IllustrationHEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED/HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT/SWITCH SHOWED OVERHEATING DAMAGE AND ALSO MELTED SOME OF THE WIRING IN THE CABLING UNDER THE DASH/COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING BEFORE FAILURE/LOST LIGHTS AT NIGHT
1994 Dodge Dakota
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 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: 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 reportsTIMING CHAIN NOISE. REPAIR SHOP QUOTE IS $450 TO REPLACE. TSB 9-7-97 COVERS THIS--NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: SB052529. SHOULD I EXPECT A DODGE DEALER TO MAKE THIS REPAIR AT NO COST?
FRONT DISC BRAKE CALIPERS DON'T RELEASE PROPERLY CAUSING BRAKE OVERHEATING, REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY, VIOLENT SHAKING UPON BRAKE APPLICATION AND A NEAR FIRE. BRAKE SERVICE HAS BEEN NEEDED EVERY 20,000 TO 25,000 MILES.
TRUCK IS TWO COLOR, GREEN AND GREY. GREEN PAINT IS FINE BUT GREY IS COMMING OFF
BARE WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN SHORTED OUT, CAUSING THE COVER TO MELT. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
BATTERY EXPLODED AFTER CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND NEITHER HAD ANYTHING POSITIVE TO SAY. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE OR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
AT 35 MPH, STEERING KNUCKLE SNAPPED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL,WHICH FLIPPED OVER VEHICLE ON ITS SIDE AND THEN IGNITED INTO A FIRE . TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. *AK
THE BATTERY FEED WIRE FAILS AND CAUSES THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL BY SHORTING OUT THE CHIP,THEREBY RAISING THE COSTS OF REPAIRS. *AK
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD GOT EXTREMELY HOT WHICH BURNT AND MELTED THE MUFFLER. *AK
HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 95V088000. TOOK TO DEALER. HAD THE REPAIRS DONE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE RECALL REMEDY HAS FAILED. THERE ARE HOLES IN THE SLEEVES WHERE KEYS CAN CATCH & SHUT DOWN VEHICLE. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. *AK
Official recalls
395V088000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar
May 12, 1995
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.
94V043000 · Suspension:front:control Arm
Mar 9, 1994
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.
94V005000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting
Jan 12, 1994
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
4DP03002 · 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