Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1987 Dodge Dakota
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Steering
523.8%
Seat Belts
314.3%
Body & Structure
314.3%
Median failure at 69,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
314.3%
0 crashes, 2 fires
Fuel & Propulsion
29.5%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Brakes
29.5%
Equipment & Accessories
14.8%
Seats
14.8%
Transmission & Drivetrain
14.8%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Apr 1995peak 2Jun 2008
Recalls on the 1987 Dodge Dakota
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 19870401,622 units in Canada
Structure
THE AUTOMATIC SPEED CONTROL CABLE MAY PARTIALLY DISENGAGE AND BIND AT THE CARBURETOR THROTTLE LEVER ATTACHMENT. THIS MAY INHIBIT RETURN OF THE THROTTLE TO THE IDLE POSITION, RESULTING IN THE THROTTLE STAYING PARTIALLY OPEN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. CORRECTION: A WASHER WILL BE INSTALLED AT THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE TO CARBURETOR THROTTLE LEVER ATTACHMENT. VEHICLES WITH SIX CYLINDER ENGINES ONLY.
Recall 1986090680 units in Canada
Brakes
VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 105 -HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS. PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD VEHICLE IN REVERSE DIRECTION ON A 20% GRADE WHEN FULLY LOADED.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Youngstown, OHFire
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
1987 DODGE DAKOTA CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED IN THE FIRE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED BEFORE CATCHING ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #10207185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Youngstown, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1987 DODGE DAKOTA CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED IN THE FIRE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED BEFORE CATCHING ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #10207185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Angier, NCFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ON RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT A FIRE STARTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE DUE TO FACT THAT IT BURNT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #876941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 69,000 milesLouisville, KY
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE SPARE TIRE RETAINER FAILED, ALLOWING THE SPARE TIRE TO DETACH FROM IT'S MOUNT UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FALL TO THE ROAD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE SPARE TIRE IS HELD UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE BY A RETAINER ATTACHED TO A STEEL CABLE. THE STEEL CABLE IS IN A CONSTANT STATE OF TENSION SUPPORTING THE SPARE TIRE THE STEEL CABLE HAD DEVELOPED CORROSION TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT IT SIMPLY SNAPPED, ALLOWING THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL TO THE ROADWAY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERWAY. THE AREA OF FAILURE FROM CORROSION IS HIDDEN FROM VIEW. WITHOUT SOME DISASSEMBLY THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO ASCERTAIN A FAILURE WAS DEVELOPING. THE FAILED PARTS ARE IN MY POSSESSION.
NHTSA complaint #10231936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Youngstown, OHFire
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
1987 DODGE DAKOTA CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED IN THE FIRE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED BEFORE CATCHING ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #10207185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Youngstown, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1987 DODGE DAKOTA CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED IN THE FIRE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED BEFORE CATCHING ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #10207185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oxford, AL
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE 1988-1990 DAKOTAS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS CONCERN WHY NOT THE 1987? 01V232000.
NHTSA complaint #753293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fitzwilliam, NH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #886593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Angier, NCFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ON RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT A FIRE STARTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE DUE TO FACT THAT IT BURNT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #876941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dillsboro, IN
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-55 MPH THE FRAME BROKE. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROLBEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #822988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia B, VA
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR BROKE OFF FROM THE CHASSIS CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #518960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #529915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia B, VA
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
UPON GOING OVER CURB AND LOSING CONRTOL OF VEHICLE, STEERING GEAR BROKE OFF FROM THE CHASSIS.
NHTSA complaint #603482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia Beach, VA
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CROSS MEMBER THAT HOLDS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE WHERE THE BOLTS HOLD IT TO THE FRAME.
NHTSA complaint #518693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beaverton, OH
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
BOTH BUCKLES BROKE WHERE THE PLASTIC ON THE BUCKLE ATTACHWS TO THE BELT.
NHTSA complaint #518201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rhinelander, WI
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 35 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED TO EITHER SIDE, MAKING DRIVER LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED, & MANUFACTURER CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #813661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westmont, NJ
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION DISCONNECTS, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING.
NHTSA complaint #516691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waterville, WA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
GAS TANK CAP REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #512578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rochester, NY
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
WHEN TRUCK IS IN PARK IT JUMPS OUT OF GEAR, PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #986013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lansing, MI
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
WHILE DRIVING, THE SPARE TIRE FALL OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #982691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waterville, ME
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE GETTING INTO VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK BOLTS BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #981177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Berkley, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
THE FRONT BRAKES NEEDED REPLACEMENT AFTER 20,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #968155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakhurst, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELTS IN PASSENGER SIDE ARE DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT OF RETRACTOR. TT
NHTSA complaint #967491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hyde Park, VT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM
LEFT REAR DRUM FAILED; ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF BRAKE DRUM OUTSIDE OF BOLT HOLE PATTERN FAILED; NOTHING HOLDING BRAKE DRUM WHILE IN OPERATION; LOST CONTROL. TT
NHTSA complaint #963897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.