IllustrationELECTRIC BLUE PAINT ON EVERY DAKOTA LITERALLY FLAKING OFF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE RIGHT DOWN TO THE PRIMER,HAS TO BE A PAINT DEFECT,CHRYSLER SAYS TOO BAD. EVERY DODGE THAT IS THIS COLOR LOOKS THIS WAY.*AK
1993 Dodge Dakota
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1993 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: 11 of 134 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. 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.
15 crash reports6 fire reports12 injury reports
Structure complaints
11 reportsPAINT ON HOOD AND ROOF BEGAN TO BUBBLE (WHITE CHALKY APPEARANCE) AND PAINT BEGAN PEELING. MR
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT PAINT IS PEELING ONTO THE STRUCTURE AND BODY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, PLEASE CALL FEDERAL TRADE COMISSION AT 877-382-4357, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR
I NOTICED IN WINTER 2000 THE PAINT ON THE TOP OF THE TRUCK WAS PEALING. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR AN ESTIMATE I WAS TOLD IT WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT. THE PAINT LOSES COHESION WITH THE PRIMER USED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER DID AGREE TO PAY $218 TO FIX WHERE THE PAINT WAS PEALING AT THAT TIME. THE FIRST PAINT SHOP STATED…
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I NOTICED IN WINTER 2000 THE PAINT ON THE TOP OF THE TRUCK WAS PEALING. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR AN ESTIMATE I WAS TOLD IT WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT. THE PAINT LOSES COHESION WITH THE PRIMER USED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER DID AGREE TO PAY $218 TO FIX WHERE THE PAINT WAS PEALING AT THAT TIME. THE FIRST PAINT SHOP STATED IT WOULD ALL HAVE TO BE TAKEN TO BARE METAL TO PREVENT IT FROM CONTINUING. AT THIS TIME ABOUT A 1/3 OF THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD IS NEXT TO THE NON-PAINTED SURFACE. NO SAFETYDEFECT. *AK
THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE BODY IN HUGE CHUNKS. I HAVE READ THAT THE PAINT COMING LOOSE AND FALLING OFF CAN BE A HAZARD AS THE WINSHEILD CAN COME OFF EASILY IF THE PAINT LOOSENS. I WANT CHRYSLER TO PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAINTING MY ENTIRE VEHICLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT MCSTARRETT@SOFTHOME.NET OR 715-426-9974 THANKS, MIKE S…
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THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE BODY IN HUGE CHUNKS. I HAVE READ THAT THE PAINT COMING LOOSE AND FALLING OFF CAN BE A HAZARD AS THE WINSHEILD CAN COME OFF EASILY IF THE PAINT LOOSENS. I WANT CHRYSLER TO PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAINTING MY ENTIRE VEHICLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT MCSTARRETT@SOFTHOME.NET OR 715-426-9974 THANKS, MIKE STARRETT. *NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
THE VEHICLE IS WHITE IN COLOR. LAST YEAR APPROXIMATELY IN JUNE 1998 I NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON THE CAB OF THE TRUCK STARTED TO PEEL. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND IS VERY CLEAN. NOW I HAVE A CAB THAT IS AN EYE SORE DUE TO THE PEELING SPOTS ON THE VEHICLE. ANOTHER CONCERN IS THAT I NOTICED CHIPS OF PAINT IN THE DRIV…
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THE VEHICLE IS WHITE IN COLOR. LAST YEAR APPROXIMATELY IN JUNE 1998 I NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON THE CAB OF THE TRUCK STARTED TO PEEL. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND IS VERY CLEAN. NOW I HAVE A CAB THAT IS AN EYE SORE DUE TO THE PEELING SPOTS ON THE VEHICLE. ANOTHER CONCERN IS THAT I NOTICED CHIPS OF PAINT IN THE DRIVEWAY WHERE I PARK THE VEHICLE, AND I AM AFRAID THAT WITH SMALL CHILDREN THAT THE CHIPS OF PAINT COULD BE A HAZARD OR DO HARM. *AK
THE DRIVER'S DOOR BOTTOM HINGES CANNOT HOLD THE DOOR ,CAUSING THE HINGES TO BREAK, AND THE DOOR MAY OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY. MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT/INJURIES. CURRENTLY, PASSENGER'S DOOR IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR MOULDING HAS CAUSED WATER DAMAGE TO CARPET. DOOR JAM PLASTIC MOULDING SET DOWN WITH 5 SCREWS, PENETRATING THROUGH SHEET METAL NO RUBBER WASHERS/OTHER COMPONENTS WERE UTILIZED TO PREVENT OUTSIDE WATER FROM SEEPING UP IN THE SCREW HOLES. IN ADDITION, UTILIZED TOO MUCH TORQUE WITH THESE SCREWS, CAUSING OVERSIZ…
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PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR MOULDING HAS CAUSED WATER DAMAGE TO CARPET. DOOR JAM PLASTIC MOULDING SET DOWN WITH 5 SCREWS, PENETRATING THROUGH SHEET METAL NO RUBBER WASHERS/OTHER COMPONENTS WERE UTILIZED TO PREVENT OUTSIDE WATER FROM SEEPING UP IN THE SCREW HOLES. IN ADDITION, UTILIZED TOO MUCH TORQUE WITH THESE SCREWS, CAUSING OVERSIZED SCREW HOLES TO BE CREATED FURTHER CREATING HARMFUL ROAD SALTS WHICH ENTERED TRUCK BODY. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE HOOD CAME OPEN . TT
DRIVER/PASSENGER DOORS ARE WEAK. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Official recalls
193V082000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
May 11, 1993
SOME OF THE ABS EQUIPPED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN UNDERSIZED BRAKE RETURN CHECK VALVE. IN INCIDENTS WHERE HARD BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT IS APPLIED ON LOW FRICTION ROAD SURFACES, LIKE RAIN COVERED STREETS, THE VALVES MAY FAIL, CAUSING THE ABS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS CREATES EXCESS BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND MAY CAUSE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LACK OF FRONT WHEEL ABS COULD CAUSE THE FRONT WHEELBRAKES TO LOCK, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE RETURN CHECK VALVE WITH THE CORRECT VALVE.
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
1DP03002 · Steering Column Separation
Opened May 7, 2003 · Closed Jul 22, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:column
MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.