IllustrationWHEN DRIVING AND BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, TWO STUDS THAT HOLD THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND ONE OTHER STUD SNAPPED AND SHEARED OFF, CAUSE BRAKES TO BECOME LOOSE INSTANTLY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED, MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND NO RESPONSE. CONSUMER STATED IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT. *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
What owners actually said
134 reportsWHILE DRIVING WAS PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION WHEN VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN LOCKED UP DUE TO DEFECTIVE TRANSFER CASE. VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WOULD NOT REPAIR UNLESS COST IS PAID THE CONSUMER. *AK
RADIATOR IS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDETERMINED. *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…
Read full complaint
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
SEAT BELT LATCH IN FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT IN A LATCH POSITON WILL NOT UNLATCH. IT IS STUCK . DEALER SAID IT BROKE, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS DEFECT CAN RESULT IN INJURIES IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. *AK
RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT AXLE SEALS FAILED, LEAKING GEAR OIL.
AXLE SHAFT CRAKED CAUSING KNOCKING SOUND WHILE GOING UP HILL.
WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND TURNING OR WHEN IN NEUTRAL POSITION THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SHUTS OFF.
FUEL GAUGE FAILED.
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.