Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 1999 Dodge Dakota submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 73 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.
The 25 most recent of 73, in the owner's own words
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY IN A UNPREDICTABLE PATTERN. VEHICLE RESTARTS AFTER STALLING 7 OUT OF 10 TIMES. WHEN IT WONT RESTART IMMEDIATELY AFTER STALLING IT WILL TAKE UPWARDS OF 10 MINUTES TO ACHIEVE ENGINE OPERATION. I'VE REPLACED THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR, AS WELL THE CAM POSITION SENSOR. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY.
IM NOT ALWAYS IN A GOOD PLACE TO STOP WHEN IT DIES ON ME,I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A CAR A FEW TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS, IT DIES AND WONT RESTART FOR AWHILE, I THINK ITS IN THE COMPUTER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AFTER PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE STALLING OF THE VEHICLE OCCURRED AT LEAST SIX TIMES EVEN THOUGH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
I OWN A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA V-8 MAGNUM 5.2L, IT ONLY HAS 138,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I BOUGHT IT IT ONLY HAD 76,600 MILES. IN THAT LITTLE TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS TWICE, AND THE RACK AND PINION, AND THE WATER PUMP, THE THERMOSTAT, THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THE TIE RODS, AND THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WRONG. WHY AM HAVING TO REPLACE THESE THINGS TWICE IN SUCH LITTLE MILEAGE? AFTER READING UP ON IT THROUGH THE INTERNET I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE PROBLEMS, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS, WHY IS THERE A RECALL ON THE 2000, & 1998 BUT NOT 1999? I AM OUT SO MUCH MONEY AND HAVE ALMOST WRECKED MY TRUCK TWICE BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS, ONCE WITH 6 KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME AND AGAIN WITH MY 3 KIDS. THIS NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BEFORE SEVERAL PEOPLE GET HURT OR WORSE, DIE!!! *TR
INTAKE MANIFOLD PAN GASKET WAS LEAKING. THIS PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED DURING AN INSPECTION BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, CONFIRMED AND REPAIRED BY A DODGE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE DAKOTA WAS RUNNING WELL. REPAIR COST $664.72. DODGE WAS AWARE OF THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, AND ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THE YEAR I PURCHASED THE TRUCK. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS CONSIDERED DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE, DODGE DID NOT NOTIFY ME AND SUGGEST THAT I HAVE THE VEHICLE TESTED WHILE STILL ON WARRANTY. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. DODGE HAS DECLINED TO ASSIST IN THE COST OF REPAIR. *TR
WATER PUMP FAILED. DUE TO RECENT FAILURES ON THIS DODGE DAKOTA, I HAVE ALSO BECOME AWARE THAT WATER PUMP FAILURES WERE COMMON ON DAKOTAS. THIS FAILURE MODE WAS KNOWN TO DODGE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY DODGE. *TR
PREMATURE BALL JOINT FAILURE RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE REPAIR COSTS, PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION, EXCESSIVE OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP CAUSING LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. *TR
I HAD BOUGHT MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA IN 2001, LESS THAN 1 YEAR OF PURCHASING THIS TRUCK, I LOST OIL PRESSURE, RETURNED THE TRUCK TO DEALER WHERE THEY TRIED TO REPLACE MY MOTOR WITH A MOTOR THAT HAD MORE MILES, THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. THEN ANOTHER YEAR LATER, GEARS IN MY TRANSMISSION WERE SPENT WHERE I HAD TO PAY A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. TRUCK HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A YEAR, CAUSE OF ENGINE KNOCKING AGAIN, WITH NO OIL PRESSURE, ALSO REPLACED THE OIL PUMP, STILL NO PRESSURE. NEW CONVERTER WAS PUT IN, STILL GOOD!! BRAKES AND ROTORS ARE ANOTHER BIG COMPLAINT OF MINE, WHEN I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE THESE PARTS, LIKE EVERY 6 MONTHS, CAN YOU TELL ME WHY? I USED TO LOVE DODGE, BUT THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN A 1 BIG HEADACHE, EVEN PARKED, CAUSE I KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE COSTLY TO REPAIR IT AGAIN. *JB
THIS WEB SITE UNDER VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE THE CORRECT CHOICES FOR A 98 DODGE DAKOTA 2 DOOR CLUB CAB TRUCK - MANUFACTURER CHRYSLER 2 ISSUE 1 - DESIGN FLAW IN THE BALL JOINTS OF THE DADGE DAKOTA TRUCKS A) WE REPLACED THEM APRIL 2003 COST TO US $1107.89 B) TV SPECIAL AIRED ABOUT DEFECTS DEC 2003 AND DEC 2004 C) LOOKING FOR REIMBERSMENT - OLD PART NOT AVAILABLE 2 - CATALYTIC CONVERTER A) HAVING OUR THIRD CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED - KNOWN DEFECT BUT CHRYSLER WILL NOT COVER THE COST. REPLACEMENT SCHEDULED FOR 3/28/06. *JB
MY SON ESCAPED DANGER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION/TORQUE CONVERTER OF HIS 1999 DODGE DAKOTA WENT OUT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. AFTER REPLACING THAT AND HEADING BACK HOME, HIS U JOINTS AND WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT ALMOST CAUSING ANOTHER WRECK. THESE WERE ALL REPAIRED. SO FAR $3000 IN REPAIRS IN A MONTH. THEN THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO AS HE WAS DRIVING. NOW THE OIL PUMP NEEDS REPLACED. ALONG WITH THE TIE END RODS, THE TIMING CHAIN, AND THE SERPENTINE. HE'D ALREADY HAD THE TOTAL BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED THIS SUMMER. HAVING ALL THE RECEIPTS SHOWING REGULAR OIL CHANGES, THE WARRANTY COMPANY REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE OIL PUMP BECAUSE OF SOME SLUDGE IN THE PUMP. NOW I FIND FROM RESEARCHING ON THE COMPUTER THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN DURANGOS AND DAKOTAS. WE'VE PUT $5000 IN THIS TRUCK IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH. THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO ADMIT THE FLAWS IN THIS VEHICLE. THEY HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY HERE. WE ARE JUST GLAD HE WAS NOT INJURED OR KILLED. BUT WE'VE PUT OVER $5000 IN A '99 VEHICLE - WHICH IS UNFAIR WHEN THE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF THE VEHICLE. *NM
AT 79,729 MILES AND ALL THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES AT THE DEALERSHIP (LAST ONE AT 70,000) THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, THE "CHECK GAUGES" LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND CHECKED FLUID LEVELS (OIL, TRANSMISSION, AND RADIATOR) WHICH WERE FINE. OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP TO 0 AND JUMP BACK TO 40 WHEN ENGINE WAS RESTARTED. THINKING (INCORRECTLY) THAT IT MIGHT ONLY BE AN OIL PRESSURE SENSOR FAILURE, I TRIED TO DRIVE HOME TO GET IT SERVICED THE NEXT DAY, BUT IT BEGAN KNOCKING AND SMOKING AFTER A FEW MILES AND HAD TO BE TOWED. IT IS BEING EVALUATED NOW, BUT IT WILL PROBABLY INVOLVE A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT TO REPAIR. I NOTICED SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND THINK THAT DODGE SHOULD OWN UP TO THIS DEFECT. *NM
DODGE DAKOTA 99, 2WD. BUMPER PREMATURELY RUSTS. EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS PREMATURELY RUST CAUSING MANIFOLD TO SEPARATE FROM ENGINE BLOCK. POSSIBILITY OF CAUSING EXHAUST GASES TO ENTER DRIVERS CABIN. DODGE WILL NOT FIX FAILURE - WARRANTY EXPIRED. *NM
IN 2003, WHEN MY VEHICLE, A DODGE DAKOTA PICK-UP WAS DUE A SMOG CHECK. MILEAGE WAS ONLY APPROXIMATELY 39,900 MILES. IT FAILED. IT FAILED 3 TIMES. AFTER PAYING ABOUT $800.00 IT PASS THE SMOG TEST. THIS YEAR, MY PICK-UP WAS DUE A SMOG TEST. THE MILEAGE WAS 49,900 MILES, AGAIN IT FAILED THE SMOG TEST (TWICE NOW). TO THIS DATE, IT HAS NOT PASSED THE SMOG TEST AND COST HAS ALREADY GONE TO APPROXIMATED $300.00. *NM
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WORE OUT COMPLETELY. WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE IN EITHER DIRECTION THE WHEELS SQUEAKED AND CLANKED WHEN TURNING AND GOING OVER BUMPS. *AK DEALER FOUND RIGHT UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHING NOISY. COOLING SYSTEM LEAK. THERMOSTAT AND GASKET REPLACED. *TT
DODGE DAKOTA 1999 CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE FRONT END WOBBLE, BRAKE VIBRATION AND UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINT PROBLEM. *BF THE SHOCK ABSORBERS AND TRANSFER CASE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKED AND THERE WAS EXTRA PLAY IN THE STEERING. A PIECE OF THE EXHAUST FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. *JB
DODGE DAKOTA 1999 NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BALL JOINT AND STEERING MECHANISMS. *BF THERE WERE ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR END, TRANSMISSION, ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHTS, POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE WHICH CONSISTED OF HESITATION AND LOSS OF POWER ESPECIALLY WHEN UNDER A LOAD-GOING UP AND HILL AND SEEMED TO GET WORSE AS THE GAS LEVEL IN THE TANK LOWERED, HARD ABRUPT SHIFTING WHEN IN REVERSE AND PARK TO REVERSE, LOUD RUBBING WHICH WAS INTERMITTENT WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AND WHEN STOPPING, THE FRONT WOULD SHAKE, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT WAS NOT VISIBLE ON THE DASH WHEN ACTIVATED AND WOULD ONLY SHOW WHEN THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE WAS ACTIVATED, AND THERE WAS A WOBBLE, FLEXING AND OR VIBRATION THAT WOULD BE PRESENT WHEN BRAKING ALONG WITH A LOOSE FEELING OR WOBBLE WHEN TURNING THE FRONT WHEELS. *SC *JB
NUMEROUS FRONT END/ENGINE, EXHAUST, BRAKE AND ELECTRICAL MAFUNCTIONS/MECHANICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING INCREASING SEVERITY FRONT END WOBBLING/VIBRATION/FLEXING WHEN TURNING WHEELS, GOING DOWN A HILL AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED YET BUT OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED WITH SAFETY OF VEHICLE AND OPERATION. I HAVE CONTACTED,COMPAINED, CALLED.E-MAILED AND FAXED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THIS 1999 DODGE DAKOTA WITH SUPPOSSEDLY ONLY 44951 MILES -MITCHELL PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED ON QUEEN STREET IN SOUTHINGTON, CT AND ALSO THE MITCHELL CONGLOMERATE OWNER STEVE MITCHELL AS WELL AS MITCHELL DODGE IN SIMSBURY, CT WHO PROVIDED THIS SUPPOSSEDLY INSPECTED, CERTIFIED SAFE VEHICLE TO MITCHELL IN SOUTHINGTON, CT FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC. *AK
TO DATE, I HAVE REPLACED THE FOLLOWING: 1) UPPER BALL JOINTS - BOTH SIDES 2) LOWER BALL JOINTS - BOTH SIDES 3) CALIPERS - BOTH SIDES (FRONT) 4) WATER PUMP 5) WHEEL HUBS - BOTH SIDES (FRONT) 6) CATALYTIC CONVERTER 7) HEADLAMP SWITCH. *JB NOW, I HAVE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: 1) HEADLAMP SWITCH (AGAIN) 2) TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS 3) UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. *JB
CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE, EXCESSIVE RATTLING AND NOISE DURING OPERATION. *JB
WHEN MAKING SHARP TURN A POPPING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK THE REPORTS WERE MADE WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD RELATIVELY LOW MILES. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE BALL JOINTS INDICATED THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A QUOTE TO REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINT BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. THE LOWER BALL JOINT ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER ALSO HEARD A RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OR HIGHER THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF WIND NOISE. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR WEATHER STRIP. *NM
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE STALLED 2 SECONDS LATER. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF OIL PUMP FAILURE. THE OIL PRESSURE WASN'T BEING EVENLY DISTRIBUTED, AND IT DESTROYED THE ENGINE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED OIL LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED.*AK
OIL PRESSURE LIGHT GOES TO 0 AND BACK TO 40 THEN STAYS AT 0. NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEMS WITH OIL PUMP AND OIL SENDING UNIT, SCREENS AND ETC. OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED FOR FREE. *JB
FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IN MY 99 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 38,900 MILES ON IT. CHRYSLER DAIMLER COVERED ONLY PARTS. IT COST ME 370 DOLLARS TO GET IT REPAIRED. I CONTESTED WHEN THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY COVER PARTS. CHRYSLER STATED THAT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THIS IS ALL THEY WOULD DO. I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT VERY LOW MILES ON THIS CHRYSLER PRODUCT. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. CHRYSLER WON'T TALK TO ME ANYMORE. THEY STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY I COULD STILL FIGHT IT WAS TO PAY THE FULL PRICE FOR THE REPAIR AND THEN CONTEST IT. I NEEDED MY TRUCK BACK. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IT FAR DO TO THE OIL CONSUMPTION. I WAS STUCK. I PAID IT CAUSE I NEEDED A VEHICLE. AGE SHOULDN'T MATTER IN A CASE LIKE THIS. 38,900 IS WAY TO LOW OF MILES FOR A MAJOR REPAIR LIKE THIS. I AM WORRIED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND THAT CHRYSLER WILL JUST SAY "TOUGH". I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB WHERE PEOPLE HAVE HAD IT REPLACED 3 TIMES WITHIN 100,000 MILES. *NM
EXCESSIVE ENGINE KNOCK.PPER BALL JOINT FAILURE.NADEQUATE HEADLIGHT PROJECTION ON LOW BEAM. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .