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1990 Dodge Dakota

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Dodge Dakota do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 166.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 0 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 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

63 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2005
Electrical System

DODGE IGNITION SYSTEM LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING.*MR *JB

NHTSA ODI #10119221

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002
Tires

FIRST TIRE SEPARATION DISCOVERED BY CSAA AUTO SERVICE DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, ON 11/07/01. SECOND AND THIRD TREAD SEPARATION WERE DURING VACATION, WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY, AT 50MPH, THE TIRES STARTED PRODUCING ROUGH RIDE. STOPPED TO CHECK TIRES, AND NOTICED SEPARATION.*AK (TIRESIZE: LT21575R15)

NHTSA ODI #759590

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A RATTLE, THAT SOUNDED LIKE WATER PUMP WAS GOING BAD. NEXT DAY, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CRASH BANG, FAN BLADE BROKE OFF, CUT RADIATOR HOSE. FAN BLADE HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER FELT LIKE IF THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER HOOD SOME ONE MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED.*AK THE CUSTOMER ALSO NOTED THAT ONE OF F…

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WHILE DRIVING HEARD A RATTLE, THAT SOUNDED LIKE WATER PUMP WAS GOING BAD. NEXT DAY, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CRASH BANG, FAN BLADE BROKE OFF, CUT RADIATOR HOSE. FAN BLADE HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER FELT LIKE IF THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER HOOD SOME ONE MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED.*AK THE CUSTOMER ALSO NOTED THAT ONE OF FOUR BLADE FAN HAS CRACKED. RADIATOR FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #874114

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT EMISSION CONTROL DEVICES MY VEHICLE HAS WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED. NEED TO KNOW THIS BY USING MY VIN.

NHTSA ODI #712775

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 1999
Power Train

I HAVE HAD TROUBLE FINDING INFORMATION ON ANY UPGRADES, OR MODIFICATION THAT HAVE BEEN DONE TO THE NP231D TRANSFER CASE SINCE DATE OF MANUFACTURE ON 10-89. I HAD TO REPLACE THE RANGE FORK AND RANGE FORK SHIFT HUB AND AM NOW EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES WITH THE REPLACEMENTS. IF I CAN JUST GET SOME FEEDBACK ON THIS IT WOULD HELP ME …

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I HAVE HAD TROUBLE FINDING INFORMATION ON ANY UPGRADES, OR MODIFICATION THAT HAVE BEEN DONE TO THE NP231D TRANSFER CASE SINCE DATE OF MANUFACTURE ON 10-89. I HAD TO REPLACE THE RANGE FORK AND RANGE FORK SHIFT HUB AND AM NOW EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES WITH THE REPLACEMENTS. IF I CAN JUST GET SOME FEEDBACK ON THIS IT WOULD HELP ME A GREAT DEAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT IN THIS SITUATION. *AKY

NHTSA ODI #708783

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE FAILED. I TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. HE COULD NOT OBTAIN REPLACEMENT PART BECAUSE DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE IT TO HIM. DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD TO BE BROUGHT INTO THEM FOR RAPAIR. DEALER MECHANIC ADVISED US THAT REPAIR WAS NOT NECESSARY BACAUSE BRAKES WORKED, JUST ANTI-LOCK FEATURE WOULD NOT WORK. WE W…

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ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE FAILED. I TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. HE COULD NOT OBTAIN REPLACEMENT PART BECAUSE DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE IT TO HIM. DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD TO BE BROUGHT INTO THEM FOR RAPAIR. DEALER MECHANIC ADVISED US THAT REPAIR WAS NOT NECESSARY BACAUSE BRAKES WORKED, JUST ANTI-LOCK FEATURE WOULD NOT WORK. WE WAITED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TO SAVE UP FOR THE REPAIR. AND HAD THE DEALER REPAIR THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. I FEEL THE DEALER IS MAKING A HAZARD ON THE ROAD BY NOT PROVIDING THE NECESSARY REPLACEMENT PARTS TO OTHER REPAIR SHOPS. THE DEALER ALSO CHARGES HIGHER PRICES AND THIS DEALER ALWAYS CAUSES SOMTHING ELSE TO GO WRONG IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE PROBLEM IT WAS BROUGHT IN FOR. THAT IS THE MAIN REASON WE USE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO REPAIR PROBLEMS THAT WERE UNDER WARRANTY. WE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS SO THE DEALER COULDN'T SCREW UP THE TRUCK ANY MORE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707216

Mileage unknown · May 15, 1999
Unknown Or Other

VEHICLE PAINT CHIPPING SINCE 1993.

NHTSA ODI #540155

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 1999
Power Train

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND DRIVETRAIN SINCE IT CAME OFF THE LOT. THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL WHILE WE STILL LIVED IN THE AREA. HOWEVER, WHEN WE MOVED TO MINNESOTA THE FIRST TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURRED. 1ST 2ND AND 3RD GEARS WERE REPLACED, THERE WAS LESS THAN 7,000 MI ON THE TRU…

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THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND DRIVETRAIN SINCE IT CAME OFF THE LOT. THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL WHILE WE STILL LIVED IN THE AREA. HOWEVER, WHEN WE MOVED TO MINNESOTA THE FIRST TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURRED. 1ST 2ND AND 3RD GEARS WERE REPLACED, THERE WAS LESS THAN 7,000 MI ON THE TRUCK. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, AGAIN 1ST 2ND AND 3RD CRAPPED OUT. THIS OCCURRED AGAIN ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS LATER. I HAD ASKED THE SERVICE SHOP TO CHECK THE DRIVETRAIN SEVERAL TIMES, THE RESPONSE WAS THAT EVERYTHING WAS WITHIN PARAMETERS. THE WHOLE SYSTEM JUMPS AND THUMPS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. IT ALSO MAKES SIMILAR NOISES AND JUMPING WHEN GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS OR DIPS IN THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD THE CLUTCH, PRESSURE PLATE AND THROW OUT BEARING REPLACED AT ABOUT 40,000 MI. THIS TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN USED FOR TOWING OR HAULING ANY HEAVY LOADS. I READ IN THE ABOVE LIST ABOUT ANOTHER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #705435

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE FUEL TANK CRACKED, CAUSING THE FUEL TO SPILL OVER. IF IT WAS TO BECOME A SOURCE OF IGNITION, IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER WILL REPLACE FUEL TANK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828433

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 1998
Structure

WHILE LOADING EQUIPMENT INTO BED, 1/2 INCH ALUMINUM RIVET THAT HOLDS TAILGATE CHAIN BRACKET ONTO THE BODY FAILED/RIPPED OFF. (QCAW)

NHTSA ODI #538096

Official recalls

3

01V232000 · 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

1

PE96003 · Steer Rck +pinion Mnt Fail

Opened Jan 16, 1996 · Closed Jun 10, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available