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 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 1997
Steering
THE TILT WHEEL WIRING HARNESS BREAKS WHENEVER STEERING WHEEL IS TILTED AFTER A FEW MONTHS USE. WHENEVER STRESS IS APPLIED, THE WIRES ARE CONNECTED IN DOWN POSITION. IN THE UP POSITION, STEERING WHEEL WIRES ARE SEPARATED. TOOK TO THE DEALER & PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. *AK SOLDERING THE WIRES ON TO THE CLIPS WOULD ONLY BE…
Read full complaint
THE TILT WHEEL WIRING HARNESS BREAKS WHENEVER STEERING WHEEL IS TILTED AFTER A FEW MONTHS USE. WHENEVER STRESS IS APPLIED, THE WIRES ARE CONNECTED IN DOWN POSITION. IN THE UP POSITION, STEERING WHEEL WIRES ARE SEPARATED. TOOK TO THE DEALER & PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. *AK SOLDERING THE WIRES ON TO THE CLIPS WOULD ONLY BE A TEMPORARY FIX. REPLACING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS WAS NOT ONLY VERY EXPENSIVE BUT OFFERS NO ASSURANCE OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM. *YH
NHTSA ODI #816609
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1997
Fuel System, GasolineVisibility
HEATER CORE LEAKED COOLANT INTO CAB OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #521109
Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 1997
Air Bags
THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT CAUSE, INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. CAUSE OF PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE SENSOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #815438
Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 1997
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. HAD APPLIED BRAKES, BUT STILL REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER ABOUT GROWLING & TOLD CHARACTER OF VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #815144
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 1997
Steering
WHILE DRIVING THE OWNER HEARS A POPPING , AND CAN FEEL THE POPPING IN THE STEERING COLUMN; THIS IS A POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER STEERING PROBLEMS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #813339
Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE STALLS.
NHTSA ODI #518605
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 1997
Power Train
CLUTCH PLATE CRACKED.
NHTSA ODI #516173
Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 1997
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY 75 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, IT APPEARS THAT RANSFER CASE CAME APART, CAUSING FRONT WHEELS TO LOCK UP, NO NOISE/WARNING, VEHICLE WITH DEALER, TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMISSION ORDERED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #810620
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING APPLIED THE ABS BRAKES ONE OF THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE ROAD HAD ICE ON IT. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AROUND 15-20 MPH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #809825
Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 1997
Service Brakes, Air
VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT. FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED.
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
1
DP03002 · 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.
1993 Dodge Dakota Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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