1993 Dodge DAKOTA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
87 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 87 complaints (8.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 24.1% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 12.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 6.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 6 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 4 |
| Suspension:Front | 4 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 3 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 3 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 4; Suspension:Front: 4; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 3; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 76 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 | 13 |
| 2000 | 18 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
1995: 25; 1996: 13; 2000: 18; 2001: 8; 2002: 6; 2003: 3; 2004: 10; 2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2014: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 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 10003299 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)
THE VEHICLE RUNS FINE, BUT WHEN YOU STOP AT LIGHT OR SIGN THE VEHCLE WILL STALL. YOU CAN EVEN PUT IN NEUTRAL WHEN YOU STOP AND STILL STALLS. NOW THE TRUCK IS HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING. IT BACK FIRES AND RUNS ROUGH FOR A MIN. TO START YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE THROLLE DOWN FOR A MIN. HAS HAD FULL TUNE UP AND NEW CATALITIC CONVERT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017794 · 2003-04-29 (April 29, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025320 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)
ELECTRIC BLUE PAINT ON EVERY DAKOTA LITERALLY FLAKING OFF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE RIGHT DOWN TO THE PRIMER,HAS TO BE A PAINT DEFECT,CHRYSLER SAYS TOO BAD. EVERY DODGE THAT IS THIS COLOR LOOKS THIS WAY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051750 · 2004-01-23 (January 23, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE ABS LOCKED UP THE FRONT WHEEL, BUT THE REAR WHEEL KEPT TURNING. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NORMAL . *AK THE CONSUMER ALMOST WRECKED 4-5 TIMES WHEN SLIPPERY. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FOUND LEAKING AND THE ABS DIAGNOSTIC MODULE FAILED. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051750 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055542 · 2004-01-20 (January 20, 2004)
THE VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE REAR BRAKES. *PH THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10055542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058072 · 2004-02-12 (February 12, 2004)
THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE, OPENED THE HOOD AND VIEWED THE ENGINE ON FIRE. *PH *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058072 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063632 · 2004-03-22 (March 22, 2004)
I BOUGHT A USED 1993 DODGE DAKATO IN APRIL OF 96, AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE PAINT WAS ALREADY FLAKING OFF IN LARGE PIECES(BLUE/SILVER), AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REBUILT ONCE(60,000 MILES). SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE ALL OF THE PAINT IS GONE OFF THE HOOD AND ROOF, THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REBUILT AGAIN($1803.00), AND I REPLACED THE OVERHEAD CAM SENSOR 2X WITHIN 10 DAYS.I CONTACTED DODGE ABOUT THE PAINT FLAKING AND THEY OFFERED NO HELP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069010 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
RED AND WHITE 93 DAKOTA. WHITE PAINT CHIPPING OFF. RED IS GOOD.
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069010 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
93V082000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Reported: 1993-05-11 (May 11, 1993)
SOME OF THE ABS EQUIPPED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN UNDERSIZED BRAKE RETURN CHECK VALVE. IN INCIDENTS WHERE HARD BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT IS APPLIED ON LOW FRICTION ROAD SURFACES, LIKE RAIN COVERED STREETS, THE VALVES MAY FAIL, CAUSING THE ABS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS CREATES EXCESS BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND MAY CAUSE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON.
Consequence: LACK OF FRONT WHEEL ABS COULD CAUSE THE FRONT WHEELBRAKES TO LOCK, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE RETURN CHECK VALVE WITH THE CORRECT VALVE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗