2009 Dodge Dakota Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 Dodge Dakota, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)628.6%
- Airbags523.8%
- Electrical314.3%
- Tires & wheels29.5%
- Engine29.5%
- Other / unspecified14.8%
- Driver assistance14.8%
- Brakes14.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE REAR AXLE PINION NUT ON YOUR VEHICLE MAY LOOSEN DUE TO UNDERSIZED PINION SHAFT SPLINES. A LOOSE PINION NUT COULD CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO SEIZE OR CAUSE THE DRIVE SHAFT TO SEPARATE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER. EITHER SITUATION COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. *TR
SAFETY RECALL N08/NHTSA 13V-038 WAS ANNOUNCED MAY 13 2013. SINCE THAT DAY I HAVE REPEATEDLY CONTACTED THE DEALER,[XXX], REQUESTING THAT THE RECALL REPAIR BE PERFORMED ON MY 2009 DODGE DAKOTA. EVERY TIME I CALL THEY TELL ME THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS. THEY ALSO TELL ME THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL GET THE PARTS. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT FOUR MONTHS AFTER A RECALL IS ANNOUNCED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ARE DOING NOTHING TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. IT IS MORE UNACCEPTABLE TO ME THAT IT APPEARS NHTSA IS DOING NOTHING TO ENFORCE THEIR RECALLS. THE NOTICE STATES THAT MY VEHICLE "COULD CRASH WITHOUT WARNING"! WHEN IS NHTSA GOING TO REQUIRE CHRYSLER TO REPAIR THESE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES? THIS MONTH? NEXT MONTH? NEXT YEAR? IS THERE ANY DEADLINE FOR THESE REPAIRS TO BE DONE? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6), *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V313000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V313000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO BE CONNECTED TO A REPRESENTATIVE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TRUCK STOPING WHILE DRIVING HAD REPLACE TIPM ON CITY AND HIGHWAY
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DEFLATED AND WARPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE HOUSING WAS FRACTURED. THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED. TWO DAYS AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS FOUND TO BE DEFLATED AND WARPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE HOUSING AND SENSOR WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,200.
WHILE TRAVELING AT AN APPROXIMATED SPEED OF 15MPH ON A FOREST SERVICE ROAD THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE BLEW OUT. WEATHER WAS CLEAR, 70 DEGREES F. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
VEH RPM STARTED TO GO UP ON ITS OWN .I STOPPED VEHICLE PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND ENGINE WOULD REV UP FROM 1400 RPM TO 2400 RPM EVERY 2 SECONDS I TURNED VEH OFF AND RESTARTED AND ENGINE STAYED AT 2400 RPM AND WOULD NOT COME DOWN TO A NORMAL IDLE SPEED. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEH HOME. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR SEPARATE TIMES WITH SAME RESULTS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DEFLATED AND WARPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE HOUSING WAS FRACTURED. THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED. TWO DAYS AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS FOUND TO BE DEFLATED AND WARPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE HOUSING AND SENSOR WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,200.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEH RPM STARTED TO GO UP ON ITS OWN .I STOPPED VEHICLE PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND ENGINE WOULD REV UP FROM 1400 RPM TO 2400 RPM EVERY 2 SECONDS I TURNED VEH OFF AND RESTARTED AND ENGINE STAYED AT 2400 RPM AND WOULD NOT COME DOWN TO A NORMAL IDLE SPEED. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEH HOME. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR SEPARATE TIMES WITH SAME RESULTS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
After starting the Dakota, I pushed on the brake pedal so I could put the automatic transmission in Drive. My foot went all the way to the floor. I tried again with the same result. I checked the brake fluid reservoir. It was a bit low, but not empty. When the tow truck arrived to haul it away, I noticed a pool of brake fluid on the driveway approximately below the master cylinder. It is clear the brake system experience a catastrophic failure. I will know more when my mechanic reports what he has found. He suspects corrosion on the brake line. No one was hurt and there was no property damage because I did not put the truck in gear.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .