IllustrationRACK AND PINION FAILURE.
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
Steering complaints
19 reportsWAS DRIVING AND LOST CONTROL, WOULD NOT TURN THE STEERING RIGHT OR LEFT. THIS HAPPENED A YEAR A GO, RECEIVED RECALL # 96V094000, TOOK TO DEALER DOESN'T HAVE A WELDER . *AK
RECALL WORK ON THE STEERING RACK AND PINION MOUNT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE COMPLETED DUE TO PARTS MISSING.
AFTER HAVING THE RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE FOR THE RACK AND PINION MOUNT, THE VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING. RECALL#96V094000. *AK
THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY NEEDED A WELDER IN ORDER TO FINISH THE WORK AND IT HAS BEEN AT LEAST 3 TO 4 WEEKS SINCE THEN THE WORK HAS NOT BEEN DONE. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS.
RECALL RELATED, RACK AND PINION STEERING, , TALKED TO DEALERSHIP, THEY INDICATED PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK
THIS IS A UNSATISFIED CONSUMER BECAUSE THE RECALL NOTICE STATES THAT THE WORK WOULD BE DONE WITHIN 2 HOURS AND THE DEALER AT HERTIAGE DODGE SAYS THAT IT WILL TAKE 2 DAYS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
RACK/PINION MOUNTS WELD BROKE, CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. *DH
STEERING COLUMN RIPPED OUT OF THE FRAME W/BOLTS STILL IN PLACE. DRIVER LOST CONTROL RUNNING OFF ROAD. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
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.