1993 Dodge Dakota

Routine

Owners filed 134 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the brakes. It has been recalled 2 times.

Not among the Dodge Dakota years to avoid. Which Dodge Dakota years to avoid →

Most common 1993 Dodge Dakota problems

23 of the 134 complaints (17%) are about the brakes.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or Other9
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission9
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip · brakes8
201
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner5
304
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline · engine5
020
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration4
302
Suspension › Front4
100
Structure › Body · body and frame4
000
Steering › Rack and Pinion4
000
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor4
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting06E049000
Filed May 24, 200627,176 vehiclesCk Motorsport, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip93V082000
Filed May 11, 19932,000 vehiclesChrysler Corporation

Defect. SOME OF THE ABS EQUIPPED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN UNDERSIZED BRAKE RETURN CHECK VALVE. IN INCIDENTS WHERE HARD BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT IS APPLIED ON LOW FRICTION ROAD SURFACES, LIKE RAIN COVERED STREETS, THE VALVES MAY FAIL, CAUSING THE ABS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS CREATES EXCESS BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND MAY CAUSE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON.

Risk. LACK OF FRONT WHEEL ABS COULD CAUSE THE FRONT WHEELBRAKES TO LOCK, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. REPLACE THE RETURN CHECK VALVE WITH THE CORRECT VALVE.

All 2 campaigns on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Visibility/Wiper
Filed Oct 8, 20173 milesWV

1993 DODGE DAKOTA HIGH BEAM FLASHING ON AND OFF

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Jul 14, 2014160,000 milesWA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TiresCrash
Filed Aug 2, 2007105,618 milesOK

TL*THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 1993 DODGE DAKOTA WITH FIRESTONE FIREHAWK ATX TIRES. HE STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, SHE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE BLOWOUT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FALL INTO A DITCH; IN ADDITION, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,618 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,621.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Upper Ball Joint
Filed Jan 5, 200532,000 milesNJ

CONSUMER HAD A 1993 DODGE DAKOTA AND A NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE. OWNER HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS AFTER 32,000 MI. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE THAT WAS BEING HEARD WAS NORMAL. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed Oct 15, 200481,000 milesOH

WHILE DRIVING, THE HOOD BLEW INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CLAIM. *JB

Visibility
Filed Aug 23, 200480,000 milesNJ

VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND CARED FOR. LARGE CHUCKS OF PAINT PEELING FROM HOOD MOMENTARILY DISTRACT OR STARTLE DRIVER AND HAVE CAUSED SITUATIONS WHERE AN ACCIDENT WAS JUST BARELY AVOIDED. THE LAST INCIDENT A LARGE SHEET OF THE PAINT COVERED THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING THE OPERATOR'S VIEW DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO AVOID COLLISION BY HITTING BRAKES AND TURNING ONTO THE ROADSIDE GRASS, AFTER JUMPING CURB AND NARROWLY MISSING A GUARD RAIL DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK WAS A BROKEN BALL JOINT AND A BENT CONTROL ARM. IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE HAD THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED! THE AFFECTED PAINT HAS BEEN SANDED AND PRIMED BUT OTHER SPOTS CONTINUE TO PEEL UP .*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor1 injured
Filed Apr 30, 200468,000 milesTN

THE CONSUMER WORKED FOR A GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND WAS FORCED TO DRIVE A DECOMMISSIONED VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD SEPARATED FROM THE MUFFLER. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED PERMANENT HEARING DAMAGE DO TO THE EXPLOSION. *LA

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 22, 200460,000 milesVA

I BOUGHT A USED 1993 DODGE DAKATO IN APRIL OF 96, AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE PAINT WAS ALREADY FLAKING OFF IN LARGE PIECES(BLUE/SILVER), AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REBUILT ONCE(60,000 MILES). SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE ALL OF THE PAINT IS GONE OFF THE HOOD AND ROOF, THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REBUILT AGAIN($1803.00), AND I REPLACED THE OVERHEAD CAM SENSOR 2X WITHIN 10 DAYS.I CONTACTED DODGE ABOUT THE PAINT FLAKING AND THEY OFFERED NO HELP.*AK

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Feb 12, 2004PA

THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE, OPENED THE HOOD AND VIEWED THE ENGINE ON FIRE. *PH *SC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
Filed Jan 23, 2004102,000 milesWY

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE ABS LOCKED UP THE FRONT WHEEL, BUT THE REAR WHEEL KEPT TURNING. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NORMAL . *AK THE CONSUMER ALMOST WRECKED 4-5 TIMES WHEN SLIPPERY. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FOUND LEAKING AND THE ABS DIAGNOSTIC MODULE FAILED. *SC *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 20, 2004WY

THE VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE REAR BRAKES. *PH THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. *SC

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 15, 2004120,000 milesVA

RED AND WHITE 93 DAKOTA. WHITE PAINT CHIPPING OFF. RED IS GOOD.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 15, 2004MN

PAINT HAS BEEN PEELING ON THE ROOF OF THE CAB AND THE HOOD OF THE TRUCK. THE AREA WHERE THE PAINT HAS PEELED HAS NOW RUSTED.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 15, 2004WA

I HAVE NOT STARTED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PAINT DUE TO IT STARTED PEELING REALLY BAD A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. A FRIEND OF MINE RECOMMENDED CONTACTING THE ZONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM DODGE TO SEE IF THEY WILL CORRECT THE ISSUE. I AM GOING CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE REPRESENTATIVE'S NAME. THE PAINT STARTED FLAKING SEVERAL YEARS AGO, NOTHING TO BE REALLY ALARMED AT. I JUST CHALKED IT UP TO NORMAL WEAR. TWO YEARS OR THREE YEARS AGO THE PAINT STARTED PEALING OFF IN SHEETS. A LIGHT BREEZE WILL FLAKE OFF A SHEET OF PAINT. NOW RUST IS STARTING TO SHOW ON THE AREAS THAT HAS HAD PAINT FLAKE OFF. PAINT HAS COME OFF THE HOOD AND CAB OF THE TRUCK. I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED. I LIKE YOUR WEBSITE. I FOUND SOME OF THE PROBLEMS OF MY TRUCK ON YOUR SITE, AT LEAST I KNOW THAT I AM NOT HEARING THINGS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST.

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 2, 200360,000 milesNY

ELECTRIC BLUE PAINT ON EVERY DAKOTA LITERALLY FLAKING OFF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE RIGHT DOWN TO THE PRIMER,HAS TO BE A PAINT DEFECT,CHRYSLER SAYS TOO BAD. EVERY DODGE THAT IS THIS COLOR LOOKS THIS WAY.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 29, 2003MN

THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING. *NLM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 23, 2003VA

THE VEHICLE RUNS FINE, BUT WHEN YOU STOP AT LIGHT OR SIGN THE VEHCLE WILL STALL. YOU CAN EVEN PUT IN NEUTRAL WHEN YOU STOP AND STILL STALLS. NOW THE TRUCK IS HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING. IT BACK FIRES AND RUNS ROUGH FOR A MIN. TO START YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE THROLLE DOWN FOR A MIN. HAS HAD FULL TUNE UP AND NEW CATALITIC CONVERT.

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 14, 2002MO

PAINT ON HOOD AND ROOF BEGAN TO BUBBLE (WHITE CHALKY APPEARANCE) AND PAINT BEGAN PEELING. MR

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 8, 2002NY

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT PAINT IS PEELING ONTO THE STRUCTURE AND BODY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, PLEASE CALL FEDERAL TRADE COMISSION AT 877-382-4357, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Jun 5, 2002WI

WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS HAS OCCURRED TO OTHER OWNERS OF DODGE DAKOTAS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum
Filed May 23, 2002NC

BRAKE ROTOR AND DRUM WARPED DUE TO HEAT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.*JB

Seats › Front Assembly › ReclinerCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 25, 2002AZ

SEATBACK FAILED DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING DRIVERS HEAD TO HIT REAR WINDOW. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly1 injured
Filed Jan 11, 2002NY

THE LAW FIRM REPRESENTING CONSUMER EXPLAINS THAT THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND BACKED OVER HIM, CONSUMER SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES.(ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). *JG

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Dec 28, 2001UT

REPLACEMENT TIRES, 20000 MILES, P215/75R15, DOT# C4X3600 A05 R, WHILE TRAVELING AT 65MPH DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE SEPARATED, AND THEN THE TIRE BLEWUP/SPLIT ON SIDEWALL. *AK *JG

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Oct 2, 2001WA

I NOTICED IN WINTER 2000 THE PAINT ON THE TOP OF THE TRUCK WAS PEALING. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR AN ESTIMATE I WAS TOLD IT WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT. THE PAINT LOSES COHESION WITH THE PRIMER USED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER DID AGREE TO PAY $218 TO FIX WHERE THE PAINT WAS PEALING AT THAT TIME. THE FIRST PAINT SHOP STATED IT WOULD ALL HAVE TO BE TAKEN TO BARE METAL TO PREVENT IT FROM CONTINUING. AT THIS TIME ABOUT A 1/3 OF THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD IS NEXT TO THE NON-PAINTED SURFACE. NO SAFETYDEFECT. *AK

Suspension › Front
Filed Jul 16, 2001TX

VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE TREMBLED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 9, 2001WY

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING, CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER 5 TIMES, BUT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Jun 4, 2001MI

FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT ONCE LOCKING INTO PLACE. *AK BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM, THE DRIVER SIDE WAS REPLACED AND STILL WILL NOT RETRACT ONCE LOCKING INTO PLACE. *SLC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Apr 16, 2001MA

ABS MALFUCTION IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE, CAUSING T PEDAL TO GO TO FLOOR, AND A DELAYED IN STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed Feb 11, 2001MI

HOOD LATCH FAILED CAUSING THE HOOD TO OPEN AND CRASH ON THE ROOF OF VEHICLE. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Feb 5, 2001ND

I HAD BEEN RUNNING A FEW ERRANDS AND HAD JUST LEFT MY CELLULAR PHONE COMPANY WHEN I AND A PASSENGER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. WE PROCEEDED TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOWS FOR A BUILDING ON FIRE WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY PICKUP BEGAN TO SLOW. I TRIED SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWN TO ANOTHER GEAR BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THERE. I WENT FROM PARK TO LOW AND IT ACTED LIKE THERE WAS NOTHING CONNECTED TO THE SHIFTER. I THEN TRIED DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND GOT NO RESPONSE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED. I THEN TRIED OPENING MY DRIVERS DOOR WHEN FLAMES SHOT UP BETWEEN THE DRIVERS DOOR AND THE CAB. I TURNED OFF THE TRUCK AS SMOKE STARTED TO FILL THE CAB AND I BAILED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. MY PASSENGER AND I MOVED WELL BEHIND THE PICKUP AND WATCHED AS FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE PICKUP AND SMOKE BILLOWED OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I CALLED 911 ON MY CELL PHONE. IN THE MEAN TIME A WITNESS HAD PULLED UP BEHIND US AND INFORMED ME THAT HE WAS TRYING TO FLAG US DOWN BECAUSE HE HAD SEEN FIRE UNDER THE TRUCK FOR AT LEAST 3 CITY BLOCKS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT. IT IN FOR SERVICE IN DEC. OF 2000 FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND INSPECTION, NO PROBLEMS WERE NOTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD, FOR IT IS A TWO WHEEL DRIVE. THERE HAS BEEN NO MAJOR MECHANICAL WORK DONE, JUST SOME MINOR ITEMS SUCH AS A WATER PUMP FALL OF 2000, BRAKE WOR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 1, 2000MA

TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 9:50X15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 9:50X15 )

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Nov 16, 2000WI

THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE BODY IN HUGE CHUNKS. I HAVE READ THAT THE PAINT COMING LOOSE AND FALLING OFF CAN BE A HAZARD AS THE WINSHEILD CAN COME OFF EASILY IF THE PAINT LOOSENS. I WANT CHRYSLER TO PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAINTING MY ENTIRE VEHICLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [email protected] OR 715-426-9974 THANKS, MIKE STARRETT. *NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

Tires
Filed Oct 27, 2000MI

TIRE SUDDENLY DEVELOPED ABOUT 20 LARGE CRACKS AROUND 270 DEGREES OF IT'S CIRCUMFERENCE CAUSING RAPID DEFLATION. TIRE HAS APPROX. 30,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD SHOWN NO ABNORMAL WEAR. VEHICLE LOCATION WAS RF SINCE NEW.*AK (DOT NUMBER: UU NX71278 TIRESIZE: P225/R7015)

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 29, 2000OH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 23, 2000TX

APPROACHED A SIGNAL LIGHT AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. HAD A HARD PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ENTERED THE INTERSECTION AGAINST THE LIGHT AND WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE THAT HAD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.

SeatsCrash2 injured
Filed Sep 11, 2000AK

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH I WAS REAR-ENDED. AT THAT TIME, BOTH OF THE FRONT SEATS BROKE, AND WE WERE THROWN BACKWARD. SUBSEQUENTLY, I COULD NOT SEE WHERE I WAS GOING NOR REACH THE BRAKE PEDAL, SO I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE POOR QUALITY OF THE SEAT DESIGN CONTRIBUTED TO HEAD AND NECK INJURIES, ACCORDING TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition › SwitchFire
Filed Sep 5, 2000MD

IGNITION SWITCH BECAME VERY HOT AND MELTED THE STEERING COLUMN PLASTIC, SMOKE EXITED KEY HOLE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AIR CONDITIONING AND BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING. *AK

Tires1 injured
Filed Aug 9, 2000MI

TIRE TREAD BLEW APART AFTER DRIVING 100 MILES IN 80 DEGREE WEATHER CAUSING TRUCK TO VEAR OFF THE HIGHWAY. SHREADED TIRE TREAD WHICH JUST SEPERATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE AND BEAT AGAINST THE FENDER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IN EXCESS OF $1000 . I CONTACTED (2) SEPERATE FIRESTONE DEALERS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, NEITHER FACILITY OFFERED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEFECT IN THESE TIRES AND IN FACT IMPLIED IT WAS MY FAULT. I SUFFERED DAMAGE TO MY RIGHT ARM, LEG AND FOREHEAD AS A RESULT OF THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 30X9.50R15 )

SteeringFire
Filed Aug 7, 2000LA

WIRING HARNESS FROM COMPUTER AND ENGINE TO STEERING WHEEL AT HOLO SWITCH(IGNITION SWITCH) HEATS UP AND CATHES FIRE AND MELTED PLASTIC SHROULD AT THIS TIME COMING TO A STOP ENGINE WILL DIE IT WILL CONTINUE TO RUN.

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Jul 26, 2000MA

THE BOLTS HOLDING THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBACK AND RACKET ASSY HAVE FAILED TWICE. THEY SEEM BRITTLE. SEATBACK WILL FALL REARWARD SUDDENLY. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Jul 25, 2000CO

PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT CLICK INTO RETRACTOR FOR SUPPORT. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
Filed Jul 21, 2000OH

SHIFT LEVER WILL NOT STAY IN PARK. VEHICLE WILL STILL MOVE EVEN WITH GEAR SELECTER IN PARK. CONSUMER MUST START VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL.*AK

Seats › Front Assembly › ReclinerCrash2 injured
Filed Jul 19, 2000OK

WHILE VEHICLE STOPPED IT WAS REAR ENDED, AND BOTH SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARD WITHOUT A WARNING. *AK BOTH THE PASSENGER AND THE DRIVER WERE INJURED IN THIS ACCIDENT, IN WHICH SEAT BACK RESTS COLLAPSED. *YH

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Jul 7, 2000MO

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-60 MPH IGNITION SWITCH GOT SO HOT THAT IT MELTED A HOLE IN THE STEERING COLUMN'S BOTTOM COVER. THIS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN BLOWER FAN WAS BEING USED ON HIGH SPEED. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. OWNER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH HIMSELF, BUT THE THE SWITCH STILL GETS HOT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper
Filed Jun 30, 2000MN

FRONT END SQUEAKED WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT FRONT CALIPER TREADS WERE STRIPPED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR BRAKE BACKING PLATES WERE POORLY ENGINEERED AND WERE MADE WITH UNSUITABLE METAL, THEY ARE RUSTED AND CORRODED. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor
Filed Apr 4, 2000MO

IT RUNS ROUGH SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES IT RUNS FINE, AND NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE RECENTLY REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER/MUFFLERS/EGR VALVE/OXYGEN SENSOR/IGNITION COIL/FUEL FILTER/AIR FILTER AND IT STILL CONTINUES TO RUN ROUGH. ANY THOUGHTS ON WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE????

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Apr 3, 2000IA

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 10, 2000CA

PAINT ON TOP OF PASSENGER CAB HAS BEGUN TO BUBBLE AND PEEL. THE PAINT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, WASHED AND WAXED IN A REGULAR BASIS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE AS I HAVE BEGUN TO NOTICE QUITE A FEW OF DOKOTA P/U'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT FOUND IN SUMMARY. *AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 1, 1999PA

NO SUMMARY.

Complaints 1-50 of 134, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
201144600Do not drive
201035700Do not drive
200918500Do not drive
200891210Do not drive
2007145420Do not drive
2006285671Do not drive
20054707270Do not drive
2004206561Fatalities reported
20032961150Above average
200267812182Fatalities reported
200167814112Fatalities reported
200080612142Fatalities reported
19996411060Above average
19985451216Fatalities reported
19974461261Fatalities reported
1996189261Fatalities reported
1995208161Fatalities reported
1994166442Fatalities reported
1993 — this page134260Routine
1992216280Above average
1991128550Routine
199063300Routine

Compare every Dakota year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 24, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.