Car Defect Radar
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 22, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

44 total

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

Minor
8

Most reports here involve sudden stalling.

sudden stalling 2premature wear 2
A recent report: 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…
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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

Minor
4

Most reports here involve premature wear.

premature wear 1
A recent report: 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…
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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

Worth reading
6

Most reports here involve loss of braking. Of these, 2 mention a crash.

loss of braking 4unintended acceleration 1smoke 1
A recent report: 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…
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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

Worth reading
3

Most reports here involve loss of steering. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

loss of steering 3
A recent report: 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…
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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

Worth reading
18

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 2 mention a crash.

airbags not deploying 3
A recent report: AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING IS NOT WORKING, DRIVERS AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK AND HORN DOESNT WORK ALONG WITH ANY OTHER CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11186652 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Worth reading
2

Most reports here involve other issues. Of these, 2 mention a crash.

other issues 2
A recent report: SE BARRIO HASTA CHOCAR CON LA VALLA Y VOLCARSE , CORRIO UN PEQUEO TRAMO DE CAPOTA

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10638998 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
3

Most reports here involve electrical shorts.

electrical shorts 1
A recent report: 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…
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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

Is 44 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2012 and 2024, roughly 4 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.