Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 | 7% | 82,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 6% | 140,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 11% | 127,000 miles |
| 2008 | 4 | 4% | 59,000 miles |
| 2007 | 7 | 5% | 28,000 miles |
| 2006 | 15 | 5% | 40,000 miles |
| 2005 | 23 | 5% | 60,000 miles |
| 2004 | 12 | 6% | 13,000 miles |
| 2003 | 35 | 12% | 10,000 miles |
| 2002 | 38 | 6% | 50,000 miles |
| 2001 | 58 | 9% | 63,000 miles |
| 2000 | 57 | 7% | 68,000 miles |
| 1999 | 72 | 11% | 57,000 miles |
| 1998 | 65 | 12% | 89,000 miles |
| 1997 | 51 | 11% | 77,000 miles |
| 1996 | 27 | 14% | 235,000 miles |
| 1995 | 18 | 9% | 13,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Bought this vehicle about 5 years ago from a local dealer with 28,000 miles on it.the previous owner bought it new.I have all the service records of what was done to it including oil changes every 3,000 miles.have always treated it like a baby and bragged about it.now has 84,016 miles on it and about 3 weeks ago the engine started knocking.took it to a local Dodge dealer and was told that it is a lower engine knock and that I needed a new engine.called Dodge to see if they would stand by their product up to 100,000 miles and was told their was nothing they could do about it.I believe they should stand by their product to at least 100,00 miles.now I have a useless vehicle and nothing to drive
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the check engine and air bag warning indicators remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V313000 and 16V352000 (air bags). The parts needed for the repair were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,329. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
4.7l engine blew hole the size of a golf ball in block while passing a slower moving car on a country paved highway maxed at about 60mph. Engine has 72250 miles, running 5w30 synthetic oil. Regular home maintenance - oil changes every 3000 miles, other maintenance as in user manual at home. Had no check engine light, no warning. Truck well maintained (like new inside and out. I'm retired and truck is for pleasure use.
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* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and it was diagnosed that two camshaft sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The mechanic also stated that the air bag fault sensor illuminated and that fake air bags May have been installed. The vehicle was serviced at dadeland Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram (16501 s dixie hwy, miami, fl 33157, [phone]) for NHTSA campaign number: 16V352000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not informed of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.
Tl contact owns a 2007 Dodge Dakota clubcab 4x2. When the contact attempted to shift into reverse, the gear became stuck in first gear. He was unable to change gears. He inspected the vehicle and noticed smoke coming from the engine. A few minutes later, the vehicle caught fire and burned to the ground. Fire and police reports were filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. The current and failure mileages were 28,000. The consumer stated he was towing a boat out of the water. Smoke emitted from the hood and minutes later the vehicle exploded. The consumer stated the transmission overheated. Updated 06/12/09.
01/26/2015 @ 1545 +- hours pst. Driving on cruise control when I came to a 3 way stop. Tapped brake to come off cruise. Came to a complete stop behind 4/5 vehicles. Advanced at idle RPM (750). I was the 2nd vehicle in line when my engine RPM's started increasing. Applied hard brake, RPM continued to increase, enough to over ride the rear wheel brakes causing/allowing the tires to spin. I turned the ignition off, shifted to park, re-started the engine. After restart every thing performed as designed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle started vibrating abnormally. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 169,000.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Dakota years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1999 (72), 1998 (65), 2001 (58), 2000 (57) and 1997 (51) model years. Engine complaints make up 11% of all complaints for the 1999.
Is there a recall for Dodge Dakota engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for any Dodge Dakota model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Dodge Dakota engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles; 38% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (125 mentions), followed by the engine › gasoline (113).
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.