FaultScore

1994 Dodge Dakota electrical problems

25 of the 240 complaints about the 1994 Dodge Dakota are about the electrical system — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 161,000 miles.

D

25

Complaints

2

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Ignition 7 28.0%
Wiring 4 16.0%
12V/24V/48V Battery 3 12.0%
Electrical System 3 12.0%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 2 8.0%
Interior/Under Dash 2 8.0%
Front Underhood 1 4.0%
Horn 1 4.0%
Switch 1 4.0%
Cables 1 4.0%

Electrical System across every Dodge Dakota year

1992 23 5.4%
1994 25 5.9%
1995 15 3.5%
1996 19 4.4%
1997 21 4.9%
1998 21 4.9%
1999 24 5.6%
2000 21 4.9%
2001 61 14.3%
2002 54 12.6%
2003 35 8.2%
2004 22 5.2%
2005 32 7.5%
2006 30 7.0%
2007 13 3.0%
2008 11 2.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Payson, AZ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

FRONT LEFT DOOR SNAPPED OFF. I CAN'T OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. ALSO, BOTH SEAT BELTS SNAPPED, THE AIR AND HEAT DOESN'T WORK, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, WHICH AFFECTED THE STEERING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THREE TIMED, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER AND THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER RATTLED. THERE WAS A ROUGH IDLE AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. ALSO, I HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. THE IDLER ARM IS IN THE PROCESS OF BREAKING, THE IGNITION BROKE AFTER THE KEYS BECAME STUCK, THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND THE BEARING AND BUSHING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10512159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 161,000 miles Plainfield, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

NO FAILURE JUST YET. EVERY SO OFTEN THE AIR BAG, ABS LIGHT COMES ON ONCE THAT HAPPENS THE FAN STOPS WORKING, THE POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK. NOW MY HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK AT ALL BUT MY PARKING LIGHTS WILL. I HAVE TRIED TO GET THE DEALER TO FIX IT UNDER A RECALL THEY WON'T DO IT. I KNOW IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10121159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELK Grove Village, IL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE POWER SUPPLY TO THE MAIN COMPUTER FAILED POSSIBLY CAUSING A FIRE UNDER THE DASH, ENTIRE CAB CAUGHT ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #785957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Warner Robins, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

HEADLIGHT 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

NHTSA complaint #717255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baraboo, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

BARE WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN SHORTED OUT, CAUSING THE COVER TO MELT. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #846977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY City, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY EXPLODED AFTER CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND NEITHER HAD ANYTHING POSITIVE TO SAY. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE OR HELP IN THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #844660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dayton, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

THE BATTERY FEED WIRE FAILS AND CAUSES THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL BY SHORTING OUT THE CHIP,THEREBY RAISING THE COSTS OF REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #707773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salisbury, NC Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS BLAMED FOR THE FOLLOWING SITUATION. VEHICLE'S OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR SEVERAL HOURS. 15 DAYS LATER, THE GAS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. DRIVER GOT OUT AFTER REALIZING THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE TRUCK RESTARTED ON ITS OWN AND PROCEEDED ACROSS A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA complaint #540162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Edmonds, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

WHEN ENGINE STARTED UP THE TOP OF THE BATTERY BLEW OFF, CREATING SMOKE.

NHTSA complaint #523084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nanticoke, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS SHORTED, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY 4 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #510653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Edinsboro, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

FRONT WIRING HARNESS APPEARS TO BE TOO SHORT. WHEN WHEEL GOES UP IT BRAKES THE WIRING. *AK WIRES HAVE BROKEN AND TOUCHED OTHER WIRES, IT ALSO PULLS INSULATION FROM WIRES WHERE THEY CONNECT INTO THE MALE PLUG EXPOSING BARE WIRES. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #987220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tomball, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

ORIGINAL BATTERY EXPLODED, CUTTING THROUGH HOOD INSULATION AND SPREADING FRAGMENTS UPON STARTING TRUCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #986862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Henderson, NV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON,THE HEADLIGHTS/NTERIOR LIGHTS/BRAKES LIGHT AND DASH LIGHTS ALL GO OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #985243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elizabeth, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

DEFECTIVE WIRING WITHIN WIRING HARNESS OR IGNITION SWITCH CAUSES LOSS OF DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER BLOWER; RENDERS POWER WINDOWS USELESS;AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON.

NHTSA complaint #982290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST. Louis, MO Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

REAR BRAKE LIGHT FUSE BLEW 4 TIMES, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #488830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST. Louis, MO Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

REAR BRAKE LIGHT FUSE BLEW 4 TIMES, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #488830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phenix City, AL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

RECALL #627 MODIFIED BY CARL GREGORY CHRYSLER HAS FAILED RESULTING IN KEY LODGING/LOCKING STEERING COLUMN. DRIVER HAS LOST CONTROL DUE TO FAILURES. TT

NHTSA complaint #974773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Waycross, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING, SYSTEM FAILS TO STOP. BRAKES REPLACED TWICE. TT CONSUMER STATES BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS FELT SPONGY, IN JUNE THE SHOES AND PADS WERE REPLACED, ONE MONTH LATER A ROTOR WAS FOUND CRAKCED AND WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE PADS, IN SEPTEMBER THE SHOES AND MASTER CYLINDER WERE REPLACED, IN OCTOBER BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL WHEN TRYING TO STOP, THE VERY NEXT THE SAME THING OCCURRED. IDLER ARM FELL OFF, BOTH TIE ARMS WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR, THE FRONT END FELL OUT AGAIN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING VEHICLE TO A DITCH, EVEN AFTER REPAIRS THERE IS A POPPING NOISE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO IN FORWARD WHEN PUT IN DRIVE, A SINGLE WIRE IN THE WIRING ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN BURNT BY RUBBING AGAINST THE ENGINE, DEALER REPLACED THE WHOLE WIRING HARNESS. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #972488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pasadena, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TRUCK HAS COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE SHUTTING DOWN AT ANY TIME W/CAUSE NOT REPLICATED @ DEALERS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA complaint #971684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glendale, AZ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. TT

NHTSA complaint #970966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Syra, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #489419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Baltimor, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TRUCK WILL STALL WITH NO WARNING. PROBLEM EVALUATED AND REPAIRED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO CHANGE IN CONDITION. TT

NHTSA complaint #964558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Growing Mead, 00

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHEN VEHICLE IS AT IDLE SPEED/COMPLETE STOP SIGN, IT EXPERIENCES POOR ACCELERATION WHEN TAKING OFF. TT

NHTSA complaint #959923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Growing Mead, 00

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

REPLACED HORN.

NHTSA complaint #959923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lancaster, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ABOUT TEN TIMES IT BACK FIRE, WILL NOT START TRUCK JUST DIES. TT

NHTSA complaint #959513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1994 Dodge Dakota problems

← Full 1994 Dodge Dakota report