Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Dodge Dakota owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Driving to the grocery store about 30 MPH needing to brake and the front brakes were gone. Right front caliper bolt broke thread and the caliper came off the spindle, steering caused more grinding and then I thought of the emergency/parking brake. I have replaced the same spindle before, but parts are not available now or before. I can';t find a used/new spindle to repair it and it just passed inspection.
Brakes came apart when applied, no brake. Rattle on rotors, pad damage. Bolts that go through caliper stripped threads from spindle freeing caliper to bounce on rotor I have replaced with used part once hoping for recall, bad news dude!!!
Every time I used the lighter the fuse would blow, my radio would fail and I would have troubles with my wipers. I checked all fuses and didn't find a problem. All of a sudden my headlights will go out and once in a while if I click my high beams on and off the driving headlights will eventually come back on. I was in northern maine and I lost my power steering. I had to walk through the woods to a cabin I could see had its house light on and knock on the door for help. Once my truck was freed from being stuck I had to drive 3 miles back to the mountain w/no power steering. When I brought it to the local dealer they showed me that there was some long silver rod like thing, which had just broken in half!! I didn't think anything of it because it was still covered under warranty. A while later, my brake system had to be replaced at a cost of $800. …
I have a 1999 Dodge Dakota 4x4. At 50,000 I installed new tires and took my truck to a mechanic for a wheel alignment. I recently moved and the mechanic was new, but had good reports. He told me that he could not do the alignment because of bad ball joints and tie rod ends. I was outraged, thinking that he might be trying to rip me off. I told him at 50,000 miles I should not have to get new steering parts, but the mechanic said that he has replaced ball joints and tie rod parts on several dakotas and durangos at that mileage. I told him to replace the parts and do the alignment. When I picked up my Dakota, he showed me the parts, they were bad. I have worked for two large agricultural machinery manufacturers and have seen them cut costs by installing cheap chinese parts. …
I own a 1999 Dodge Dakota sport 4x4 and I needed to have the ball joints (upper and lower) and tie rods replaced at 67,000 miles. I found out that they needed to be replaced because I was having brand new tires installed, and when new tires are installed I figured it would be good to get an alignment as well. The mechanice said he couldn't give the truck an alignment because the ball joints were too loose - and this is a very reputable mechanic here in town, so I knew I wasn't getting taken for a ride. So, for a cost of $1,052 I had to have the ball joints and tie rods replaced. …
I had noticed the front tires cupping and brought it to a dealer for an alignment, there they told me it needed upper ball joints, lower ball joints, and a tie rod end. I then brought it back the dealer where I bought it and they told me the amount of "play" is acceptable according to Dodge measurements, however they did recommend to replace the tie rod end, which I had them do and had to bring it elsewhere for an alignment as they didn't have an alignment rack. I then brought it to a place they recommended close to where I live for the alignment, where I was told the upper ball joints were shot and they would not be able to align it. I then had the shop replace the upper ball joints with aftermarket parts that can be lubed and had a warranty along with an alignment. The truck is a '99 club cab v8 4x4 w/47500 miles.
I own a 1999 Dodge Dakota v-8 magnum 5.2l, it only has 138,000 miles on it. When I bought it it only had 76,600 miles. In that little time I have had to replace the upper and lower ball joints twice, and the rack and pinion, and the water pump, the thermostat, the power steering pump, the tie rods, and there is so much more wrong. Why am having to replace these things twice in such little mileage? After reading up on it through the internet I am not the only one with these problems, there are hundreds of people with the same complaints, why is there a recall on the 2000, & 1998 but not 1999? I am out so much money and have almost wrecked my truck twice because of these problems, once with 6 kids in the car with me and again with my 3 kids. This needs immediate attention before several people get hurt or worse, die!!!
I got the '99 Dakota about 7 months ago and liked it drove pretty good even through the week when it was all single digits no problem. Then once it started to warm up into the mid to high teens and up to then 60s and 70 it would shake at least twice a week. It always seemed to start at about 45 then once the engine warmed up it would stop. That stopped now that its in the 80s and 90s. Now I barely have power steering and looking at it, it seems to be the intermediate steering column shaft which looking at all the complaints I'm surprised you haven't looked into it for it to be recalled by now along with the tie rods, ball joints, etc. These things seem to be falling apart at the front. I just hope nobody dies before this is fixed.
I have a 1999 Dodge Dakota club cab 4x4 that had 32,000 miles on it when the lower front tie rod went out while I was driving down the road. I had to get the inner and outer tie rods and lower ball joints replaced. The vehicle is out of warranty by time but not the mileage. With this incident, it's the mileage that puts the wear on this particular problem not time. I have notified Chrysler about the problem and that I wanted to be reimbursed for the cost of the repair. I was told no. The bottom line is that this particular problem shouldn't be happening at such a low mileage rate. I want Chrysler to stand behind their product, not line their pockets with unnecessary repair costs.
Caliper bolts separating from spindle causing caliper to fall on to brake rotor. Loss of braking to wheel, difficulty steering vehicle. Spindle (steering knuckle) had to be drilled out and re tapped and threaded. Heli coils (9m) installed to hold caliper bolts. New calipers and rotors installed. Further inspection determined that upper ball joint failed. All ball joints will be replaced since the upper ones are not serviceable and I do not trust the lower ones. There has been no recalls for model year 1999 Dakota however there are several TSB's #050399, 0200600 and several thousand complaints on the internet. Why hasn't this safety issue been addressed by the NHTSA?
Steering complaints in other Dakota years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 1999 Dodge Dakota?
NHTSA has 72 complaints about the steering of the 1999 Dodge Dakota, 11% of the model year's 641 complaints. The component named most often is linkages › tie rod assembly (32 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Dodge Dakota steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 1999 Dodge Dakota, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Dodge Dakota steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 56,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.