Total Complaints
3 filings
DODGE DAKOTA · model year
1985 DODGE DAKOTA
3 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985DODGEDAKOTA carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1985 DAKOTA is air bags:frontal with 2 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1985 DAKOTA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19961024CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE COMING TO A STOP THE THROTTLE WENT WIDE OPEN AND VEHICLE HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER TRUCK AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. *AK
19961024CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE COMING TO A STOP THE THROTTLE WENT WIDE OPEN AND VEHICLE HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER TRUCK AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. *AK
19960531CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVING AT SPEED 0F 35 MPH, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Compare 1985DODGEDAKOTA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 DODGE DAKOTA have?▼
The 1985 DODGE DAKOTA has 3 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 DODGE DAKOTA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 DODGE DAKOTA is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1985 DODGE DAKOTA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.