FaultScore report
Owners have filed 88 complaints about the 1990 Dodge Dakota with NHTSA between 1995 and 2005. The largest single group is the steering.
88
Complaints
5
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
1 crashes, 0 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
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.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
STEER RCK +PINION MNT FAIL
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 runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Steering
Certain 4x2 pickup truck convertibles equipped with V6 engines (built from November 1988 - June 1990) and 4x2 pickup trucks equipped with the Shelby package (built October 1988 - June 1989). The frame can crack at the steering gear attachment and/or the steering gear mounting bolts can fracture. The steering gear can separate from the vehicle frame resulting in a loss of vehicle control increasing the potential for a vehicle accident. Correction: Dealers will add reinforcements to the frame and replace the steering gear mounting bolts. If the frame is already cracked, the steering gear weld nuts will also be replaced.
Steering
FRAME CRACKING IN THE AREA WHERE THE STEERING GEAR IS MOUNTED COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING GEAR SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME. THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: REINFORCEMENTS WILL BE ADDED TO THE FRAME AND THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS WILL BE REPLACED. IF THE FRAME IS ALREADY CRACKED, THE STEERING GEAR WELD NUTS WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.
Emissions
Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 1105 - evaporative emissions. Defective evaporative canister.
Engine
ON VEHICLES WITH 2.2 LITRE OR 2.5 LITRE EFI(NON-TURBO) ENGINE, THE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY LEAK OIL CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. CORRECTION: VALVE COVER GASKET WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REVISED COVER AND RTV SEALANT APPLIED IN PLACE OF THE GASKET.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
THE TRUCK WAS IDLING IN PARK. THE TRUCK SLIPPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE AND SLAMMED INTO THE HOUSE.
NHTSA complaint #502674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKES FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #484680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE LOOSE FROM K-MEMBER BAR, CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #489335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND THEY COMPLETELY FAILED TO WORK,TRUCK SPUN AND RAN INTO A DITCH AT A 6:00 IMPACT. TT
NHTSA complaint #966215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES
WHILE MAKING TURN; STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO RIGHT, HOWEVER WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN; TIE ROD BROKE; VEHICLE WENT OVER TWO ASPHALT CURBS; TOTALED; SPEED 35 MPH. TT
NHTSA complaint #964318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DODGE IGNITION SYSTEM LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING.*MR
NHTSA complaint #10119221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRST TIRE SEPARATION DISCOVERED BY CSAA AUTO SERVICE DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, ON 11/07/01. SECOND AND THIRD TREAD SEPARATION WERE DURING VACATION, WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY, AT 50MPH, THE TIRES STARTED PRODUCING ROUGH RIDE. STOPPED TO CHECK TIRES, AND NOTICED SEPARATION.*AK (TIRESIZE: LT21575R15)
NHTSA complaint #759590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING HEARD A RATTLE, THAT SOUNDED LIKE WATER PUMP WAS GOING BAD. NEXT DAY, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CRASH BANG, FAN BLADE BROKE OFF, CUT RADIATOR HOSE. FAN BLADE HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER FELT LIKE IF THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER HOOD SOME ONE MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED.*AK THE CUSTOMER ALSO NOTED THAT ONE OF FOUR BLADE FAN HAS CRACKED. RADIATOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #874114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING HEARD A RATTLE, THAT SOUNDED LIKE WATER PUMP WAS GOING BAD. NEXT DAY, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CRASH BANG, FAN BLADE BROKE OFF, CUT RADIATOR HOSE. FAN BLADE HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER FELT LIKE IF THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER HOOD SOME ONE MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED.*AK THE CUSTOMER ALSO NOTED THAT ONE OF FOUR BLADE FAN HAS CRACKED. RADIATOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #874114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
WHILE DRIVING HEARD A RATTLE, THAT SOUNDED LIKE WATER PUMP WAS GOING BAD. NEXT DAY, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CRASH BANG, FAN BLADE BROKE OFF, CUT RADIATOR HOSE. FAN BLADE HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER FELT LIKE IF THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER HOOD SOME ONE MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED.*AK THE CUSTOMER ALSO NOTED THAT ONE OF FOUR BLADE FAN HAS CRACKED. RADIATOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #874114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT EMISSION CONTROL DEVICES MY VEHICLE HAS WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED. NEED TO KNOW THIS BY USING MY VIN.
NHTSA complaint #712775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE HAD TROUBLE FINDING INFORMATION ON ANY UPGRADES, OR MODIFICATION THAT HAVE BEEN DONE TO THE NP231D TRANSFER CASE SINCE DATE OF MANUFACTURE ON 10-89. I HAD TO REPLACE THE RANGE FORK AND RANGE FORK SHIFT HUB AND AM NOW EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES WITH THE REPLACEMENTS. IF I CAN JUST GET SOME FEEDBACK ON THIS IT WOULD HELP ME A GREAT DEAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT IN THIS SITUATION. *AKY
NHTSA complaint #708783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE FAILED. I TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. HE COULD NOT OBTAIN REPLACEMENT PART BECAUSE DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE IT TO HIM. DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD TO BE BROUGHT INTO THEM FOR RAPAIR. DEALER MECHANIC ADVISED US THAT REPAIR WAS NOT NECESSARY BACAUSE BRAKES WORKED, JUST ANTI-LOCK FEATURE WOULD NOT WORK. WE WAITED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TO SAVE UP FOR THE REPAIR. AND HAD THE DEALER REPAIR THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. I FEEL THE DEALER IS MAKING A HAZARD ON THE ROAD BY NOT PROVIDING THE NECESSARY REPLACEMENT PARTS TO OTHER REPAIR SHOPS. THE DEALER ALSO CHARGES HIGHER PRICES AND THIS DEALER ALWAYS CAUSES SOMTHING ELSE TO GO WRONG IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE PROBLEM IT WAS BROUGHT IN FOR. THAT IS THE MAIN REASON WE USE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO REPAIR PROBLEMS THAT WERE UNDER WARRANTY. WE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS SO THE DEALER COULDN'T SCREW UP THE TRUCK ANY MORE.
NHTSA complaint #707216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE PAINT CHIPPING SINCE 1993.
NHTSA complaint #540155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND DRIVETRAIN SINCE IT CAME OFF THE LOT. THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL WHILE WE STILL LIVED IN THE AREA. HOWEVER, WHEN WE MOVED TO MINNESOTA THE FIRST TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURRED. 1ST 2ND AND 3RD GEARS WERE REPLACED, THERE WAS LESS THAN 7,000 MI ON THE TRUCK. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, AGAIN 1ST 2ND AND 3RD CRAPPED OUT. THIS OCCURRED AGAIN ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS LATER. I HAD ASKED THE SERVICE SHOP TO CHECK THE DRIVETRAIN SEVERAL TIMES, THE RESPONSE WAS THAT EVERYTHING WAS WITHIN PARAMETERS. THE WHOLE SYSTEM JUMPS AND THUMPS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. IT ALSO MAKES SIMILAR NOISES AND JUMPING WHEN GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS OR DIPS IN THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD THE CLUTCH, PRESSURE PLATE AND THROW OUT BEARING REPLACED AT ABOUT 40,000 MI. THIS TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN USED FOR TOWING OR HAULING ANY HEAVY LOADS. I READ IN THE ABOVE LIST ABOUT ANOTHER.
NHTSA complaint #705435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, RESULTING IN COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #531427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR SEPARATED PER THE RECALL NOTICE.
NHTSA complaint #528844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
BOLT STRIPPED AND REQUIRED WELDING TO FRAME AT STEERING GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #513829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #506465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
RECALL NOTICE SENT ON THE STEERING GEAR, HOWEVER WORK DENIED BY LOCAL DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #512437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK RESULTING IN COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #526093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THE FUEL TANK CRACKED, CAUSING THE FUEL TO SPILL OVER. IF IT WAS TO BECOME A SOURCE OF IGNITION, IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER WILL REPLACE FUEL TANK.
NHTSA complaint #828433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHILE LOADING EQUIPMENT INTO BED, 1/2 INCH ALUMINUM RIVET THAT HOLDS TAILGATE CHAIN BRACKET ONTO THE BODY FAILED/RIPPED OFF. (QCAW)
NHTSA complaint #538096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
THE TRUCK WAS IDLING IN PARK. THE TRUCK SLIPPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE AND SLAMMED INTO THE HOUSE.
NHTSA complaint #502674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER COMPLAINTING OF TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WITH ONLY 67,000 MILES OF WEAR, DEALER NOTIFIED AND WILL REPAIR FOR A COST TO THE COSUMER.
NHTSA complaint #824268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING ASSEMBNLY WENT OUT AND VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO HANDLE PROPERLY, CHECK AND WELD RACK AND PINIONS BOLTS, R &I RACK AND PINION, WELD 2 NEW PIECES OF SHEET METAL WHERE BOLTS GO INTO THE FRAME.
NHTSA complaint #531427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
OWNER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING STEERING GEAR BOX. BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALER TOLD THEM THEY COULD ONLY GET IT REPAIRED MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, NOT ON SATURDAY. OWNER STATED THAT'S THEIR ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.
NHTSA complaint #822198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
FRAME AT STEERING GEAR BOLT STRIPPED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #513829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR LEAKS.
NHTSA complaint #519485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #519485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.