Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
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).
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the seat heaters were turned on. After the passenger exited the vehicle, the passenger stated to the contact that the seats were very hot. The contact stated that the passenger seat started to smoke as the vehicle was driven 25 miles to the fire station where the fire was extinguished and the contact was informed that the fire started in the seat. The contact was able to drive to the dealer brickner's of antigo inc. (123 e highway 64, antigo wi 54409) where it was diagnosed that a fuse for the heated seats were turned off. …
While driving, my daughter smelled something burning and pulled over to investigate. She noticed the coat she was wearing while driving was smoking and was scorched at the bottom. She then noticed the drivers seat where she was sitting was also scorched and had burned a hole through the fabric of the seat. She stated she had the heated seat turned on high at the time. On several occasions, I have felt a burning sensation to my right buttock while driving and just turned the seat heater off not thinking any further that there was a problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the wiring inside the driver's seat cushion burned holes in the fabric. The vehicle was taken to rairdons Chrysler Dodge of kirkland (12828 ne 124 th st kirkland, wa 98034), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and sent a special investigator, but did not offer any assistance. The failure mileage was 81,000. Updated 10/26/17 updated 10/30/2017
Had driver side heated seat turned on low and the seat caught on fire. Luckily I had not left because I forgot my list inside and went inside house. When I came back out the seat was smoking so I ran in an got some water to pour on seat. It put the fire out. Fire dept. Came out and they took a picture and pulled the fuse out.
While driving on I-635 northbound at around 25 to 30 MPH with 4x4 activated on a single line available since it was cleared and salted. Without warning I was the only vehicle that veered right hard and I lost control of the vehicle almost crashing onto the metal beam along the highway. I went past the shoulder and down to the bottom of hill, but thankfully vehicle didn't turn off. I had to switch off 4x4 and back on and was able to climb up despite the snow back to the highway with no further reoccurrence. Unfortunately when this happened my passenger seat went forward and is now stuck and I broke lever trying to bring it back from front reclining. Because of the rough terrain the rear quarter panels where the was some rust have cracked
Turned on passenger seat warmer to keep a meal warm in a white foam food container. 5 minutes later when I arrived at home the bottom of the container had a melted hole in it. The seat was extremely hot to the touch in one spot on the seat. The rest of the seat bottom and back were not warm at all. Several days later my wife turned the seat warmer on to low and within a couple of minutes she exclaimed that the seat was burning her bottom. We shut the seat warmer off and the seat began to cool down. The seat warmer had worked just fine before these incidents. It could have seriously burned my wife if could get hot enough to melt a foam food container. Both times the truck was parked and traveling. Top speed was 30ish.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 17V820000 (seats). The contact stated that the manufacturer failed to repair the vehicle within a reasonable amount of time. The dealer (john greene Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge, 910 jamestown road, morganton, nc 28655) confirmed that parts were not available to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified. The contact also stated that the front passenger seat caught fire in February of 2017. The fire was extinguished by the driver. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the part for NHTSA campaign number: 17V820000 (seats) was unavailable. The dealer (parkway Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, 21560 hall rd, clinton twp, mi 48038, [phone]) was unable to verify a reasonable time frame to receive the part. The contact stated that a hole was burned in the driver's seat near the console. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was not able to specify when the part would be supplied to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was not available. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Vehicle was parked under the carport, was not running, keys were not in the ignition. It had been parked approximately 2 1/2 hours when son in law happened to come over and saw the inside of the truck full of smoke. He opened the door and determined that the passenger seat was the source of the smoke and the inside of the seat was burning. The seat was fully destroyed, but the fire was able to be put out before any further damage occured. Had this not been discovered when it was, the entire vehicle could have been destroyed, along with the carport and possibly the entire home.
I started vehicle and turned on the drivers side heated seat switch prior to cleaning the snow and ice off windows and hood afterwhich I let my coworker clean his vehicle off. I went back to my vehicle to smell something burning and noticed the left side of the seat smoldering through the cloth. I turned the switch back off and wiped the area with snow thus stopping the impending fire. I would estimate the time running/warming up; to be approximately 6 minutes.
Seat complaints in other Dakota years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2005 Dodge Dakota?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the seats of the 2005 Dodge Dakota, 7% of the model year's 470 complaints. The component named most often is mid/rear assembly (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Dodge Dakota seat problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seats recall for the 2005 Dodge Dakota, though it has 6 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 2005 Dodge Dakota seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 16 fires and 3 injuries to seats 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.