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1988 Dodge Dakota

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1988 Dodge Dakota are lower than the model-year median of 166.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 55 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Steering complaints

26 reports
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118,100 miles · Apr 2, 2008
Steering

RE: STEERING RECALL AS ISSUED... NHTSA ACTION # PE96003 FOR DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLE. RECALL WAS FOR STEERING BOX "OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION" STEERING. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD A ISSUE WITH A WANDERING VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR MANY YEARS. DEALER COULD NEVER FIND A PROBLEM. I FOUND THE STEERING RA…

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RE: STEERING RECALL AS ISSUED... NHTSA ACTION # PE96003 FOR DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLE. RECALL WAS FOR STEERING BOX "OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION" STEERING. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD A ISSUE WITH A WANDERING VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR MANY YEARS. DEALER COULD NEVER FIND A PROBLEM. I FOUND THE STEERING RACK AND PINION MOUNTING POINTS STRESS FRACTURED, WELD NUT MOUNTS PULLED AWAY. VISUAL CRACKING AROUND AREA AT THE BACK OF THE CROSS MEMBER. DODGE SAID RECALL WAS ONLY FOR THE STEERING GEAR BOX MOUNTS. WHY WAS THE RACK AND PINION MOUNTS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL? ENTIRE RACK ASSEMBLY WAS LOOSE ALL THESE YEARS BECAUSE OF A "DEFECT IN WELDING" FROM THE FACTORY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223107

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 1998
Steering

VEHICLE ON RECALL. ACCORDING TO DEALER, WAS TOLD TO BRING VEHICLE IN & LEAVE IT. WOULD TAKE ONE DAY TO FIX. TOOK VEHICLE & LEFT IT. RETURNED TO PICK IT UP & WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS REPAIRED ON RACK & PINION DUE TO A BROKEN PART UNDER VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #824224

Mileage unknown · May 5, 1998
Steering

STEERING COUPLING BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AFTER RECALL REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #535119

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 1998
Steering

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#96V094000) RACK AND PINION STEERING. CALLED DEALER & TOOK VEHICLE IN TO THE MECHANIC. WAS TOLD NEEDED TO WAIT FOR SPECIAL WELDER & WOULD NOTIFY OWNER. RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE. CALLED BACK TO DEALER. MECHANIC AGAIN SAID NEEDED TO WAIT WITH OTHER VEHICLES FOR WELDER SPECIALIST TO DO THE REPAIRS ON …

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RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#96V094000) RACK AND PINION STEERING. CALLED DEALER & TOOK VEHICLE IN TO THE MECHANIC. WAS TOLD NEEDED TO WAIT FOR SPECIAL WELDER & WOULD NOTIFY OWNER. RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE. CALLED BACK TO DEALER. MECHANIC AGAIN SAID NEEDED TO WAIT WITH OTHER VEHICLES FOR WELDER SPECIALIST TO DO THE REPAIRS ON STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822785

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 1998
Steering

RACK AND PINION BOLTS BROKE LOOSE AND CAUSED RACK AND PINION TO GO BAD, BUSHING FAILED CAUSING FRONT END TO BE OUT OF LINE, REPLACE RACK AND PINION.

NHTSA ODI #531426

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 1997
Steering

RECALL 96V094000. DLR REFUSES TO SERVE RECALL BECAUSE TRUCK WAS DIRTY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #818678

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 1997
Steering

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL ON THE RACK AND PINION MOUNT; MANUFACTURER RECALL # 688, NHTSA RECALL#96V094. THE RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS DAMAGED DURING RECALL REPAIR, SO HE NOTIFIED THE SERVICE MANANGER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED HIM THAT THE LOWER STEERING COUPLER HAD …

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CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL ON THE RACK AND PINION MOUNT; MANUFACTURER RECALL # 688, NHTSA RECALL#96V094. THE RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS DAMAGED DURING RECALL REPAIR, SO HE NOTIFIED THE SERVICE MANANGER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED HIM THAT THE LOWER STEERING COUPLER HAD GONE BAD. OWNER HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A ANOTHER MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T NEED REPLACING. OWNER THEN CONTACTED THAT MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SEVRICE LINE . *AK

NHTSA ODI #818093

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 1997
Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #520263

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 1997
Steering

WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING RACK AND PINION FELL OFF . *AK

NHTSA ODI #807398

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 1997
SteeringStructure

RACK AND PINION DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ODI #515151

Official recalls

3

96V094000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)

Jun 13, 1996

THE FRAME CAN CRACK AT THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT AND/OR THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS CAN FRACTURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE STEERING GEAR CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: 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.

88V074000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

May 4, 1988

MACHINING ERROR IN LOCATING WHEEL STUD HOLES MAY PREVENT FULL SEATING OF BRAKE DRUM TO SHAFT FLANGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: WHEEL STUDS COULD LOOSEN, ALLOWING WHEEL TO SEPARATEFROM THE TRUCK.

Remedy: REPLACE AXLE SHAFTS AS NECESSARY.

87V194000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Dec 26, 1987

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY CONTAIN A PARK SPRAG ROD ASSEMBLY THAT MAY STICK IN THE TOOTH BUTT UNENGAGED POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL WITH THEGEAR SHIFT LEVER IN PARK POSITION.

Remedy: ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES WILL HAVE THE PARK SPRAG ROD ASSEMBLIES REPLACED.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.