Equipment complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 | 2% | 0 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 1% | 24,000 miles |
| 2006 | 1 | 0% | 58,000 miles |
| 2005 | 2 | 0% | 13,000 miles |
| 2004 | 2 | 1% | 9,000 miles |
| 2003 | 3 | 1% | 26,000 miles |
| 2002 | 4 | 1% | 10,000 miles |
| 2001 | 6 | 1% | 63,000 miles |
| 2000 | 4 | 0% | 28,000 miles |
| 1999 | 16 | 2% | 72,000 miles |
| 1998 | 6 | 1% | 59,000 miles |
| 1997 | 4 | 1% | 95,000 miles |
| 1996 | 3 | 2% | — |
| 1995 | 4 | 2% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accessories, trailer hitches and other equipment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
On June 5, 2006 the engine light came on in our 2003 Dodge Dakota (approx. 25,500 miles). We took it to the Dodge dealership and they replaced a hose for the fuel line at a cost of approx. $250. On June 7, 2006 the engine light again came on and Dodge said an o2 sensor needed to be replaced (at a cost to us of approx. $300). With in the next 3 weeks our Dodge was in the shop 2 more times (for a total of 4 items in a month) due to the engine light coming on. The last time they told us the o2 sensor that was replaced was faulty and was the problem. This concerns me as the car was 5 weeks over the 3 year warranty so nothing was covered and the service we received at Dodge was the worst I have ever received.
When the truck is started and put into drive it hesitates then shifts really hard. Also when the truck is started and allowed to warm up for around three minutes it dies when it is put in reverse. When it does this none of the lights on the instrument panel come on. The truck just dies. I have had the truck into the dealership four times now. The first time I took it in, the dealership told me that they couldn't get the problem to replicate and told me to bring it back when it got worse. I am now on my forth attempt to get the problem fixed and they are continuing to tell me that they can't get the problem to replicate. So I went to the dealership and replicated the problem for them. That was on 10-27-03. It is now 11-06-03 and they called me today to tell me that they still can't get the truck to replicate. …
My windshield is being scratched because of dry wiper blades contacting the initial dry glass before the washer pump engages, then the blades will oscillate about 6 times before even a dribble of water will show up. The lines were pressurized and jetted both with air and water. The dealer told me that I would have to replace the pump. The visibility is good when it rains. New arms and blade assemblies were installed. Vision is not safe at 25mph. At 55mph when the pump is engaged it seems that water is being siphened and a better coverage of the glass occurs.
Upper and lower ball joints are exhibiting premature signs of failure at 10,000 miles load popping sounds when turning and braking. Vehicle now has 23,000 miles and is showing signs of steering vibrations. Why haven't the Dakota models been included with the durango suspension engineering investigation. There are almost 100 complaints on the website?
I bought a 2001 Dodge Dakota 4wd a month ago. I have had to replace the lower ball joints, catalytic converter, timing chain, water pump and now the transfer case has gone bad. The truck only has 55000 miles on it. I have only made one payment on the truck and have paid the repair shop over $1500 in repair costs. They only time that I have got to drive the truck is to the repair shop except when I bought it. This is ridiculous, a truck with low miles like this should not have this many problems. The dealer said that they would look at it this time put they couldn't make any promises. We paid for everything else to get fixed and I refuse to pay for anything else. I paid $10,000 for a truck that I can't even drive, I'm actually scared to drive it because who knows what will happen next. Apparently dodges are pieces of crap to put it politely.
I have a 2001 Dodge Dakota. One headlight bulb failed. The vehicle manual instructs one to remove two bolts to access the bulb. This bulb is subject to the weather and has rusted. I need to replace the bolts. Dodge indicates that the bolt is not sold separately and is part of the headlight unit. This unit is $250.00. I believe this is an absurd amount to pay for a bolt which is required to operate the vehicle with functional headlights.
Brake rotor on my 2000 Dodge Dakota have been turned down twice and replace once in 30,000 miles. The was due to excessive pulsating and degradation of stopping ability. I am concerned that this problem is a safety issue due to the occurrence of reduced braking power. This problem is occuring once again and needs to be remedied. I have been told by Dodge that is is normal wear and will happen. A warped brake rotor is not considered normal wear. The pulsation of the brakes can easily cause someone to lose control on a slippery surface. It is also concievable that the ABS system May not work properly when the rotor is warped. Please look further into this, thank you.
2000 Dodge Dakota, bought with 27,200 miles, ball joints progressively gotten worse in two years time and unable to replace parts vehicle now has 74,000 miles a vehicle this young should not have this type of problems.
Related recalls (2)
Equipment › Electrical
NBC Truck Equipment, Inc. (NBC) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 and model year 2010-2011 trucks equipped with Sure Power battery separator devices, due to overheating.
Remedy: NBC will notify owners, and Sure Power will replace the battery separators free of charge. The safety recall began November 26, 2012. Owners may contact NBC Truck Equipment, Inc. at 1-586-774-4900.
Equipment › Other › Labels
On certain minivans and 4x2 pickup trucks, the vehicle certification label May have gross axle weight ratings (gawr) that exceed the maximum tire load capacity as defined in federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
Remedy: Owners will be provided with vehicle certification label overlays containing corrected information relative to vehicle gawr and tire size. Owner notification began March 1, 2004.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Dakota years have equipment problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1999 (16), 1998 (6) and 2001 (6) model years. Equipment complaints make up 2% of all complaints for the 1999.
Is there a recall for Dodge Dakota equipment problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 12V-420 (electrical, Aug 28, 2012); 03V-505 (labels, Dec 10, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Dodge Dakota equipment problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 43,000 miles; 56% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the electrical › radio/tape deck/cd etc. (8 mentions), followed by the other › labels (4).
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.