Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Dodge Dakota owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was slowing down to turn into my driveway and the other vehicle was speeding and took a curve to fast and crossed the center line and hit head on. The driver side air bag did not deploy properly and the passenger side airbag was busted when it was deployed. The steering wheel inner componets came out with the airbag which did not inflate and caused injury to my chest area. The passenger side airbag deployed but was busted and caused my daughter to get a broken arm. I believe this was a default in the airbag system in my truck. My two youngest children were taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Dt: the contact's vehicle was involved in a single car accident while driving 35-40 MPH. It struck a tree. Upon impact, the airbags did not deploy. The passenger was wearing a seat belt. However, he sustained facial injuries. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was towed from the scene. A manufacturer's representative inspected the vehicle, who determined that the airbag sensor functioned at the time of the accident by the computer codes. He stated the airbags did not deploy because of the location of the impact. This determination was made based on the data collected by the representative. There was extensive damage to the front of the vehicle. No repairs have been made.
While driving at 25 MPH consumer was following another vehicle, and upon stepping on the brakes consumer's vehicle did not slow down and collided with the other vehicle. Consumer was wearing seat belts, but the air bags did not deploy. When driving at any speed the brakes usually locked up, causing the vehicle to slide to the right through intersections.
Dt*: the contact stated another driver turned in front of the vehicle while traveling 35-40mph, the brakes were applied, but the vehicles collided in a near head on position. The contact was not wearing a seat belt, but sustained no injuries. The police took a report at the scene and the vehicle was towed to the contacts home. The manufacturer was not alerted.
The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision, and the air bags did not deploy, the consumer was injured. The consumer back was broke, also the manufacturer stated the vehicle was not hit hard enough for the air bags to deploy.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Dodge Dakota. The air bag warning light was illuminated on the instrument control panel, which indicated that the air bag system was inoperative. Also the cruise control switch would not activate. He had not taken the vehicle to the dealership to-date. He called the manufacturer regarding recall 01V153000 (air bags) for the air bags and was informed that his vehicle was not included. The cruise control switch was replaced. The repair did not remedy the failure. The current mileage was approximately 151,360. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Dodge Dakota. While driving between 30-35 MPH, the contact swerved to avoid a cat and struck a tree and a parked car. The air bags failed to deploy. The key broke off in the ignition and the turn signal was damaged. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact's face struck the steering wheel. As a result, her teeth went through her lip, her face was bruised, she sustained a black eye, and her right hand was cut and swollen. A police report was filed. The failure mileage was unknown.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the air bag warning light remained illuminated and the cruise control failed. The local mechanic performed a diagnostic which located a failure code at the clock spring. The manufacturer advised the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number 01V153000 (air bags, cruise control). The failure mileage was 110,000 and current mileage was 196,000. The VIN was unavailable.
While consumer was at a complete stop another vehicle ran into consumer's vehicle head-on, but none of the air bags deployed. Contacted dealer who was not willing to do anything about it. Consumer states that the driver?s seat belt did not keep the drivers head from slamming into the steering wheel.
Glass exploded into dust and lodged in my eye causing bleeding. The glass did not stay intact like windshield glass does, due to a plastic film in glass. Airbag did not deploy. Luckily I was not blinded, but I needed to repspond to the doctors three times to remove all glass from my eye.
Related recalls
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,…
Airbag complaints in other Dakota years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2000 Dodge Dakota?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the air bags of the 2000 Dodge Dakota, 4% of the model year's 806 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (16 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Dodge Dakota airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 01V-153 (air bags, May 8, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Dodge Dakota airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 86,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 24 crashes, 0 fires and 24 injuries to air bags 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.