Steering complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 5 | 14% | 23,000 miles |
| 2008 | 17 | 19% | 51,000 miles |
| 2007 | 12 | 8% | 60,000 miles |
| 2006 | 47 | 16% | 54,000 miles |
| 2005 | 47 | 10% | 58,000 miles |
| 2004 | 74 | 36% | 59,000 miles |
| 2003 | 14 | 5% | 16,000 miles |
| 2002 | 44 | 6% | 36,000 miles |
| 2001 | 48 | 7% | 44,000 miles |
| 2000 | 68 | 8% | 60,000 miles |
| 1999 | 72 | 11% | 56,000 miles |
| 1998 | 47 | 9% | 66,000 miles |
| 1997 | 34 | 8% | 70,000 miles |
| 1996 | 7 | 4% | — |
| 1995 | 19 | 9% | 135,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
With only 41750 miles on my 2010 Dakota, I was backing up a light trailer when suddenly the rear tires started spinning and it seemed like something was blocking the truck/trailer from moving. I walked around the vehicle and saw no blockages, but did notice the right front tire was pointed left and the left front was pointed right. Upon inspection, I found the left front tie rod end 100% separated at the ball/socket joint. There was no grease, lots of rust, and it was dry as a bone in the ball/socket joint. There was no grease fitting on the tie rod end. This happened in my yard at near-zero speed. However that last thing I did with this truck was to tow a camper trailer up north and back with my family in the truck. I was going to do this again in two weeks. …
Truck was being driven at a slow speed when the tie rod fell off and truck hit a tree. No injury but left front side of bumper damaged. The tie rod end was replaced at a local mechanic. The ball joint end was badly deteriorated.
My father had taken this truck into the dealership multiple times for front end noises. He passed 3 months ago, and the truck became mine. Once I got it, I took it into the shop to have it looked over. They informed me the front suspension was ready to fall out of it at 66K miles. We had the front suspension fixed and it still makes suspicious noises. I believe there are probably more 08's out there that have this problem, so I think the 08 Dakota's should be included in the newest Dodge recall. The entire time my father owned this truck, he repeatedly took it to the dealership saying something was wrong with the suspension. I'm sure key Chrysler in new carlisle oh has records of these visits and his complaints. It's a shame he didn't live to see this recall, he would have felt vindicated. The 2008 Dodge Dakota should be included in this recall.
As I start the truck, it kicks when I shift to drive and start to accelerate. I took it to a dealer near me when there was a recall for the rack and pinion and they did not find anything. The truck keeps doing the kick or jumps gears. Maybe the problem is in the cable or the shifter. It keeps doing this to this day and getting worse. Now I have to move the shifter to drive and put it back to park to start the truck. Also the ignition stays on sometimes when the key is removed and this drains the battery. The truck seems to use way to much gas for the driving I do. My job is less than five miles from my house and it uses a lot of gas about 10.00 every day for such a short distance.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that there was a noise that was progressing for months near the front passenger air bag area. The contact notified the authorized dealer for several months before receiving the recall notification and they provided no remedy. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V313000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available for an extended period of time. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The manufacturer was contacted and could not provide an estimated date for when the contact's vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact continued to hear the noise. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000. Updated 8/21/15 the consumer also stated the steering column was noisy. Updated 09/01/15
The steering gets hard to turn like it is going to lock up. I spray it with wd40. This happens every few days. The electrical has been screwed up forever. I turn the left turn signal on the the right one blinks and vise versa. Some times they both blink back and forth. I have talked to the local Dodge garage and all they say is that there is no recall. I wasnt notified by Dodge about the driver side airbag either. Looked up the VIN number after seeing a report on tv. That was 2 months ago and the Dodge garage just fixed the air bag on July 21 after I called them for the second time to see if the part was in. Updated 10/07/15 updated 12/08/2017
While driving my 2006 Dodge Dakota p/u truck started noticing noise while making any type of turning of the steering wheel. I took to my mechanics who put in some steering fluid. He told me this should help and if problem does return the problem is most likely the steering shaft that will have to be worked on & will be expensive to fix. It was fine for a couple of weeks but now the problem has returned & I'm making plans to take it back to my mechanic to fix the steering shaft. After reading numerous problem other owners are also facing concerning the steering there should be a recall for this.
NHTSA investigations
Steering column separation
Mr. Larry a. Sackey submitted a petition to the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) by letter dated April 18, 2003, requesting that nhtsafurther investigate the defective collapsible steering shaft system on 1987-1995 vehicles manufactured by the daimlerchrysler corporation.in part because of 49 cfr ? 30120(g), NHTSA has decided to limit the scope of the petition vehicles to 1993-1995 models,…
Steering wheel and shaft bolts
On October 26, 2005 odi opened pe05-056 to investigate allegations of loose or missing steering wheel or steering shaft coupling bolts in model year (my) 2004 and 2005 Dodge durango sport utility vehicles and my 2005 Dodge dakota pickup trucks manufactured by daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc).during pe05-056 odi identified 3 owner complaints to odi or dcc, 21 field reports to dcc and 142 warranty claims related to…
Steering wheel and steering shaft bolts
On March 9, 2006 odi upgraded preliminatry evaluation pe05-056 to engineerning analysis ea06-004 to investigate allegations of loose or missing steering shaft coupling bolts and steering column retaining bolts in model year (my) 2004 through 2006 Dodge durango sport utility vehicles and my 2005 through 2006 Dodge dakota pickup trucks.either condition could result in a loss of steering control.although odi identified…
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Dakota years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2004 (74), 1999 (72), 2000 (68), 2001 (48) and 1998 (47) model years. Steering complaints make up 36% of all complaints for the 2004.
Is there a recall for Dodge Dakota steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering 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 steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 54,000 miles; 41% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the linkages › tie rod assembly (111 mentions), followed by the steering wheel/handle bar (30).
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.