RoadVitals

2008 Dodge Dakota Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
13
Latest May 22, 2019
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.
14%
of 91 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 electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Dodge Dakota submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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 electrical

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

Electrical
Filed May 22, 2019
Fire reported

RISK OF FIRE BY WRONG SIZED FUSED IN POWER OUTLET. I ALMOST BURN THE TRUCK CHARGING A DRONE (57W CHARGER) PARKING AND LEFT ALONE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, WHEN I BACK THE CABIN WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. FIRST I THINK IN THE LITHIUM BATTERIES CATCHING FIRE, BUT NO, THE SMOKE COMES FROM BEHIND THE DASH. QUICKLY I REMOVED THE 20A FUSE AND LEFT LIKE THIS. I ORDERED THE REPLACEMENT OUTLET AND TODAY WHEN I WAS TO CHANGE I FOUND THE WIRES COMPLETE MELTED. CHECK THE SERVICE MANUAL AND SHOWS A 18AWG WIRE PROTECTED WHIT 20A FUSE. PROBABLY A INHERITED FROM SOME OLD DODGE RAM WHICH ONE HAVE A 20A FUSE AND 14AWG WIRE. CHECKING SOME NEWS MODELS AND HAVE 18AWG TOO, SO IT COULD BE MORE VEHICLES IN POTENTIAL RISK OF FIRE. THE USER MANUAL, PRINTED, DIGITAL ONLINE, THE FUSE BOX COVER, SERVICE MANUAL, EVERYWHERE SAYS 20A FUSE FOR A THIN 18AWG WIRE.

NHTSA ID
11209358
Incident
May 22, 2019
Mileage
100,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 19, 2019

MY ENGINE TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. I CANNOT RESTART THE ENGINE UNTIL I HAVE STOPPED, SHIFTED TO PARK, AND CYCLED THE IGNITION TO OFF. THE ENGINE STALLING STARTED AS A LOW/SLOW IDLE CONDITION, AND NOW HAS ESCALATED TO CUTTING OFF AT FULL ACCELERATION WHILE MERGING INTO EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL DATES. I AM SELECTING THE DATE OF MY LAST REMEMBERED OCCASION.

NHTSA ID
11197318
Incident
Feb 18, 2019
Mileage
57,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 13, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM TWO WHEEL DRIVE TO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL BRYAN CHRYSLER (3401 US-441, FRUITLAND PARK, FL 34731) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
11072651
Incident
Aug 31, 2017
Mileage
150,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jan 2, 2017

THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WORKS WHEN IT WANTS AND WHEN I TURN IT ON THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL COMES ON. THE WIPERS AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE CURRENTLY GOING OUT OR COMING ON BY THEMSELVES. I HAVE AN ERROR ON THE AIRBAGS (WHICH HAVE HAD THE DRIVERS REPLACED AND CURRENTLY AWAITING THE PASSENGERS, PLUS THE NEW RECALL ON THE HOSE TO THE AIR BAGS). THIS ISSUE STARTED AT AROUND 120K MILES. THE FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND PASSED. THE BULBS-REPLACED. THE SITUATION IS GETTING WORSE AS THE DASH AND INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THE NIGHT LIGHTS WENT OUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING ONE NIGHT AND DO NOT DRIVE AFTER DUSK ANYMORE. ALL OF THIS HAPPENS DRIVING. THE TURNS DO IT WHETHER I AM MAKING A TURN OR PULLING OUT OR EVEN TESTING THEM PARKED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10939113
Incident
Jun 1, 2015
Mileage
125,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 25, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO RESET THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER AND RADIO COULD NOT BE USED SIMULTANEOUSLY OR IT WOULD CAUSE ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE DIAGNOSED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V313000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,025.

NHTSA ID
10777753
Incident
Sep 25, 2015
Mileage
57,025 mi
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Aug 31, 2015

POSSIBLE SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM EFFECTING SAFETY EQUIPMENT. SEATBELT WARNING CONTINUES TO ALARM WHEN SEATBELTS ARE WORN AND/OR FASTENED WITHOUT PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE. AUDIBLE ALARM STOPS AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS WITHOUT FREQUENT STOPS FOR TRAFFIC,STREET LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS (IE: FREEWAY), HOWEVER, VISUAL WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON DASH. HORN EFFECTED - FUSE BLOWS AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT EACH TIME HORN IS USED. SEAT BELT SYSTEM PROBLEMS BEGAN IN 2013 WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT APPROX. 60MPH. HORN PROBLEMS BEGAN IN 2014.

NHTSA ID
10760321
Incident
Jul 1, 2013
Mileage
80,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed May 27, 2015

CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILED CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER HARSH DOWNSHIFT FROM TRANSMISION AT SPEED AND LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEARING COULD GET SOMEONE KILLED IF IT WAS IN A INTERSECTION OR ON THE HIGHWAY REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE FREE + TOWING

NHTSA ID
10721805
Incident
Apr 29, 2015
Mileage
25,000 mi
ElectricalOther / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Nov 20, 2014

RIGHT REAR TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR INTERNAL FAILURE, LEADING TO NEED FOR REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10659867
Incident
Jul 5, 2013
Mileage
62,692 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 19, 2014

THIS TRUCK HAS HAD TO BE TOWED IN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES IN THE 15 MONTHS SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TELLS ME IT IS DUE TO THE TIPM. THE FAILURE OF THIS PART MAKES THE VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE TO START. APPARENTLY CHRYSLER HAS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THIS PART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10637452
Incident
Sep 16, 2013
Mileage
59,464 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Jun 12, 2014

WIND SHIELD WIPER MOTOR IS GOOD BUT SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE. ONLY WIPES VERY SLOW IS VERY DANGERS FOR ME TO TRAVEL WHEN ITS RAINING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10597873
Incident
Jun 12, 2014
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Sep 15, 2011

TURN SIGNALS AND WIPERS INTERMITTENT. PUSH LEVER DOWN AND RIGHT SIGNAL MAY BLINK, OR NO SIGNAL, OR LEFT SIGNAL. PUSH LEVER UP AND RIGHT SIGNAL MAY BLINK OR NOTHING AT ALL. IF SIGNALS DO WORK PROPERLY AS THEY SWITCH OFF (EITHER MANUALLY OR WHEN THE TURN IS COMPLETED) OPPOSITE SIGNAL MAY BLINK 1-3 TIMES. WHILE SWITCHING FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM AND VICE VERSA WINDSHIELD WASHER AND WIPERS WILL TURN ON FOR 3-4 SWIPES. *KB

NHTSA ID
10425687
Incident
Oct 21, 2010
Mileage
45,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Sep 23, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED WATER ON THE SEATS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE DOOR GASKETS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECURRED. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE RADIO INTERMITTENTLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA ID
10357149
Incident
Dec 11, 2008
Electrical
Filed Sep 3, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT HEARS STATIC IN EVERY RADIO STATION IN HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE RADIO SYSTEM IN ALL OF THE MANUFACTURER'S VEHICLES. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7. UPDATED 09/29/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/29/08. *JB

NHTSA ID
10240801
Incident
Jun 10, 2008
Mileage
7 mi

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .