At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. Confirm by VIN that the repair was completed before driving or buying this car. The fix is free at a dealer.
Recalls
Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.
Airbags recall
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 4, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V01.
- Status
- Do not drive until repaired. A dealer fixes this free of charge.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Airbags recall
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U03.
- Status
- Do not drive until repaired. A dealer fixes this free of charge.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Airbags recall
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.
- Status
- Do not drive until repaired. A dealer fixes this free of charge.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Airbags recall
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for Chrylser on June 8, 2015. The recall for Mitsubishi started on June 24, 2015. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-7820. Chrysler's number for this recall is R25. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V817 in its entirety. Vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well.
- Status
- Do not drive until repaired. A dealer fixes this free of charge.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Transmission recall
If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.
- Remedy
- On November 7, 2013 Chrysler notified owners that dealers would install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. In July 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for remedying their vehicles: perform the original remedy, offer to repurchase the vehicle at the fair market value plus 10%, or offer an additional incentive offer towards the purchase of a new Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, or Fiat vehicle. Chrysler will notify owners of the new recall options in a letter expected to be mailed on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N08.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Safety recall
Overheating of the battery separator can result in smoke and possible fire.
- Remedy
- NBC will notify owners, and Sure Power will replace the battery separators free of charge. The safety recall began November 26, 2012. Owners may contact NBC Truck Equipment, Inc. at 1-586-774-4900.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Owner complaints by system
Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.
Engine & powertrain
8
Most reports here involve sudden stalling.
Read full complaint
BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO FROM A LOCAL DEALER WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT.THE PREVIOUS OWNER BOUGHT IT NEW.I HAVE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS OF WHAT WAS DONE TO IT INCLUDING OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES.HAVE ALWAYS TREATED IT LIKE A BABY AND BRAGGED ABOUT IT.NOW HAS 84,016 MILES ON IT AND ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING.TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A LOWER ENGINE KNOCK AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE.CALLED DODGE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT UP TO 100,000 MILES AND WAS TOLD THEIR WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT.I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT TO AT LEAST 100,00 MILES.NOW I HAVE A USELESS VEHICLE AND NOTHING TO DRIVE
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11339556 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Electrical & infotainment
4
Most reports here involve premature wear.
Read full complaint
Many Dodge vehicle models experience failure of illumination for instrument clusters. This creates an unsafe condition for the driver since information presented at the instrument cluster, cannot be determined during night time driving conditions. Dodge makes no provision to customers for replacement or repair parts and does not provide any documentation through Dodge dealers on how to address this issue. It was determined that Dodge does not offer replacement instrument clusters to address this issue.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11621880 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Brakes
6
Most reports here involve loss of braking. Of these, 2 mention a crash.
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUMPED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11132736 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Steering, suspension & tires
3
Most reports here involve loss of steering. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.
Read full complaint
AT 60,597 MILES, ALL THE TIE RODS AND BALL JOINTS COMPLETELY FAILED. OTHER DODGE TRUCK MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME REASON, BUT NOT THE DAKOTAS. FAILURE WAS WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A GARAGE. REPAIR INVOICE IS ATTACHED (THREE PAGES, THREE PHOTOS) WITH THIS COMPLAINT.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10862955 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Airbags & seat belts
18
Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 2 mention a crash.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11186652 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Structure & body
2
Most reports here involve other issues. Of these, 2 mention a crash.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10638998 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Other systems
3
Most reports here involve electrical shorts.
Read full complaint
THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR CONNECTOR ON THE 2001 DODGE DAKOTA'S ARE OVERHEATING AND MELTING THE CONNECTORS, THIS IS CAUSING A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *TR IF YOU DO A SEARCH ONLINE YOU WILL SEE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. ALL THE AUTO PARTS STORES HAVE THESE IN STOCK BECAUSE IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS AND WIRING 2 TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. DODGE EVEN SEEMS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BLOWER MOTOR MAYBE DRAWING TO MANY AMPS, BUT WHEN YOU CONTACT THEM THEY JUST SAY THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10607253 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
How does it compare with other years? The 2011 has 44 complaints on file, more than the 2010 (35). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.