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1989 Dodge Dakota

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 Dodge Dakota are lower than the model-year median of 166.

About this comparison →
63Owner complaints

Model-year median: 166

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
198620
198755
198863
198963
1990128
1991216
1992
Compare all Dakota years →

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

What owners reported most

Steering
19Power Train
12Engine And Engine Cooling
8Service Brakes, Hydraulic
8Electrical System
4
All reported categories
Structure
4Tires
4Fuel System, Gasoline
3Seat Belts
3Equipment
2Suspension
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1Wheels
1

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: 6 of 63 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 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

8 reports
Clear category filter
167,000 miles · Oct 24, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

I WAS DRIVING DOWN 1994 AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED A HUGE FIRE. MELTING ALL THE WIRING AND DESTROYING THE TRUCK. THE DETROIT FIREDEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THE TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS. MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT BECAUSE I HAD BASIC COVERAGE. I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS A RECALL. I WAS NEVER CONTACTED. I BOUGHT THE CA…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING DOWN 1994 AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED A HUGE FIRE. MELTING ALL THE WIRING AND DESTROYING THE TRUCK. THE DETROIT FIREDEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THE TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS. MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT BECAUSE I HAD BASIC COVERAGE. I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS A RECALL. I WAS NEVER CONTACTED. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1993 AFTER THE RECALL. I BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALER YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD HAVE FIXED IT. LUCKILY THE POLICE AND FIRE WERE CLOSE AND THEY PUT IT OUT BEFORE IT BLEW UP. THE FREEWAY WAS CLOSED FOR A WHILE AFTER THIS HAPPENED. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE TO MAKE DODGE REPAIR THIS? IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR 1 YEAR AND I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIX IT. I AM NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE BUT IT WAS A WEEK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10096295

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND IT TAKE A WHILE TO RESTART. YH

NHTSA ODI #551454

Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

MOTOR FAILED

NHTSA ODI #715294

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING.

NHTSA ODI #539658

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #520406

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 1995
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #484774

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

CLUTCH REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #482637

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #481354

Official recalls

3

01V232000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)

Jul 6, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 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.

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. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

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.

89V237000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Dec 27, 1989

THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.

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.