1994 Dodge Dakota

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 166 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the steering › steering wheel/handle bar. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal15
15010
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar13
403
Power Train › Automatic Transmission11
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip9
200
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner7
302
Air Bags6
204
Electrical System › Ignition5
000
Vehicle Speed Control4
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor4
000
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly4
000

4 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.

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar95V088000
Filed May 12, 1995293,043 vehiclesChrysler Corporation

Defect. WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE EXTRA KEYS ON A VEHICLE OPERATOR'S KEY RING CAN BECOME TEMPORARILY LODGED IN THE SCREW ACCESS HOLES IN THE BACK COVER OF THE STEERING WHEEL.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN HAMPER THE STEERING WHEEL RETURN ORCAUSE THE IGNITION TO BE TURNED OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK COVER WITH A REDESIGNED COVER.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm94V043000
Filed Mar 9, 19941,500 vehiclesChrysler Corporation

Defect. SOME UPPER CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BOLTS CAN FAIL DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT. THE BOLTS ARE TOO SOFT TO WITHSTAND THE STRESSES IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND CAN BREAK.

Risk. IF THE ATTACHING BOLTS OF THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BREAK, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. REPLACE THE UPPER CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BOLTS.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Mounting94V005000
Filed Jan 12, 19949,000 vehiclesChrysler Corporation

Defect. TWO FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP ATTACHING STUDS WERE NOT ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED, WHICH COULD CAUSE ONE OR BOTH OF THE STRAP(S) TO SEPARATE, MISLOCATING THE FUEL TANKS OR ALLOW COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE FUEL TANK FROM THE VEHICLE.

Risk. IN EITHER CASE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP(S) FAILURE RESULTS IN FUEL LEAKAGE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. THE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP ATTACHING STUDS WILL BE PROPERLY TIGHTENED.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed May 14, 2013AZ

FRONT LEFT DOOR SNAPPED OFF. I CAN'T OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. ALSO, BOTH SEAT BELTS SNAPPED, THE AIR AND HEAT DOESN'T WORK, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, WHICH AFFECTED THE STEERING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THREE TIMED, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER AND THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER RATTLED. THERE WAS A ROUGH IDLE AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. ALSO, I HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. THE IDLER ARM IS IN THE PROCESS OF BREAKING, THE IGNITION BROKE AFTER THE KEYS BECAME STUCK, THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND THE BEARING AND BUSHING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Feb 27, 2011235,000 milesPA

DODGE DAKOTA FRAME ROTTING OUT TOYOTA RECALLED THEIRS THE TRUCK IN GREAT SHAPE AND I HAVE SEEN ALOT OF TRUCKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM COULD CAUSE DEATH IN CRASH.*TR

Air Bags
Filed Oct 26, 2010109,580 milesNY

DRIVING DOWN ROAD, ABOUT TO TURN RIGHT, BUT AIRBAG DEPLOYED BEFORE I WAS OFF THE MAIN ROAD. HAD TO STOP IMMEDIATELY. HAD SLOWED DOWN TO APP. 10 MPH TO MAKE TURN. ROAD CLEAR. HAD MADE THIS TURN MANY TIMES BEFORE (ON WAY TO WORK). *TR

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch
Filed Nov 19, 200670,102 milesFL

NIGHT DRIVING, SMELLED ELECTRICAL SMOKE IN CAB. HEADLAMPS WENT OFF THEN CAME BACK ON AFTER 5 TO 10 SECONDS. MOVED HEADLAMP SWITCH IN AND OUT BUT CONDITION STILL PERSISTED. LUCKILY I WAS LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM HOME ON DIVIDED HWY WITH NO TRAFFIC. IF LAMP SWITCH IS OFF THEN THERE IS NO SMELL OF ELECTRICAL SMOKE. WHEN LAMP SWITCH IS IN EITHER THE PARKING OR THE HEADLAMP POSITION, CAN SMELL ELECTRICAL SMOKE AND LIGHT WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS SECOND FAILURE IN 2 YEARS. LAMP SWITCH FAILED. *JB

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 13, 2006180,000 milesIA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN DRIVER SIDE COLLISION. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS PRE-IMPACT BRAKING. THE OCCUPANT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUFFERED OF HYPERTHERMIA DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED.

Seats
Filed May 27, 2005169,900 milesNC

FRONT SEAT BOLT-DRIVER SIDE BROKE WITH SEAT GOING STRAIGHT BACK INTO BACK SEAT-REACHING FOR WALLET BOTH TIMES IT BROKE!

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed May 17, 2005161,000 milesIN

NO FAILURE JUST YET. EVERY SO OFTEN THE AIR BAG, ABS LIGHT COMES ON ONCE THAT HAPPENS THE FAN STOPS WORKING, THE POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK. NOW MY HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK AT ALL BUT MY PARKING LIGHTS WILL. I HAVE TRIED TO GET THE DEALER TO FIX IT UNDER A RECALL THEY WON'T DO IT. I KNOW IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist
Filed May 15, 200551,000 milesWA

SUDDEN NEAR-COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE BOLT HOLDING MASTER CYLINDER IN PLACE TO HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR. ON 05-14-2005, MY 18 YEAR OLD SON COMPLETED HIS SHIFT AT WORK. HE WENT OUT TO OUR 1994 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP AND STARTED THE ENGINE. AS HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL HE HEARD A METALLIC NOISE AS IF SOMETHING HAD BROKEN. HE DROVE TO OUR NEARBY RESIDENCE AT VERY LOW SPEED. THERE WAS NO COLLISION, BUT HE REPORTED SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED BRAKE PERFORMANCE. AT OUR RESIDENCE, MY MECHANIC AND I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. I AM A 21-YEAR EXPERIENCED POLICE COLLISION INVESTIGATOR. WE FOUND THAT THE LEFT (DRIVER SIDE) BOLT HOLDING THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER TO THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR (AKA: HYDROBOOST) HAD BROKEN OFF. THE BOLT APPEARS TO BE A LOW GRADE STUD THAT IS PRESSED INTO THE FORWARD COVER OF THE HYDROBOOST UNIT. THE BOLT / STUD IS OF SMALL DIAMETER FOR SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT. IT APPEARED TO BE OVER-TIGHTENED AT THE FACTORY (MOST LIKELY), OR WORE OUT DUE TO METAL FATIGUE (LESS LIKELY AS THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000 MILES ON IT). THERE IS A SECOND BOLT HOLDING THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE HYDROBOOST. THE SECOND BOLT HELD IN PLACE, ALLOWING REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FALLING DOWN AND TO THE RIGHT AT ABOUT A 35 DEGREE ANGLE. HAD THIS DEFECT OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, OR WHEN PULLING A LOAD, A CATASTROPHIC COLLISION WOULD HAVE LIKELY OCCURRED. THE TWO BOLTS APPEAR TO BE TOO SMALL IN DIAMETER FOR AN

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Upper Ball Joint
Filed Jan 14, 200534,000 milesPA

I HAVE A "PRISTINE" DODGE DAKOTA THAT I PURCHASED FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. IT CURRENTLY HAS 34,500 MILES ON IT AND I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE BALL-JOINTS/ UPPER & LOWER/BOTH SIDES. I HAVE HEARD OF RECALLS FOR DAKOTA BALL-JOINTS. DID ANY OF THE RECALLS COVER A 1994 MODEL ? - PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU. *JB

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 5, 2005500 milesIL

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH A DEER APPEAR OUT OF NO WHERE AND WAS HIT BY CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. IT WAS BADLY DAMAGED AND KNOCKED OFF THE ROAD. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. STEERING WHEEL SEPARATED AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO DRIVER'S RIGHT LEG. DRIVER WAS HOSPITALIZED. VEHICLE HAD OLD ENGINE REPLACED. THE DAKOTA SPORT WAS TOTALED.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS INCORRECT AND SENT AN UPDATED VERSION WHICH IS AS FOLLOWS: THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND A DEER JUMPED ONTO HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE ROAD TO THE LEFT INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPED THE VEHICLE OVER. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE FROM UNDER THE DASH INJURING THE CONSUMER. *TC

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint
Filed Dec 18, 2004110,000 milesTN

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND LOWER BALL JOINT ON RIGHT SIDE OF TRUCK BROKE . DID NOT WRECK. WHEEL FELL OFF OF TRUCK ALONG WITH AXLE END, BRAKE ROTOR AND CALIPER. SPINDLE ALSO BROKE . I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED SPINDLE AND AXLE BUT HAVE NOT YET PUT ALL BACK TOGETHER BECAUSE IM TRYING TO SEE IF MY TRUCK SHOULD BE IN WITH THIS BIG RECALL ON DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS. *JB

Air Bags
Filed Dec 1, 2004WI

SRS AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO WORK WHEN APPLIED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *TC

Seats › Front Assembly › ReclinerCrash
Filed Jan 28, 2004120,000 milesFL

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO RECLINE BACK. *AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 15, 200473,678 milesUN

PAINT PEELING OFF OF ROOF AND HOOD.

Seats › Front Assembly › ReclinerCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 10, 2003NY

WHILE WAITING AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › ReclinerCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 10, 2003VA

WHILE WAITING AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL . *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Jul 4, 2003IL

I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE AT LEAST 3 GAS FUEL PUMPS FOR MY 94 DODGE DAKOTA FOR THREE YEARS IN A ROW. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DODGE DEALER EACH TIME AN IT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM EVERY TIME. I ONLY USE ONE GAS STATION WHEN I'M NOT TRAVELING AND JUST IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD . I HAVE USED THE SAME TYPE OF GAS 1993 PREMIUM AND GAS STATION AMOCO SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND HAS NOT CHARGED ME THIS TIME FOR THE WORK. BUT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND OUT WHY I'M HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF THERE IS SOME OTHER DEFECTIVE PART THAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM, OR FIND OUT IF THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE GAS FUEL PUMPS FOR THAT VEHICLE. I COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING ON YOUR SITE.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Jul 3, 2003189,972 milesOK

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO RELEASE. THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO CUT THE SEAT BELT IN ORDER TO EXIT THE TRUCK. *JB *CB *NLM

Seat Belts › Front
Filed Apr 24, 2003170,000 milesWY

WHEN THE CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT CAME APART. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 24, 2003170,000 milesWY

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED IMPROPERLY. THE CONSUMER CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED UP, DUE TO WRONG INFORMATION PRINTED ON THE DIP STICK. *JB

20 of 166 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
201144600Do not drive
201035700Do not drive
200918500Do not drive
200891210Do not drive
2007144420Do 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
1994 — this page166442Fatalities reported
1993134260Routine
1992216280Above average
1991128550Routine
199063300Routine

Compare every Dakota year →

Reading this record

2 deaths reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

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.