RoadVitals

1989 Dodge Dakota Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
8
Latest Oct 24, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 63 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1989 Dodge Dakota submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Oct 24, 2004
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING DOWN 1994 AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED A HUGE FIRE. MELTING ALL THE WIRING AND DESTROYING THE TRUCK. THE DETROIT FIREDEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THE TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS. MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT BECAUSE I HAD BASIC COVERAGE. I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS A RECALL. I WAS NEVER CONTACTED. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1993 AFTER THE RECALL. I BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALER YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD HAVE FIXED IT. LUCKILY THE POLICE AND FIRE WERE CLOSE AND THEY PUT IT OUT BEFORE IT BLEW UP. THE FREEWAY WAS CLOSED FOR A WHILE AFTER THIS HAPPENED. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE TO MAKE DODGE REPAIR THIS? IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR 1 YEAR AND I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIX IT. I AM NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE BUT IT WAS A WEEK. *AK

NHTSA ID
10096295
Incident
Aug 10, 2003
Mileage
167,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 21, 2000

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND IT TAKE A WHILE TO RESTART. YH

NHTSA ID
551454
Engine
Filed Nov 26, 1999

MOTOR FAILED

NHTSA ID
715294
Incident
Nov 26, 1999
Engine
Filed Sep 3, 1998

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING.

NHTSA ID
539658
Incident
Feb 1, 1994
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 29, 1997

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ID
520406
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Jul 31, 1995

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID
484774
Incident
Jul 31, 1995
EngineTransmission
Filed Apr 10, 1995

CLUTCH REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
482637
Incident
Apr 10, 1995
EngineTransmission
Filed Mar 13, 1995

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID
481354
Incident
Mar 13, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Steering19Brakes8Transmission8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .