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 2005 Dodge Dakota owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
GOT TRUCK SMOGGED 4/13/2021 AND WAS TOLD OF AN OUTSTANDING RECALL FOR AIRBAG. THIS RECALL WAS FIXED ON 11/13/2015. ATTACHED ARE COPIES OF NOTICE OF RECALL AFTER GETTING TRUCK SMOGGED AND PAGES 1 AND 2 OF INVOICE SHOWING REPAIR ON 11/13/2015. HOW DO WE GET THIS UPDATED IN THE SYSTEM SO IT WILL NOT SHOW UP AGAIN WHEN WE GET TRUCK SMOGGED NEXT TIME? Consumer stated vehicle has been repaired and no longer needs to be contacted.
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Dodge Dakota. While driving approximately 60 MPH on a bridge, the vehicle slid on black ice, fishtailed, and crashed into a cement column. The air bags did not deploy. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The contact's wife was seated in the front passenger seat and struck her left knee on the dashboard. Medical attention was not received. The contact was not injured. Police report number: 1916400110 was filed. The vehicle was totaled and towed to a garage, but was later retrieved by the contact. The contact called healy Chrysler Dodge at [phone] (located at 3632 w us-10, ludington, mi 49431) where the air bags were repaired per NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V352000 (air bags), 15V313000 (air bags), and 14V770000 (air bags). The technician informed the contact that all the recall repairs were performed. …
When involved in a accident the air bags failed to deploy. While driving down the road at night came across a cow in the road . When I noticed it was to late to slow down or move out of the way, when approached at 65 MPH. Hit the cow, straight on in the middle of the front grill, when came to a stop, the hood was buckled grill and metal guard along with radiator and all of the front buckled in about 1 and a half feet pushed in, during im pact the airbags failed . I hit my knee on the dash hurt my shoulder and sternum. Doctors were amazed that my injury were not more . I really think the airbags should have deployed . I have photos of what the truck looks like now .
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the contact was involved in an accident due to not being able to react and stop the vehicle in time. As a result, the contact rear ended another vehicle. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. The contact did sustain minor back injuries that required medical attention due to the accident. The contact stated that a police report was filed for the accident. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic after the accident and deemed totaled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 166,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle ahead suddenly stopped causing the contact to crash into the rear end of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was able to be driven away. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 15V313000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,736.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, a unknown vehicle crashed into the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained neck and shoulder injuries however no medical attention was provided. A police report was filed. The vehicle was able to be driven from the scene. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 212,000. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Dodge Dakota. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the driver lost control of the steering and crashed the vehicle. The vehicle rolled over and the front end sustained significant damage. The air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained an injured neck, back, and left shoulder, which required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Dodge Dakota. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle independently began to sway. Within moments, the vehicle flipped over on its driver side. The front driver side air bag did not deploy. The vehicle was not diagnosed. It was unknown if injuries were sustained or if a police report was filed. The manufacturer and dealer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 09/03/15 updated 12/16/2015
I have been appointed several times listed for appointments call directly to field operations heard the protocol and I understand I can use my auto resquesting for an accident to happen I just receive a apology note,,,don't understand why I keep receiving these recall with out no protocol for the dealer to take action?
Takata recall. On 2/4/2016 I took my truck to courtesy Chrysler/Dodge/Ram located at 9207 adamo drive east in tampa,fl. The airbag inflator was replaced. As soon as I drove off of the dealer's lot I noticed that the seatbelt warning light and alarm would not turn off. I immediately returned to the dealership. The parts and service manager said the dealership was not responsible, although I explained that the problem did not exist before my visit to the dealership. The dealership said that they would have to order a new seat belt buckle at a cost of $125.00 + labor. I refused to order and pay for a part to fix a repair that did not exist prior to my visit. I was making an 11 hour drive the next day to start a new job and I needed to have the problem resolved. The parts and service manager was very unprofessional. I left the dealership. …
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners.
Air bags
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2004-2005 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500, 2004-2005 Dodge Durango, 2005 Dodge Dakota, 2005 Dodge Magnum and 2005 Chrysler 300, 300C and 300 SRT8 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. For vehicles that were sold, or are currently registered, in Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S.
Air bags › Side/window
On certain pickup trucks equipped with the optional side curtain air bag, the curtain fasteners May not have been properly tightened.
Remedy: Dealers will tighten the side air bag curtain fasteners to the proper specification. The recall began on January 17, 2005. Owners May contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Airbag complaints in other Dakota years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2005 Dodge Dakota?
NHTSA has 143 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Dodge Dakota, 30% of the model year's 470 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › sensor/control module (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Dodge Dakota airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-352 (inflator module, May 24, 2016); NHTSA recall 15V-313 (inflator module, May 26, 2015); NHTSA recall 14V-770 (air bags, Dec 3, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Dodge Dakota airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 86,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 12 crashes, 0 fires and 7 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.