IllustrationTHE OVERDRIVE IN VEHICLE, CHEWS UP THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE BEARINGS WORKING LOOSE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A LACK OF LUBRICATION ON THE BEARINGS. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE NOT TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEARS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK.
1993 Dodge Dakota
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1993 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: 11 of 134 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports6 fire reports12 injury reports
What owners actually said
134 reportsDESIGN FLAW OF BEARING IN A GEAR IN OVERDRIVE WORKED ITS WAY LOOSE BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION IN THE MANUFACTURING STAGE WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE TO THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, THE OVERDRIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILD TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *YC
BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS ARE INOPERABLE, DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, TRAPPING THE OCCUPANTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE DOOR LOCKS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AT 40-45MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO GO BACK INTO THE REAR, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NO SUMMARY
NO SUMMARY
INTERMITTENTLY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE IN DRIVE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE FROM PARK HAVE TO GO TO REVERS FIRST THEN TO DRIVE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P21575R14 )
AXLE SHAFT SEALS FAILED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK INTO VEHICLE AND CREATED A BAD SMELL. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SEALS 4 TIMES, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
HAVE CONTACTED DEALER, SERVICE REP, MANUFACTUER, MARK III NO AVAIL ON PAINT PEELING PROBLEM, THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. MOST DODGE VECHICLES HAVE PEELING PAINT PROBLEMS, BUT THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR, PLEASE ASSIST US IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU THERESA ALEY. *AK
Official recalls
193V082000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
May 11, 1993
SOME OF THE ABS EQUIPPED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN UNDERSIZED BRAKE RETURN CHECK VALVE. IN INCIDENTS WHERE HARD BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT IS APPLIED ON LOW FRICTION ROAD SURFACES, LIKE RAIN COVERED STREETS, THE VALVES MAY FAIL, CAUSING THE ABS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS CREATES EXCESS BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND MAY CAUSE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LACK OF FRONT WHEEL ABS COULD CAUSE THE FRONT WHEELBRAKES TO LOCK, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE RETURN CHECK VALVE WITH THE CORRECT VALVE.
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
1DP03002 · Steering Column Separation
Opened May 7, 2003 · Closed Jul 22, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:column
MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.