IllustrationWHEN SWITCHING FROM 4H TO 2H ON 89 DODGE DAKOTA ON FLOOR SHIFTER IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO ENGAGE AND WHEN IT DOES IT JARS THE VEHICLE TO A SIDE JERKING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT SUDDENLY. *JB
1989 Dodge Dakota
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Dodge Dakota are lower than the model-year median of 166.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Dakota years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 6 of 63 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
Power Train complaints
12 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTS INTO REVERSE OR IF PARKED ON AN INCLINE WILL ROLL DOWN A HILL. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT PROPERLY LOCK INTO THE PARKING GEAR. NO EXAMINATION OR REPAIRS WERE MADE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 00V106000 REGARDING POWERTRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTS INTO REVERSE OR IF PARKED ON AN INCLINE WILL ROLL DOWN A HILL. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT PROPERLY LOCK INTO THE PARKING GEAR. NO EXAMINATION OR REPAIRS WERE MADE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 00V106000 REGARDING POWERTRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND MELTED.*MR *PH *NM
HAVING ALOT OF HOWLING IN THE DRIVESHAFT??AND THEY DON'T WHY.*AK
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. THEN IT MADE A CLUNKING NOISE.THE DRIVESHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE & THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. WAS TOWED TO SHOP THE REAR END OF DRIVESHAFT WAS SHOT. HAD THE WRONG REAR END PUT IN VEHICLE. HAD TO REPLACE IT. *AK
TH
THE TRUCK WAS IN PARK , LEAVING THE ENGINE IDLING AND GOT OUT TO OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR. UPON TURNING AROUND THE TRUCK WAS MOVING BACKWARDS OUT THE DRIVEWAY. RUNNING TO CATCH VEHICLE BEFORE IT REACHED THE STREET, DRIVER OPENED THE DOOR AND TRIED TO ENTER VEHICLE. DRIVER WA SKNOCKED TO THE PAVEMENT. VEHICLE PROCEEDED ACROSS THE ST…
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THE TRUCK WAS IN PARK , LEAVING THE ENGINE IDLING AND GOT OUT TO OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR. UPON TURNING AROUND THE TRUCK WAS MOVING BACKWARDS OUT THE DRIVEWAY. RUNNING TO CATCH VEHICLE BEFORE IT REACHED THE STREET, DRIVER OPENED THE DOOR AND TRIED TO ENTER VEHICLE. DRIVER WA SKNOCKED TO THE PAVEMENT. VEHICLE PROCEEDED ACROSS THE STREET AND HEADWD TO MAIN ENTRANC EOF HOSPITAL. RUNNIN GOVER CEMENT PARKING STOPS OR THE CURB TURNED FRON TWHEELS TRUCK MADE A CIRCLE AND LANDED BACK OUT ON THE STREET. ATTAMPTING TO ENTER VEHICLE A SECOND TIME, DRIVER WAS AGAIN KNOCKED TO THE PAVEMENT, SUSTAINING A BROKEN COLLAR BONE/HEAD CONCUSSION AND SEVERE TISSUE AND KNEE DAMAGE. *AK
VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK TO REVERSE BY ITSELF AND RAN OVER AND KILLED THE OWNER.SAME OCCURRENCE LAST FALL AND THE VEHICLE BY ITSELF HIT A BLDG.DETAILS. *AK
REAR DIFFERENTIAL SPIDER GEAR AND EXCITER RING FAILED TWICE. *DSH
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.
Official recalls
301V232000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
Jul 6, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4X2 PICKUP TRUCK CONVERTIBLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES (BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 1988 - JUNE 1990) AND 4X2 PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE SHELBY PACKAGE (BUILT OCTOBER 1988 - JUNE 1989). THE FRAME CAN CRACK AT THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT AND/OR THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS CAN FRACTURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE STEERING GEAR CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD REINFORCEMENTS TO THE FRAME AND REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS. IF THE FRAME IS ALREADY CRACKED, THE STEERING GEAR WELD NUTS WILL ALSO BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
96V094000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
Jun 13, 1996
THE FRAME CAN CRACK AT THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT AND/OR THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS CAN FRACTURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE STEERING GEAR CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD REINFORCEMENTS TO THE FRAME AND REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS. IF THE FRAME IS ALREADY CRACKED, THE STEERING GEAR WELD NUTS WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.
89V237000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Dec 27, 1989
THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.