY TUBE WAS INSTALLED SO THAT IT WAS DIRECTLY AGAINST THE JUNCTION OF THE FIREWALL AND FLOOR PAN. THIS WAS A SHARP WELDED JUNCTION WHICH WORE THROUGH THE STEEL FUEL SUPPLY TUBE AND CAUSED THE FUEL LEAK. (DEFECTIVE AT THE FACTORY AND PRESENTED A FIRE/EXPLOSION HAZARD) *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040396 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086297 · 2004-08-06 (August 6, 2004)
PAINT FLAKING OFF. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THE TRUCK. THE PAINT STARTED FLAKING OFF OVER A YEAR AGO.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10086297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169103 · 2006-09-21 (September 21, 2006)
1991 DODGE DAKOTA CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *KB THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE PRIOR TO THE FIRE ERUPTED. THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN SERVICE A WEEK BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE BURNED COMPLETELY. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10169103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222110 · 2008-03-24 (March 24, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE DAKOTA. THERE ARE TWO SAFETY RECALLS THAT THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE REPAIRED ON THE VEHICLE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER'S 00V106000 (POWERTRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)) AND 95V089000 (STEERING: WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALLS APPLY TO HIS VEHICLE, BUT THEY COULD NOT GET THE PARTS. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,139.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10222110 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10244970 · 2008-10-09 (October 9, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY, IT SUDDENLY ROLLED IN REVERSE WITH THE SHIFTER IN THE PARK POSITION. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE'S DOOR CRASHED INTO THE GATE AND WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURES MENTIONED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V034000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10244970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10444973 · 2012-01-23 (January 23, 2012)
THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AS I TURN A CORNER AT LOW SPEEDS AND THEN IT EVENTUALLY GOES OFF AS I STRAIGHTEN OUT. IT HAS DONE THIS INTERMITTENTLY FOR A COUPLE YEARS BUT NOW IT'S GETTING MUCH WORSE AS IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY DAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444973 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V106000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
Reported: 2000-04-11 (April 11, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A500 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. INADVERTENT PLACEMENT OF THE SHIFT LEVER IN REVERSE CAN OCCUR WHEN THE DRIVER BELIEVES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN PLACED IN PARK.
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY WITH THE ENGINE ON AFTER THE DRIVER HAS LEFT THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEEL MANUAL VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION WITH AN ALUMINUM VERSION.
NHTSA campaign record ↗90V176000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1990-10-01 (October 1, 1990)
STEEL BRAIDED FUEL HOSE ROUTING MAY ALLOW CONTACT BETWEEN THE HOSE AND TRANSMISSION WIRING HARNESS.
Consequence: THIS CONTACT COULD CAUSE HOSE DAMAGE AND FUEL LEAKAGETHAT, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: INSTALL A TIE STRAP TO SECURE THE TRANSMISSION WIRING AWAY FROM THE FUEL HOSE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗91V200000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1991-11-12 (November 12, 1991)
THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE MAY RUB AGAINST THE TIRE DURING A FULL LOCK LEFT TURN, WHICH MAY EVENTUALLY CAUSE WEAR THROUGH OF THE BRAKE HOSE ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE.
Consequence: WEAR THROUGH OF THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE WOULD CAUSEFLUID LOSS FROM HALF OF THE SPLIT BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM AND INCREASE STOPPINGDISTANCE WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: IF CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE HOSE AND TIRE ON THE RIGHT FRONT IS INADEQUATE, REPLACE BRAKE HOSE WITH A MODIFIED VERSION TO ENSURE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗95V089000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Reported: 1995-05-12 (May 12, 1995)
THE STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE STAMPING CAN CRACK DUE TO FATIGUE AND SEPARATE FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ARMATURE CRACKS AND REPLACE ANY WHEELS EXHIBITING CRACKS. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL HAVE A REINFORCEMENT PLATE INSTALLED TO PREVENT STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION IF CRACKING OCCURS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗