IllustrationPASSENGER'S-SIDE OF THE MAIN FRAME HAS CRACKED. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED VECHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
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
Compare all Dakota years →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 reportsVEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE UNDER THE DASH; BELIEVED THIS WAS CAUSED BY A SHORT FROM A FAULTY WIRE HARNESS. DEALER/MFR. NOTIFIED. *AK
HEADLIGHT/IGNITION WIRES BROKE CAUSING HEADLIGHT/IGNITION FAILURE
THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED AS IT WAS PARKED. WAS TOLD CAUSED BY STRESS. HAVE NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AS OF YET TO BE REPAIRED. *AK
MAIN WIRING HARNESS AT TILT WHEEL: TILTING THE STEERING WHEEL HAS SEVERED LARGE GUAGE ELECTRICAL WIRES LEADING TO THE MAIN ELECTRICAL BUS ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST INSTANCE, THE WIRE PROVIDING POWER TO THE HEADLIGHTS WAS BROKEN AND ALL LIGHTS WERE LOSS, AND THE SECOND INSTANCE THE WIRE PROVIDING IGNITION BROKE AND KILLED POWE…
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MAIN WIRING HARNESS AT TILT WHEEL: TILTING THE STEERING WHEEL HAS SEVERED LARGE GUAGE ELECTRICAL WIRES LEADING TO THE MAIN ELECTRICAL BUS ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST INSTANCE, THE WIRE PROVIDING POWER TO THE HEADLIGHTS WAS BROKEN AND ALL LIGHTS WERE LOSS, AND THE SECOND INSTANCE THE WIRE PROVIDING IGNITION BROKE AND KILLED POWER TO THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. BOTH TIMES THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN.
TRANMISSION FAILURES.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE RACK & PINION AREA. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. SERVICE MANAGER HAD RACK & PINION REPAIRED & REPLACED ENTIRE PART. *AK
THE ABS BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, THERE HAVE BEEN REPLACEMENTS MADE UNDER WARRANTY, THE INDICATOR LIGHTS COMES ON WHEN DRIVING AND IN HOT WEATHER THE LIGHT STAYS ON, THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED DEALER DID NOT TRY TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THE REAR SPEED S…
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THE ABS BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, THERE HAVE BEEN REPLACEMENTS MADE UNDER WARRANTY, THE INDICATOR LIGHTS COMES ON WHEN DRIVING AND IN HOT WEATHER THE LIGHT STAYS ON, THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED DEALER DID NOT TRY TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THE REAR SPEED SENSOR, AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE WERE REPLACED, ALSO REAR BRAKE SHOES WERE REPLACED AND CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON.*JB
THE FUEL LINE RUBS AGAINST UNDERSIDE OF THE CAB, CAUSING A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE. THE FUEL IS SQUIRTING OUT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK
AIR COMPRESSOR PULLEY ASSEMBLY; SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED FOUR TIMES.
Official recalls
400V106000 · 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
3EA96006 · 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