IllustrationTHE PAINT IS PEELILING OFF. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED AND THEY SIAD THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST THEY HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS AND SAID WE HAD TO PAY FOR IT OURSELVES. NOW THE MAJORITY OF THE PAINT IS GONE AND RUSTING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE VEHICLE. *AK
1992 Dodge Dakota
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1992 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
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: 8 of 216 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.
- Power Train. Review the 110 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports8 fire reports11 injury reports
Structure complaints
13 reportsWHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A VIBRATION . WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. THE MECHANIC STATED THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS FAILED. *NLM
VEHICLE FRAME IS DISINTERGRATING, BREAKING OFF IN BIG CHUNKS, IN TIRE FRAME FROM CAB BACK MUST BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT FOR 8 OF ITS 10 YEARS. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THE SALT WASHED OFF FREQUENTLY DURING THE WINTERS ALSO. THIS MUST BE A DEFECT IN THE FRAME MATERIAL. DT
THE DOOR ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER-SIDE FAILED WHEN THE LOWER HINGE COLLAPSED INTO THE DOOR. THIS CAUSED THE DOOR TO BE MISALIGNED, PREVENTING THE LATCH FROM ENGAGING LATCH BOLT. THE FUEL GAUGE READS 1/4 SHORTLY AFTER FUELING AND WILL STAY THEIR UNTIL THE TANK IS ALMOST EMPTY. THE RADIATOR CORE FINS DISINEGRATED AND/OR FELL OUT OF…
Read full complaint
THE DOOR ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER-SIDE FAILED WHEN THE LOWER HINGE COLLAPSED INTO THE DOOR. THIS CAUSED THE DOOR TO BE MISALIGNED, PREVENTING THE LATCH FROM ENGAGING LATCH BOLT. THE FUEL GAUGE READS 1/4 SHORTLY AFTER FUELING AND WILL STAY THEIR UNTIL THE TANK IS ALMOST EMPTY. THE RADIATOR CORE FINS DISINEGRATED AND/OR FELL OUT OF THE RADIATOR, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT.*AK
BODY SHEET METAL BREAKAGE WHERE LOWER DOOR HINGES ARE WELDED, BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE. REPAIR SHOP ADVISES TYPICAL ON DODGE DAKOTA AND DOOR COULD POSSIBLE FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. COST TO REPAIR EACH DOOR APPROX $400.
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HINGE BROKE LOWER HINGE, SECOND TIME
PAINT PEELED OFF HOOD AND ROOF OF VEHICLE IN LARGE CHUNKS. NOW PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE REAR AREA OF THE TRUCK ALSO.
PAINT IS PEELING OFF STARTING ON THE ROOF AND IS NOW STARTING ON THE SIDE OF THE CAB/THE U-JIONT IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AGAIN AT THIS TIME
PAINT IS PEELING FROM VEHICLE.
PAINT HAS COME OFF THE VEHICLE, EVEN PRIMER IS COMING OFF.
Official recalls
100V106000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Apr 11, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A500 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. INADVERTENT PLACEMENT OF THE SHIFT LEVER IN REVERSE CAN OCCUR WHEN THE DRIVER BELIEVES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN PLACED IN PARK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY WITH THE ENGINE ON AFTER THE DRIVER HAS LEFT THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEEL MANUAL VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION WITH AN ALUMINUM VERSION.
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
3EA96006 · Rollaway In Reverse When Parked
Opened May 31, 1996 · Closed Aug 10, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
PE95041 · Inadvertent Movement Of Shifter
Opened Jun 23, 1995 · Closed May 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
ODI RECEIVED AN INQUIRY REGARDING ALLEGED PARK TO REVERSE PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ON 1991 AND 1992 DODGE DAKOTA PICUP TRUCKS.THE ODI DATABASE REVEALED 11 COMPLAINTS, SEVERAL OF WHICH HAD BEEN REPORTED IN THE MONTHS JUST PRECEDING THE OPENING OF THE PE.THE CONSUMERS CLAIM THAT THEY MOVE THE VEHICLE, PLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND EXIT THE VEHICLE.THEN, ALMOST ALWAYS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE ALLEGEDLY SHIFTS INTO REVERSETHE VEHICLE THEN BEGINS TO BACK UP, USUALLY STOPPING ONLY WHEN IT HITS SOMETHING.
PE92062 · Brk Pdl Pivot Shaft Diseng
Opened Jul 6, 1992 · Closed Sep 29, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available