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1991 Dodge Dakota

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1991 Dodge Dakota do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 166.

About this comparison →

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: 3 of 128 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports5 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

128 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2002
Power Train

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 00VV106000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 871 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TOOK VEHICLE TO JOHN L WAY DODGE SOUTHWEST WHERE REPAIRS WERE DONE. VEHICLE WAS NOT HAVING PROBLEM OF SHIFTING GEARS UNTIL AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE. REFERRED CONSUMER TO MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8006796

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2001
Power Train

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION CONCERNING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEEL MANUAL VALVE, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES ON THE TRANSMISSION, IN ORDER FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS TO BE EFFECTIVE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE, CONSUMER FEELS T…

Read full complaint

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION CONCERNING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEEL MANUAL VALVE, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES ON THE TRANSMISSION, IN ORDER FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS TO BE EFFECTIVE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS JUST AN EXCUSE IN CASE OF A PRODUCT FAILURE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #563618

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2001
Tires

WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN OFF THE ROAD AND CAUSING DAMAMGE TO VEHICLE, FIRESTONE AFFINITY, P215/70R15, CLAIM 46-0351-405. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #6900321

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2001
Tires

WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN OFF THE ROAD AND CAUSING DAMAMGE TO VEHICLE, FIRESTONE AFFINITY, P215/70R15, CLAIM 46-0351-405. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #6900297

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2001
Power TrainStructure

A SHOCK IS GIVEN UPON OPENING THE DOOR AT TIMES. DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR.

NHTSA ODI #9003346

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2001
Power Train

PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED POSSIBLE TRANSMISSON PROBLEMS, HOWEVER CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #562190

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2001
Power Train

CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS IS THE SECOND RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED THREE TIMES PRIOR. *JG

NHTSA ODI #562022

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2001
Equipment

SPARE TIRE WINCH CABLE WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE BROKEN AND SPARE TIRE HAD FALLEN OFF. DRIVER WAS UNAWARE OF WHEN THE SPARE FELL OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #748137

Mileage unknown · May 11, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

BAD GAS MILAGE/I GET ABOUT 200MILES TO A TANK OF GAS/IT HOLD 22 GAL. OF GAS

NHTSA ODI #745223

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

2 FUEL LINES ROUTED OVER CROSS MEMBERS, HAVE BEEN RUBBING AGAINST THEM. THIS CAUSED FUEL LINES TO CRACK, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #886901

Official recalls

4

00V106000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Apr 11, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A500 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. INADVERTENT PLACEMENT OF THE SHIFT LEVER IN REVERSE CAN OCCUR WHEN THE DRIVER BELIEVES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN PLACED IN PARK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY WITH THE ENGINE ON AFTER THE DRIVER HAS LEFT THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEEL MANUAL VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION WITH AN ALUMINUM VERSION.

95V089000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar

May 12, 1995

THE STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE STAMPING CAN CRACK DUE TO FATIGUE AND SEPARATE FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ARMATURE CRACKS AND REPLACE ANY WHEELS EXHIBITING CRACKS. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL HAVE A REINFORCEMENT PLATE INSTALLED TO PREVENT STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION IF CRACKING OCCURS.

91V200000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Nov 12, 1991

THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE MAY RUB AGAINST THE TIRE DURING A FULL LOCK LEFT TURN, WHICH MAY EVENTUALLY CAUSE WEAR THROUGH OF THE BRAKE HOSE ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: WEAR THROUGH OF THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE WOULD CAUSEFLUID LOSS FROM HALF OF THE SPLIT BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM AND INCREASE STOPPINGDISTANCE WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: IF CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE HOSE AND TIRE ON THE RIGHT FRONT IS INADEQUATE, REPLACE BRAKE HOSE WITH A MODIFIED VERSION TO ENSURE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE.

90V176000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Oct 1, 1990

STEEL BRAIDED FUEL HOSE ROUTING MAY ALLOW CONTACT BETWEEN THE HOSE AND TRANSMISSION WIRING HARNESS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONTACT COULD CAUSE HOSE DAMAGE AND FUEL LEAKAGETHAT, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: INSTALL A TIE STRAP TO SECURE THE TRANSMISSION WIRING AWAY FROM THE FUEL HOSE.

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

3

EA96006 · Rollaway In Reverse When Parked

Opened May 31, 1996 · Closed Aug 10, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

There is no summary currently available

PE95041 · Inadvertent Movement Of Shifter

Opened Jun 23, 1995 · Closed May 31, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

ODI RECEIVED AN INQUIRY REGARDING ALLEGED PARK TO REVERSE PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ON 1991 AND 1992 DODGE DAKOTA PICUP TRUCKS.THE ODI DATABASE REVEALED 11 COMPLAINTS, SEVERAL OF WHICH HAD BEEN REPORTED IN THE MONTHS JUST PRECEDING THE OPENING OF THE PE.THE CONSUMERS CLAIM THAT THEY MOVE THE VEHICLE, PLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND EXIT THE VEHICLE.THEN, ALMOST ALWAYS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE ALLEGEDLY SHIFTS INTO REVERSETHE VEHICLE THEN BEGINS TO BACK UP, USUALLY STOPPING ONLY WHEN IT HITS SOMETHING.

PE95004 · Steering Wheel Separation

Opened Jan 19, 1995 · Closed May 11, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available