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Engine & cooling

Dodge Dakota Engine problems by year

555 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Dodge Dakota's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Engine complaints by model year

YearEngine complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20113000
20092000
20084110
20077000
200615000
200523100
200412100
200335001
200242101
200157141
200064271
199987201
199870301
199748001
199629110
199517000
199312010
199215050
19916000
19902001
19895001

Engine recalls

Latest Dakota engine complaints

1998 Dodge DakotaElectrical systemEngine & cooling

1 Safety recall found,Reprogram Pcm and inspect Catalytic Converter.I never got a recall notice in the mail just happen to go on line and find it.My engine light,Anti -brake light and emergency light stays on.My speedometer and odometer quit working.I took my truck to the Dodge dealership and they said the parts are discontinued and they cannot get them but they did do a inspection and said everything was ok.I still have the same problems and I am concerned about my safety and the safety of others involved while I am driving my truck.

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11486564
1998 Dodge DakotaElectrical systemBrakesEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was restarted and operated as designed. During the failure, there were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Additionally, while depressing the brake pedal a clicking noise was present and the vehicle would not immediately stop. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The...

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cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 210,000.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 11465684
2006 Dodge DakotaSuspensionEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 dodge dakota. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the vehicle started vibrating abnormally. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the vin was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 169,000.

Filed Incident Suspension · EngineNHTSA 11406104
1992 Dodge DakotaElectrical systemEngine & coolingFuel systemFire5 injuries

Well my truck when I am driving down the rd at night the lights will turn off out of no where and I almost got in a couple of wrecks because of it flickering and I have changed and fixed everything and it still dose it so it like a wire issue or something but I don't feel safe at all driving at night because of it then my engine will like stop or something when I am driving and jerk my truck on the side of the road and backfire hella bad like guns are going off and it's blew my muffler up...

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10 times and blew my catillac converter up 5 times and blew my headers off and broke the bolts inside my heads and I only have 169 k miles on it this should not be happening because this is dangerous and a safety issue for me and others on the rd and it can cause a wreck like I came really close I was going done the free way and it like stopped then jerked me into the barrier but thank god I avoided it then driving at night and the lights flickering off and on and jerking like it dose I had 2 wheels in a 5ft ditch because of that going 55 mph I would have died if I went fully in it then for the backfire and blowing my whole exhaust up I have seen 5 people wreck because of my exhust system they where fine but there car wasn't because of my exhust and I only get like 4 mpg I live like 10 miles from work and I have to fill it everyday because it sucks hella gas just only 20 miles round trip from full it's basically on empty like the next day I go to the gas station my gas light comes on

Filed Incident Electrical system · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11402594
2011 Dodge DakotaEngine & cooling

Bought this vehicle about 5 years ago from a local dealer with 28,000 miles on it.The previous owner bought it new.I have all the service records of what was done to it including oil changes every 3,000 miles.Have always treated it like a baby and bragged about it.Now has 84,016 miles on it and about 3 weeks ago the engine started knocking.Took it to a local dodge dealer and was told that it is a lower engine knock and that I needed a new engine.Called dodge to see if they would stand by their product up to 100,000 miles and was told their was nothing they could do about it.I believe they should stand by their product to at least 100,00 miles.Now I have a useless vehicle and nothing to drive

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11339556
2005 Dodge DakotaBrakesEngine & coolingFire

Tl* the contact owned a 2005 dodge dakota. The contact stated that while reversing into the driveway when the contact attempting to apply the brakes when the brake pedal floored failing to stop the vehicle. The contact applied the emergency brakes and looked under the hood of the vehicle where they noticed a burning odor. The contact shortly noticed that the vehicle had a fire near the engine of the vehicle. The contact stated they had their wife contact the fire department. The fire department put out fire. There...

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were no injuries and no medical assistance needed. Vehicle towed. The contact contacted the manufacturer to inform them that the fire report reported that the vehicle's master cylinder brake fluid leak caused fire. The vehicle deemed totaled. The manufacturer opened a case regarding the matter. The approximate failure mileage was 171,000.

Filed Incident Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 11331463
2011 Dodge DakotaEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 dodge dakota. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage, the contact became aware of a coolant leak. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the coolant reservoir was punctured by the front passenger side fender. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer (unknown) was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 72,000. The vin was invalid.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11311705
2002 Dodge DakotaElectrical systemEngine & cooling

This 2001 dodge dakota comes up with code p0601 it says it is a memory check sum error. It comes on intermittent in cold weather. If you clear the code it might come right back or it might stay off it is annoying sometimes it messes with the abs making the front right brake hang up

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11309374
2005 Dodge DakotaEngine & cooling

Ticking noise coming from exhaust manifolds! Exhaust manifold bolts & studs are breaking prematurely allowing exhaust gases to enter passenger compartment! New better grade exhaust manifold bolts & studs plus gaskets need to be installed on both left & right hand side manifolds with a recall to correctly repair this dangerous factory installed defect!!

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11246207
2005 Dodge DakotaEngine & cooling

Ticking noise from exhaust manifold. Exhaust manifold bolts & studs prematurely broke! Leaking exhaust fumes are able to enter passenger cabin & cause a safety hazard! This issue needs a safety recall to replace exhaust manifold gaskets, bolts & studs that are of an improved grade to correct this factory installation safety issue on both left & right hand exhaust manifolds!!

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11246205
2001 Dodge DakotaEngine & cooling

Takata recall exhaust manifold gasket fail over time and allowing more fumes and engine noise door pins none replaceible and wear out over time cause door damage

Filed Incident Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11196799
2009 Dodge DakotaElectrical systemEngine & cooling

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.

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11190223

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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