19 of the 793 complaints about the 1998 Dodge Dakota are about the body and structure — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 51,500 miles.
19
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH, THE FRAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 10/24/2014*LJ UPDATED 04/20/2015
NHTSA complaint #10632123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE SPARE TIRE HOIST / CARRIER CABLE BROKE, CAUSING THE FULL SIZE SPARE TIRE TO DROP TO THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, IT HAPPENED AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A SEVERE ACCIDENT ON THE INTERSTATE.
NHTSA complaint #10472003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
THE PAINT IS COMING OFF OF MY TRUCK. I HAVE SEEN QUITE A FEW TRUCKS ON THE ROAD WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. A REPAIR SHOP NEAR MY HOUSE SAYS HE HAS SEEN THIS OFTEN, ALSO. HE SAYS THE PRIMER USED IS PROBABLY THE CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #10235961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
OUR TRUCK'S PAINT IS FLAKING. WE WANT DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO RE-PAINT OUR TRUCK. WE FOUND OUT FROM OUR INSURANCE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE AND SCREWUP. OUR ROOF AND HOOD ARE FLAKING AND IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF SOON IT IS GOING TO RUST. WE HAVE NOTICED THAT OTHER TRUCKS IN OUR AREA THAT IS IN THE SAME YEAR MODEL RANGE IS DOING THE SAME AS OURS WITH THE PAINT. WHAT IS THE DEAL?
NHTSA complaint #10159340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
VEHICLE LEAKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. AFTER SEARCHING FOR THE LEAK SPOTTED THE SOURCE UNDER THE FRONT DASH.
NHTSA complaint #10088571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS DETERIORATING 5-24-2004, 27,675 MILES STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT 6-22-2004. BALL JOINTS, LOWER CONTROL ARM, AND RIGHT WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER.*AK STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT FREEHOLD DODGE NJ VERY LOOSE FRONT END, HARD TO CONTROL, BOUNCE. TYPICAL SYMPTOMS OF A FRONT END FALLING APART. DATES ABOVE ARE REPLACEMENT DATES. THIRD MAJOR PROBLEM IS ALL OF THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE CAB ARE DETERIORATED. TAKING TO MY NM DODGE DEALER. CAN NOT EVEN TAKE OFF THE BOTS THEY ARE SO BAD ON THE CAB OF MY TRUCK [XXX] I HAVE BEEN THE OWNER FROM DAY ONE. IN MY PARENTS NAME IN NEW JERSEY FOR INSURANCE RATE REDUCTION. UPDATED 07/24/2012* JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10083079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
I OWN A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT 4X4 5.2L V-8 W/125K MILES, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THE ONCE SHINY BLACK PAINT IS FLAKING OFF IN LARGE AREAS ON THE ROOF, THE FLAKING/PEELING HAS NOW BEGUN TO START ON THE TOP OF THE DOORS AND THE BED RAILS. *AK I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER HERE IN DUBLIN CALIFORNIA AND SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO TOLD ME THAT DODGE HAS NOT TAKEN A POSITION ON THIS ISSUE, THAT THEY REALIZE IT IS WIDE SPREAD AND REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MANY OTHER DODGE OWNERS INTHE MID WEST HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE SOME SORT OF GOOD FAITH EFFORT FORM THEIR LOCAL DEALER BY WAY OF A $300 CREDIT TOWARD PAINT. HERE IN CALIFORNIA WE ARE NOT SO LUCKY. THE LOCAL DEALERS DO NOT GIVE A [XXX] ABOUT THE DODGE OWNERS ONCE THE LEAVE THE LOT. I CHALLENGE ANY NORTHERN CALIF DEALER TO PROVE TO ME THIS IS AN ISOLATED ISSUE! DODGE WILL NEVER GET ANY OF MONEY AGAIN AND HAVE SOURED ME FROM ANY DODGE CHRYSLER PRODUCT! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10066004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
WATER ON PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD.
NHTSA complaint #10062456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
I OWN A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT WITH PAINT FADING ON THE HOOD IN SEVERAL PLACES. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THESE AREAS THAT WOULD CAUSE A PAINT PROBLEM. I AM VERY DISSAPOINTED THAT I AM HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. I HAVE SEARCHED FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL SINCE THIS APPEARS TO BE A FACTORY PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS REPORTING SIMULAR PROBLEMS BUT NO RECALL AT THIS TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF DODGE IS PLANNING ON RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM SOON.
NHTSA complaint #10033406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHITE SPOTS WERE SHOWING THROUGH THE BLACK PAINT ON THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS MADE WITH FAULTY PRIMER. MANUFACTURER WAS WILLING TO PAY HALF OF THE COST.
NHTSA complaint #10029624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH TRACK BAR BROKE OFF THE FRAME. CONSUMER COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER GOT 3 ESTIMATES. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A WELDER THAT MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROPERLY WELD BRACKET TO FRAME THE TRACK SUPPORT BAR SUPPORTS THE ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #894145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 75 MPH FRONT HOOD WILL COME UP. ALSO HAS HAPPENED AT LOWER SPEEDS. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
NHTSA complaint #893619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
CENTER CONSOLE KEEPS BREAKING AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF USE WHILE RAISING AND LOWERING IT.
NHTSA complaint #714781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
FUEL PUMP FAILED W/O WARNING ON FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC, ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT TAILGATE OPENED WHILE GOING DOWN HIGHWAY PULLING TRAILER, CRUSHED WHEN TAKING TURN, HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES BEFORE
NHTSA complaint #713962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1. NOISE WHEN RELEASING THE CLUTCH BEGAN DURING A VACATION TRIP IN JUNE 1999, WITH APPROXIMATELY 15,500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. OVER THE PAST 3 MONTHS THE NOISE HAS BECOME WORSE. THE PROBLEM IS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE TRUCK. THEY SAID IT WAS A BEARING IN THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY FOR THE CLUTCH IS ONLY 1 YEAR THE DEALERSHIP IS FIXING IT FOR ME AT NO CHARGE. 2. THE ORIGINAL CAB ISOLATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE TRUCK MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER I TURNED A CORNER OR ENTERED/EXITED A DRIVEWAY. AFTER THE FIRST REPLACEMENT THE CLUNKING STILL OCCURRED SO THE TRUCK WENT BACK IN THE SHOP WHERE THE DEALER "SHAVED" THE ISOLATORS. THAT DIDN'T HELP SO THE TRUCK WENT BACK A THIRD TIME AND ANOTHER SET OF CAB ISOLATORS WERE INSTALLED AND THE CLUNKING SOUND DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN. TO GET THIS REPAIR RIGHT REQUIRED 3 TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND A TOTAL OF 14 DAYS IN THE SHOP. 3. A LEAK OF TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS DETECTED DURING AN OIL AND FILTER CHANGE ON A VACATION TR
NHTSA complaint #711891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
CONSOLE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #544963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED OF RECALL CAMPAIGN 98V208000, REGARDING FRAME BOLTS. NO MENTION OF DEFECT UNDER RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #704928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
FRONT WHEEL WELLS HAVE A LARGE GAP BETWEEN WERE THE INNER FENDER ENDS AND THE FRAME STARTS, CAUSING WATER AND SNOW TO BE ABLE TO ENTER ENGINE COMPARTMENT (POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD).
NHTSA complaint #537400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FRONT CENTER CUPHOLDERS ON THE 40-20-40 SEATS ARE VERY LOW IN DESIGN, WHEN YOU PUT A HOT DRINK IN THEM AND MAKE A TURN THE DRINKS IN THEM (CUP AND ALL) WILL FALL OUT, IF HOT DRINKS ARE IN THEM IT WILL BURN YOUR LEG WHILE DRIVING BUT WORSE IT DISTRACTS YOU AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #537145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.