← New search

1994 Dodge Dakota

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1994 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: 15 of 166 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 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

32 crash reports3 fire reports20 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
70,102 miles · Nov 19, 2006
Exterior Lighting

NIGHT DRIVING, SMELLED ELECTRICAL SMOKE IN CAB. HEADLAMPS WENT OFF THEN CAME BACK ON AFTER 5 TO 10 SECONDS. MOVED HEADLAMP SWITCH IN AND OUT BUT CONDITION STILL PERSISTED. LUCKILY I WAS LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM HOME ON DIVIDED HWY WITH NO TRAFFIC. IF LAMP SWITCH IS OFF THEN THERE IS NO SMELL OF ELECTRICAL SMOKE. WHEN LAMP SWITCH …

Read full complaint

NIGHT DRIVING, SMELLED ELECTRICAL SMOKE IN CAB. HEADLAMPS WENT OFF THEN CAME BACK ON AFTER 5 TO 10 SECONDS. MOVED HEADLAMP SWITCH IN AND OUT BUT CONDITION STILL PERSISTED. LUCKILY I WAS LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM HOME ON DIVIDED HWY WITH NO TRAFFIC. IF LAMP SWITCH IS OFF THEN THERE IS NO SMELL OF ELECTRICAL SMOKE. WHEN LAMP SWITCH IS IN EITHER THE PARKING OR THE HEADLAMP POSITION, CAN SMELL ELECTRICAL SMOKE AND LIGHT WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS SECOND FAILURE IN 2 YEARS. LAMP SWITCH FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10173803

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2002
Exterior Lighting

SEVERAL MONTHS TO A YEAR, A MODULE IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS MODULE CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS HIGH/LOW BEAM, TURN SIGNAL, 4-WAY FLASHER AND WIPER MOTION. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT WHILE IN USE FOLLOWING THE OTHER COMPONENTS FAILING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS TS

NHTSA ODI #8022958

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2000
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED/HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT/SWITCH SHOWED OVERHEATING DAMAGE AND ALSO MELTED SOME OF THE WIRING IN THE CABLING UNDER THE DASH/COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING BEFORE FAILURE/LOST LIGHTS AT NIGHT

NHTSA ODI #717255

Mileage unknown · May 29, 1998
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS FAILED TWICE.

NHTSA ODI #536362

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train

LIGHTS FAIL WHEN DIMMER SWITCH IS USED. *SD

NHTSA ODI #487607

Official recalls

3

95V088000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar

May 12, 1995

WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE EXTRA KEYS ON A VEHICLE OPERATOR'S KEY RING CAN BECOME TEMPORARILY LODGED IN THE SCREW ACCESS HOLES IN THE BACK COVER OF THE STEERING WHEEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN HAMPER THE STEERING WHEEL RETURN ORCAUSE THE IGNITION TO BE TURNED OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK COVER WITH A REDESIGNED COVER.

94V043000 · Suspension:front:control Arm

Mar 9, 1994

SOME UPPER CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BOLTS CAN FAIL DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT. THE BOLTS ARE TOO SOFT TO WITHSTAND THE STRESSES IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND CAN BREAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE ATTACHING BOLTS OF THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BREAK, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE THE UPPER CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BOLTS.

94V005000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

Jan 12, 1994

TWO FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP ATTACHING STUDS WERE NOT ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED, WHICH COULD CAUSE ONE OR BOTH OF THE STRAP(S) TO SEPARATE, MISLOCATING THE FUEL TANKS OR ALLOW COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE FUEL TANK FROM THE VEHICLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN EITHER CASE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP(S) FAILURE RESULTS IN FUEL LEAKAGE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: THE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP ATTACHING STUDS WILL BE PROPERLY TIGHTENED.

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

4

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.

RQ97012 · Steering Wheel And Column

Opened Sep 25, 1997 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar

There is no summary currently available

PE94038 · Steering LOCK-UP/IMPEDIMNT

Opened May 2, 1994 · Closed Aug 9, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available

PE94013 · Engine Fires

Opened Feb 9, 1994 · Closed Jun 30, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

There is no summary currently available