RoadVitals

1988 Dodge Dakota

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
55
Latest Apr 2, 2008
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Jun 13, 1996
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
4

Overview

Our database contains 55 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Dodge Dakota, most frequently naming the steering, transmission and other / unspecified categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Steering2642.6%
  • Transmission914.8%
  • Other / unspecified46.6%
  • Engine46.6%
  • Body & structure34.9%
  • Fuel system23.3%
  • Interior & seats23.3%
  • Electrical23.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
96V094000

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

Jun 13, 1996
140,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRAME CAN CRACK AT THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT AND/OR THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS CAN FRACTURE.
The risk: THE STEERING GEAR CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD REINFORCEMENTS TO THE FRAME AND REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS. IF THE FRAME IS ALREADY CRACKED, THE STEERING GEAR WELD NUTS WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
88V074000

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

May 4, 1988
1,700 units potentially affected
The defect: MACHINING ERROR IN LOCATING WHEEL STUD HOLES MAY PREVENT FULL SEATING OF BRAKE DRUM TO SHAFT FLANGE.
The risk: WHEEL STUDS COULD LOOSEN, ALLOWING WHEEL TO SEPARATEFROM THE TRUCK.
The remedy: REPLACE AXLE SHAFTS AS NECESSARY.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
87V194000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

Dec 26, 1987
3,500 units potentially affected
The defect: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY CONTAIN A PARK SPRAG ROD ASSEMBLY THAT MAY STICK IN THE TOOTH BUTT UNENGAGED POSITION.
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL WITH THEGEAR SHIFT LEVER IN PARK POSITION.
The remedy: ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES WILL HAVE THE PARK SPRAG ROD ASSEMBLIES REPLACED.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 55
Steering
Filed Apr 2, 2008

RE: STEERING RECALL AS ISSUED... NHTSA ACTION # PE96003 FOR DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLE. RECALL WAS FOR STEERING BOX "OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION" STEERING. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD A ISSUE WITH A WANDERING VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR MANY YEARS. DEALER COULD NEVER FIND A PROBLEM. I FOUND THE STEERING RACK AND PINION MOUNTING POINTS STRESS FRACTURED, WELD NUT MOUNTS PULLED AWAY. VISUAL CRACKING AROUND AREA AT THE BACK OF THE CROSS MEMBER. DODGE SAID RECALL WAS ONLY FOR THE STEERING GEAR BOX MOUNTS. WHY WAS THE RACK AND PINION MOUNTS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL? ENTIRE RACK ASSEMBLY WAS LOOSE ALL THESE YEARS BECAUSE OF A "DEFECT IN WELDING" FROM THE FACTORY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10223107
Incident
Mar 10, 2008
Mileage
118,100 mi
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Dec 3, 2004

DECORATIVE END COVERS CAME OFF OF WHEEL NUT. WHEEL NUT CATCH 1/2 " OF THE END OF LUG BOLTS. *BF *TC

NHTSA ID
10105398
Incident
Dec 1, 2004
Other / unspecified
Filed Mar 26, 2003

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT DESCRIBED IN RECALL RECALL NUMBER 88 V 074 (WHEEL, LUGS, NUTS). THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10012494
Engine
Filed Mar 18, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN EXHAUST LEAK. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10012004
Incident
Feb 28, 2003
Mileage
47,950 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 21, 2001

AFTER MARKET BRAKE PAD RIVET FAILURE CAUSING SEPARATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
754766
Incident
Nov 17, 1999
Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 23, 2001

SPARE TIRE MOUNTING CABLE CORRODED, CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO SEPARATE FROM UNDER BODY MOUNT, AND ALLOWING SPARE TIRE TO FALL IN THE STREET.

NHTSA ID
9002915
Incident
May 22, 2001
Transmission
Filed Sep 12, 2000

GEAR LEVER DOES NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE INTO PARK AND SOMETIMES GETS STUCK IN PARK. *AK

NHTSA ID
731111
Seat belts
Filed Sep 15, 1999

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE THREE TIMES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED IN 1988. THE BUCKLE JUST CAME APART WHEN TRYING TO SNAP THE LOCKING MECHANISM IN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. ALSO, PASSENGER REAR BELT BUCKLE BROKE THREE TIMES. AK

NHTSA ID
845255
Incident
Aug 1, 1999

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

050399

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT BRAKE CALIPER MOUNTING TO STEERING KNUCKLE THREAD REPAIR. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Dodge Dakota by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2011446160.0
2010357162.1
2009185155.1
2008912149.0
20071444460.2
20062846562.3
20054707564.4
20042065049.7
200329511155.5
200267812159.6
200167814259.8
200080612463.7
199964110158.3
199854512157.8
199744612159.0
19961892156.0
19952081255.0
19941664465.7
19931342157.8
19922162362.1
19911285364.1
1990633155.0
1989633052.7
1988Viewing553050.5
1987202048.9
1986100—
1985200—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.