2007 Dodge Dakota Problems & Complaints

Better than average46% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Dakota at the same age

Owners have filed 145 complaints about the 2007 Dodge Dakota with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 46% fewer than a typical Dakota model year at the same age, making the 2007 one of the better Dakota years. The most reported problem area is the air bags (59 complaints, typically around 78,000 miles). 4 recalls cover this model year, including 2 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning.

145complaints
4recalls
11crashes
2fires
8injuries
0deaths

Most common 2007 Dodge Dakota problems

  • Air bags~78,000 miles
    5941%
  • 2417%
  • Electrical system~60,000 miles
    1410%
  • Suspension~49,000 miles
    139%
  • Steering~60,000 miles
    128%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof~43,000 miles
    86%
  • Engine & cooling~28,000 miles
    75%
  • Brakes~31,000 miles
    75%
  • Speed control & acceleration~14,000 miles
    53%
  • Lights~50,000 miles
    53%
  • Wheels & tires~12,000 miles
    43%
  • Body & structure~73,000 miles
    32%
  • Equipment & accessories~24,000 miles
    21%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~14,000 miles
    21%
  • Locks & latches~0 miles
    11%
  • Other / not specified
    11%

Share of the 145 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Dodge Dakota complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’1120818944654564180667867829620647028514591183544
Owner complaints per model year, Dodge Dakota. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Dakota years: 2009, 2010, 2011. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001, 2002, 1999, 1998. Compare all years →

2007 Dodge Dakota recalls (4)

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 16V-352 · May 24, 2016 · 4,648,270 vehiclesDo not drive

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

NHTSA recall 15V-313 · May 26, 2015 · 4,077,169 vehiclesDo not drive

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.

Electrical system › Ignition › Switch

NHTSA recall 14V-795 · Dec 16, 2014 · 54,164 vehicles

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, Dakota, and 2006 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles manufactured July 1, 2005, to July 31, 2006 with manual transmissions. The return springs in the clutch ignition interlock switch may break.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clutch ignition interlock switch, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

Power train › Automatic transmission

NHTSA recall 06V-341 · Sep 7, 2006 · 4,770 vehicles

On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks equipped with automatic transmissions, the software programmed into the powertrain control module can cause a momentary lock up of the drive wheels if the vehicle is traveling over 40 MPH and the operator shifts from drive to neutral and back to drive.

Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module free of charge. The recall began on October 2, 2006. Owners May contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 2007 Dodge Dakota:

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

NHTSA investigation PE14016 · opened Jun 11, 2014 · closed Mar 2, 2015 · led to recall 13V-172

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…

Clutch Interlock Switch Malfunction

NHTSA investigation PE14013 · opened May 19, 2014 · closed Dec 23, 2014 · led to recall 14V-795

On December 16, 2104, Chrysler Group LLC submitted a Safety Recall Report to NHTSA describing a defect in the clutch ignition interlock switches in approximately 66,819 model year (MY) 2006 through early-2007 Dodge Ram Trucks, Dodge Dakota, and Mitsubishi Raider vehicles equipped with manual transmissions and built between July 1, 2005 and July 31, 2006 (NHTSA Recall No. 14V-795, Chrysler Recall No.

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

NHTSA investigation EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · open

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

NHTSA investigation EA15001 · opened Feb 24, 2015 · open · led to recall 14V-668

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…

What 2007 Dodge Dakota owners say

Air bags all 59 →

The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that a dealer technician came to the contact's residence and performed an air bag recall repair. Following the repair, the vehicle became inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and that a burning odor was coming from the area near the air bag. The battery warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

May 2026

The manufacturer sent a third party to fix an airbag recall. Before the third-party technician touched my truck for the recall, both my horn and cigarette lighter worked. Now, after their repair, neither works. Therefore, something they did caused an electrical fault. I advised whoever sent the technician and they said they would send the guy back. No one will answer my calls and no one has fixed my issue.

Mar 2025

Transmission & drivetrain all 24 →

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Dodge Dakota. While the vehicle was engaged in park, it rolled away without warning. The rear of the vehicle crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. Due to the failure, the vehicle sustained damage to the tail lights and bumper. The contact stated that his wife sustained a back injury that required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not towed or taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,850.

112,000 miles · Jun 2018 · crash · 1 injury

Vehicle: 2007 Dodge Dakota st club cab, 2wd, 3.7l v6, 42 rle automatic trans problem: at road speeds of 34-50 MPH the vehicle shudders, vibrates, and sounds as though on a rumble strip. My research indicates that the powertrain control module has an error that incorrectly tells the torque converter to start the lock up range at too low an RPM, resulting in the engine and torque converter to not be synched correctly. This problem began shortly after I'd bought the truck at 71,100 miles. I'm at 71,500 miles now. The remedy is as little as reprogramming the PCM flash to as much as replacing the PCM, the torque converter, and transmission. I fear that the problem could result in catastrophic failure of the drive train components in a way that could result in a vehicle crash. There are two technical service bulletins of which I'm aware on the matter.

71,000 miles · May 2017

Electrical system

The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated, almost causing a crash. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with alternator and ECM failure. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle had previously experienced electrical issues and the battery was replaced; however, the failure was caused by the alternator, not the battery. The contact stated that the battery warning light illuminated and the RPM was fluctuating. The failure was confirmed by the independent mechanic. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 160,000.

160,000 miles · Sep 2026

The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that a dealer technician came to the contact's residence and performed an air bag recall repair. Following the repair, the vehicle became inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and that a burning odor was coming from the area near the air bag. The battery warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

May 2026

2007 Dodge Dakota engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
3.7L 6-cyl4-speed automaticRWD15 / 20 / 17
3.7L 6-cyl6-speed manualRWD14 / 20 / 16
3.7L 6-cyl6-speed manual4WD/AWD15 / 19 / 16
4.7L 8-cyl5-speed automaticRWD14 / 18 / 15
4.7L 8-cyl6-speed manualRWD13 / 19 / 15
3.7L 6-cyl4-speed automatic4WD/AWD14 / 18 / 15
4.7L 8-cyl5-speed automatic4WD/AWD14 / 19 / 15
4.7L 8-cyl6-speed manual4WD/AWD13 / 18 / 15

EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2007 Dodge Dakota a good car?

Based on 145 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2007 Dakota rates better than average: 46% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Dakota at the same age. 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 2007 Dodge Dakota?

The air bags — 59 complaints, 41% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (24) and electrical system (14).

How many recalls does the 2007 Dodge Dakota have?

There are 4 recalls for the 2007 Dodge Dakota, the most recent from May 24, 2016 (inflator module). 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 2007 Dodge Dakota problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 50,000 miles; 48% 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.