FaultScore

1989 Dodge Dakota steering problems

23 of the 88 complaints about the 1989 Dodge Dakota are about the steering — 26% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 209,000 miles.

D

23

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Rack AND Pinion 14 60.9%
Gear BOX (Other Than Rack AND Pinion) 3 13.0%
Steering Wheel/Handle BAR 2 8.7%
Rack 2 8.7%
Hydraulic Power Assist System 1 4.3%
Pump 1 4.3%

Steering across every Dodge Dakota year

1988 30 4.3%
1989 23 3.3%
1990 29 4.2%
1991 17 2.4%
1993 13 1.9%
1994 22 3.2%
1995 19 2.7%
1997 35 5.0%
1998 48 6.9%
1999 78 11.2%
2000 69 9.9%
2001 49 7.0%
2002 48 6.9%
2003 14 2.0%
2004 77 11.1%
2005 48 6.9%
2006 47 6.8%
2007 12 1.7%
2008 18 2.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 209,000 miles Oregon House, CA

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED WHICH PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM STEERING THE VEHICLE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLTS ON THE RACK AND PINION WERE CRACKED. AS A RESULT, THE RACK AND PINION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXCEEDED THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS TO RECEIVE REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V094000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHO FILED A REPORT AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM BACK AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 209,000. UPDATED 10/12/11*LJ UPDATED 10/14/11 *BF WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK, DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO STEER AND ULTIMATELY ENDED UP IN A DITCH. UPDATED 10/18/11 UPDATED 10/26/11 UPDATED 10/31/11 UPDATED 3/30/12

NHTSA complaint #10425814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lithia Spring, GA

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

RACK AND PINION BOLTS FRACTURED ,CAUSING RACK AND PINION STEERING TO SEPARATE FROM FRAME, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #896510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bolinas, CA

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND TURNING RACK AND PINION STEERING SEPARATED FROM CROSS MEMBER OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 96V094000.

NHTSA complaint #890387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bermingham, AL

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

RECALL 96V-094000/ STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLT FAILURE. CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE, DRIVEABILITY OF THE VEHICLE WORSENED. CONSUMER HAS NOTIFIED THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #861833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Crescent B, FL

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

STEERING REPAIRED UNDER RECALL EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO ACTUAL PROBLEM, HOWEVER AFTER THE REPAIR CONSUMER'S POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE RACK-N-PINION WAS REPLACED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #514613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Crescent B, FL

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

STEERING REPAIRED UNDER RECALL EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO ACTUAL PROBLEM, HOWEVER AFTER THE REPAIR CONSUMER'S POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE RACK-N-PINION WAS REPLACED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #514613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Crescent B, FL

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

STEERING REPAIRED UNDER RECALL EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO ACTUAL PROBLEM, HOWEVER AFTER THE REPAIR CONSUMER'S POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE RACK-N-PINION WAS REPLACED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #514613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sarasota, FL

STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK

NOTICE POWER STEERING NOT WORKING, POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK AT P/S RACK, REPLACE RACK AND PINION.

NHTSA complaint #514613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carmichael, CA

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

RECALL WORK ON THE STEERING WHEEL REINFORCEMENT WELD WAS NEVER COMPLETED.

NHTSA complaint #514622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dickson, TN

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

RECALL WORK ON THE STEERING RACK AND PINION MOUNT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE COMPLETED DUE TO PARTS MISSING.

NHTSA complaint #527926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elkton, MD

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED CAUSING ACCIDENT. RECALL WORK DONE ON THE SYSTEM PRIOR TO INCIDENT, HOWEVER DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #524469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clifton Springs, NY

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#96V094000) & CALLED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE IN ON APPOINTMENT DATE. WAS TOLD VEHICLE READY & TO TAKE IT HOME. HEARD A POP A FEW HOURS LATER. TOOK IT BACK ON AUG. 7, 1997 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AGAIN. WAS CHARGED FOR LABOR DONE TO VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #816121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Uniontown, KS

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

96V094000, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR A RECALL ON THE STEERING AND THE RACK AND PINION BROKE 4 DAYS LATER.

NHTSA complaint #814995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

RECALL # 96V094000, DEALER DOES NOT HAVE PARTS. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACT DEALER SINCE OCTOBER OF 96 BECAUSE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT WHEN PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #814917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sarasota, FL., FL

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

RACK AND PINION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #514613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK

STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT: HAS TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS SINCE NOV. AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS. TOOK TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, ONE DIDN'T HAVE THE ARC WELDER , AND THE OTHER DEALER DIDN'T HAVE PARTS AND SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT BE GETTING THEM.

NHTSA complaint #809198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Memphis, AR 1 injured

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

WAS DRIVING AND LOST CONTROL, WOULD NOT TURN THE STEERING RIGHT OR LEFT. THIS HAPPENED A YEAR A GO, RECEIVED RECALL # 96V094000, TOOK TO DEALER DOESN'T HAVE A WELDER .

NHTSA complaint #808256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Monroe, LA

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

RECALL RELATED, RACK AND PINION STEERING, , TALKED TO DEALERSHIP, THEY INDICATED PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #806216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dickson, TN

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY NEEDED A WELDER IN ORDER TO FINISH THE WORK AND IT HAS BEEN AT LEAST 3 TO 4 WEEKS SINCE THEN THE WORK HAS NOT BEEN DONE. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #806217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Batavia, NY

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

AFTER HAVING THE RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE FOR THE RACK AND PINION MOUNT, THE VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING. RECALL#96V094000.

NHTSA complaint #806275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Reisterstown, MD

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

THIS IS A UNSATISFIED CONSUMER BECAUSE THE RECALL NOTICE STATES THAT THE WORK WOULD BE DONE WITHIN 2 HOURS AND THE DEALER AT HERTIAGE DODGE SAYS THAT IT WILL TAKE 2 DAYS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #805681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Laude, FL

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

RACK/PINION MOUNTS WELD BROKE, CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #506512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shingle Spri, CA

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING COLUMN RIPPED OUT OF THE FRAME W/BOLTS STILL IN PLACE. DRIVER LOST CONTROL RUNNING OFF ROAD. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA complaint #966698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1989 Dodge Dakota problems

← Full 1989 Dodge Dakota report