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: 15 of 166 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 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 24 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.
32 crash reports3 fire reports20 injury reports
What owners actually said
166 reports
110,000 miles · Dec 18, 2004
Suspension
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND LOWER BALL JOINT ON RIGHT SIDE OF TRUCK BROKE . DID NOT WRECK. WHEEL FELL OFF OF TRUCK ALONG WITH AXLE END, BRAKE ROTOR AND CALIPER. SPINDLE ALSO BROKE . I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED SPINDLE AND AXLE BUT HAVE NOT YET PUT ALL BACK TOGETHER BECAUSE IM TRYING TO SEE IF MY TRUCK SHOULD BE IN WITH THIS BIG REC…
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DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND LOWER BALL JOINT ON RIGHT SIDE OF TRUCK BROKE . DID NOT WRECK. WHEEL FELL OFF OF TRUCK ALONG WITH AXLE END, BRAKE ROTOR AND CALIPER. SPINDLE ALSO BROKE . I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED SPINDLE AND AXLE BUT HAVE NOT YET PUT ALL BACK TOGETHER BECAUSE IM TRYING TO SEE IF MY TRUCK SHOULD BE IN WITH THIS BIG RECALL ON DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10104063
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2004
Air BagsVehicle Speed Control
SRS AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO WORK WHEN APPLIED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *TC
NHTSA ODI #10098997
120,000 miles · Jan 28, 2004
SeatsCrash
WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO RECLINE BACK. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10055967
73,678 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Unknown Or Other
PAINT PEELING OFF OF ROOF AND HOOD.
NHTSA ODI #10071263
Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2003
SeatsCrashInjury
WHILE WAITING AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL . *AK
NHTSA ODI #10050382
Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2003
SeatsCrashInjury
WHILE WAITING AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10050380
Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline
I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE AT LEAST 3 GAS FUEL PUMPS FOR MY 94 DODGE DAKOTA FOR THREE YEARS IN A ROW. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DODGE DEALER EACH TIME AN IT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM EVERY TIME. I ONLY USE ONE GAS STATION WHEN I'M NOT TRAVELING AND JUST IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD . I HAVE USED THE SAME TYPE OF GAS 1993 PREMIUM AND GAS STATI…
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I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE AT LEAST 3 GAS FUEL PUMPS FOR MY 94 DODGE DAKOTA FOR THREE YEARS IN A ROW. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DODGE DEALER EACH TIME AN IT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM EVERY TIME. I ONLY USE ONE GAS STATION WHEN I'M NOT TRAVELING AND JUST IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD . I HAVE USED THE SAME TYPE OF GAS 1993 PREMIUM AND GAS STATION AMOCO SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND HAS NOT CHARGED ME THIS TIME FOR THE WORK. BUT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND OUT WHY I'M HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF THERE IS SOME OTHER DEFECTIVE PART THAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM, OR FIND OUT IF THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE GAS FUEL PUMPS FOR THAT VEHICLE. I COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING ON YOUR SITE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10025400
189,972 miles · Jul 3, 2003
Seat Belts
WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO RELEASE. THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO CUT THE SEAT BELT IN ORDER TO EXIT THE TRUCK. *JB *CB *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10020243
170,000 miles · Apr 24, 2003
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED IMPROPERLY. THE CONSUMER CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED UP, DUE TO WRONG INFORMATION PRINTED ON THE DIP STICK. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10017520
170,000 miles · Apr 24, 2003
Seat Belts
WHEN THE CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT CAME APART. *JB
WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE EXTRA KEYS ON A VEHICLE OPERATOR'S KEY RING CAN BECOME TEMPORARILY LODGED IN THE SCREW ACCESS HOLES IN THE BACK COVER OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN HAMPER THE STEERING WHEEL RETURN ORCAUSE THE IGNITION TO BE TURNED OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK COVER WITH A REDESIGNED COVER.
SOME UPPER CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BOLTS CAN FAIL DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT. THE BOLTS ARE TOO SOFT TO WITHSTAND THE STRESSES IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND CAN BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE ATTACHING BOLTS OF THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BREAK, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE UPPER CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BOLTS.
TWO FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP ATTACHING STUDS WERE NOT ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED, WHICH COULD CAUSE ONE OR BOTH OF THE STRAP(S) TO SEPARATE, MISLOCATING THE FUEL TANKS OR ALLOW COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE FUEL TANK FROM THE VEHICLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN EITHER CASE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP(S) FAILURE RESULTS IN FUEL LEAKAGE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: THE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP ATTACHING STUDS WILL BE PROPERLY TIGHTENED.
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
4
DP03002 · 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.
RQ97012 · Steering Wheel And Column
Opened Sep 25, 1997 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar
There is no summary currently available
PE94038 · Steering LOCK-UP/IMPEDIMNT
Opened May 2, 1994 · Closed Aug 9, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE94013 · Engine Fires
Opened Feb 9, 1994 · Closed Jun 30, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
1994 Dodge Dakota Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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