Most common 1998 Dodge Dakota problems
Share of the 545 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Dakota complaints by model year
Best Dakota years: 2009, 2010, 2011. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001, 2002, 1999, 1998. Compare all years →
1998 Dodge Dakota recalls (5)
Air bags
Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the Ram pickup trucks were built at the warren assembly plant ("s" in the 11th VIN position) from May 16, 2000 through October 23, 2000; st.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly. Owner notification began June 18, 2001. Also some 1997-200 model year vehicles that, according to warranty records, have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed,…
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: pickup trucks built with 2.5l engines. Some vehicles May have been built with inadequate clearance between the left front brake tube and the power steering hose.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake tube and power steering hose for wear. If wear is evident, the brake tube and/or power steering hose will be replaced.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Some vehicles May have been built with inadequate clearance between the rear axle vent hose and the brake hose.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear brake hose for evidence of wear. Worn brake hoses will be replaced. The rear vent hose will be shortened by 3 inches and a clip will be installed to assure clearance between the axle vent…
Structure
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. These vehicles May have been built with bolts that were not properly hardened. The bolts were used to attach the cab and the core support to the frame.
Remedy: Dealers will replace these bolts with properly hardened bolts.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks (2 wheel drive only). The front brake hoses or anti-lock brake system (ABS) sensor wire May be abraded at the front wheels by contact with a front wheelhouse splash shield.
Remedy: Dealers will trim the front wheelhouse splash shields and the brake hoses and ABS sensor wires will be inspected. If evidence of abrasion is found on any hose or ABS wire, they will be replaced.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1998 Dodge Dakota:
Upper ball joint separation
Daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) is recalling the target population of approximately 600,000 my 2000 through 2003 durango and dakota vehicles with four-wheel drive to replace the front suspension upper ball joints with redesigned parts that do not have the joint integrity concerns and have substantially improved joint retention capacity (NHTSA recall no.
What 1998 Dodge Dakota owners say
Suspension all 217 →
This car has been a safety nightmare. From steel brake lines rusting through (and the vehicle losing it brakes), to upper ball joints almost separating to steering wheel drive shafts where the u-joints almost separated. These are not items that should fail like this. I spent part of my career looking after global product liability for cummins engine and I am stunned at the poor quality Chrysler has used in critical components.
Per broadcast on December 19, 2003 on cbs nightly news, the Dodge durango/Dakota ball joint, upper and lower issues, not yet a recall by the mfg. We own a 1998 Dodge Dakota, purchased in 2000 and at every state inspection, the upper and lower front ball joints need to be replaced. The dealer is aware of the situation that all dodges 97 and up have ball joint issues, so the mfg is aware of the problem for a long time now. Every year it is 300+ $ to replace these for the needed state inspection, they go bad every year, and are dangerous if not replaced. We only put about 10, 000 miles a year on the vehicle also. The joints cannot be greased w/o dealer or mechanic assistance. Per the news these items need to be replaced to accomodate larger ball joints which is going to be costly. We called about 2yrs ago to Chrysler Dodge, who advise there is nothing wrong and no recall has been issued. …
Brakes all 80 →
The contact owned a 1998 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 25 MPH and attempting to slow the vehicle with the brake pedal depressed all the way to the floorboard, the vehicle failed to come to a complete stop. As a result, the vehicle careened off the roadway and into a ditch. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The occupants were all transported to an area hospital by EMT for treatment. The driver was treated for chest pain caused by the steering wheel; the contact was treated for a broken arm; the oldest rear seat occupant was treated for a facial injury, losing two front teeth; and the youngest rear seat occupant was treated for a concussion. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss. …
The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was restarted and operated as designed. During the failure, there were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Additionally, while depressing the brake pedal a clicking noise was present and the vehicle would not immediately stop. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 210,000.
Transmission & drivetrain all 74 →
The emine will die amytime! Going around cormers lor on expressway sitting in driveway idling. My family has had this vehicle sine 1999. This just started 6 months ago. Up until then it never happened. Replaced several sensors (tps,iac,map,coolant temp and also computer)so far nothing fixes it. I know Dodge knows about this and so do you!!! Something needs to be done there are too many Dakota/durangos on the road I am surprised no one has died or at very least been hurt badly. I know it goes on in earlier dakotas and later of both not sure if it ever was fixed since old bodystyle ended in 2004. Happwned first time about feb.1,2018. Afraid to drive it for fear of dying or badly hurt because it dies anywhere anytime including rush hour trffic in tulsa OK
My husband and I own a 1998 Dodge Dakota, VIN [redacted]. We have had numerous problems with this vehicle, beginning in the second year of our lease. During the past four years, we have spent approximately $9,000 on vehicle repairs including a new transmission, new engine, new starter, new wheel baring, new brake caliper, new heater core and new water pump. The catalytic converter and alternator have been replaced twice and two o2 sensors have been replaced. The air conditioner has been repaired four times. While these repairs have been costly and inconvenient, none of them has posed a safety concern per se. I am writing now to complain about our most recent vehicle failure which most certainly is a safety issue. On November 18, 2004, my husband was driving approximately 35 MPH when his front driver side tire broke off from the axle. …
1998 Dodge Dakota engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 18 / 23 / 20 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 20 / 17 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.9L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 17 / 13 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 13 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Dodge Dakota a good car?
Based on 545 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Dakota rates avoid: 2.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Dakota at the same age. It is one of the Dakota years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Dodge Dakota?
The suspension — 217 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front › control arm › upper ball joint. Next are the brakes (80) and transmission & drivetrain (74).
How many recalls does the 1998 Dodge Dakota have?
There are 5 recalls for the 1998 Dodge Dakota, the most recent from May 8, 2001 (air bags). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Dakota?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2010 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 2001, 2002, 1999 and 1998. See the full Dodge Dakota years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Dodge Dakota problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 69,000 miles; 25% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.