Body complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | 2% | 107,000 miles |
| 2008 | 4 | 4% | 40,000 miles |
| 2007 | 3 | 2% | 73,000 miles |
| 2006 | 12 | 4% | 53,000 miles |
| 2005 | 9 | 2% | 71,000 miles |
| 2004 | 7 | 3% | 10,000 miles |
| 2003 | 8 | 3% | 9,000 miles |
| 2002 | 18 | 3% | 70,000 miles |
| 2001 | 11 | 2% | 60,000 miles |
| 2000 | 8 | 1% | 150,000 miles |
| 1999 | 11 | 2% | 116,000 miles |
| 1998 | 19 | 3% | 65,000 miles |
| 1997 | 14 | 3% | 85,000 miles |
| 1996 | 18 | 10% | 101,000 miles |
| 1995 | 20 | 10% | 152,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Driving in our lane on a city street going 40 MPH as a vehicle tried to turn into a gas station, crossing our lane right front of us and they did not have enough time to make the turn. To avoid a full blown head on collision, I swerved and we hit front driver side vs front driver side. Going 40 MPH, and the speed of the other vehicle and my air bags did not deploy, that being my main concern why they did not deploy with the speed being considered and hitting front on.
I was going down fort sill blvd and I rear ended another truck. I was going roughly 40 to 45 miles per hour. My entire front end was completely smashed in, yet my air bags still didn't deploy?? This is he second accident that they didn't deploy. I have several photos of my trucks front end and the inside showing that the air bags didn't deploy.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that when driving at 30 MPH he hit a pot hole in the street and lost control of the vehicle. He then hit a road spike and ended up in the ditch. There are front end damages which the dealer will not repair. The front end of the vehicle was rebuilted a few years ago because the parts were defective. The dealer was contacted and they stated that there is nothing wrong with with the vehicle and that this is the way the vehicle is suppose to be. There were repairs done to the front end. The failure mileage was 30000 and current mileage was 55260.
2007 Dodge Dakota. Consumer writes in regards vehicle repairs related to shocks the dealer only installed a right shock, because the mount for the left shock had a broken weld and the shock was bent. The dealer advised the consumer to take the vehicle to a body shop for repairs. An inspection at the body shop revealed, the bed needed to be removed, because there was a crack in the frame.
The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the subframe was rusted and the rear spring holder had fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,500.
Have had to replace upper and lower ball joints both sides of vehicle prior to 65K miles. Lower front clip/frame, frame mounts and lower radiator support rusting away (under the paint). First noticed problem around 36K miles with surface rust appearing thru paint. Steel has deteriorated to point where chunks are falling off (paint still attached), and some of the steel has turned to flakes/powder beneath the paint. To this date this is the only area of truck frame affected by this problem. Brake lines are showing excessive rusting and will be replaced soon due to concern of rupturing. Have never encountered brake lines rusting like these are. Inquired about rusting of frame and was told it is common on Chrysler vehicles painted silver. Truck is well maintained and kept clean. My opinion is it's a combination of low quality steel and paint. …
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the vehicle had been shipped to them. While the vehicle was parked, the contact inspected the vehicle and observed that the frame was severely corroded. The contact also noted that the frames of all the vehicle doors were corroded as well. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was not formally diagnosed; however, the mechanic informed the contact that the frame was severely corroded, the vehicle was structurally compromised, and they were unsure whether the vehicle could be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 81,892.
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
Related recalls (1)
Structure
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. These vehicles May have been built with bolts that were not properly hardened. The bolts were used to attach the cab and the core support to the frame.
Remedy: Dealers will replace these bolts with properly hardened bolts.
NHTSA investigations
FRAME CRACKS
Mr. Edward w. Bailey submitted a petition to the national highway traffic safety administration by letter, undated, requesting that an investigation be conducted into the matter of a frame crack in his 1995 Dodge dakota truck.the petitioner alleges that the frame on the passenger side of the vehicle is cracked, through no fault or responsibility of his own, and believes that this deficiency constitutes a safety…
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Dakota years have body problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (20), 1998 (19), 1996 (18), 2002 (18) and 1997 (14) model years. Body complaints make up 10% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Dodge Dakota body problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 98V-208 (structure, Sep 8, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Dodge Dakota body problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles; 38% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the body (64 mentions), followed by the frame and members (35).
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.