Total Complaints
65 filings
DODGE DAKOTA · model year
1988 DODGE DAKOTA
65 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988DODGEDAKOTA carries 65 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 3 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 1988 DAKOTA is steering:rack and pinion with 22 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (6) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (3). 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 1988 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.
65
Complaints
3
Crashes
3
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 |
|---|---|
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 22 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 3 |
| STEERING | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK | 2 |
| WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS | 2 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080402STEERING
RE: STEERING RECALL AS ISSUED... NHTSA ACTION # PE96003 FOR DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLE. RECALL WAS FOR STEERING BOX "OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION" STEERING. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD A ISSUE WITH A WANDERING VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR MANY YEARS. DEALER COULD NEVER FIND A PROBLEM. I FOUND THE STEERING RACK AND PINION MOUNTING POINTS STRESS FRACTURED, WELD NUT MOUNTS PULLED AWAY. VISUAL CRACKING AROUND AREA AT THE BACK OF THE CROSS MEMBER. DODGE SAID RECALL WAS ONLY FOR THE STEERING GEAR BOX MOUNTS. WHY WAS THE RACK AND PINION MOUNTS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL? ENTIRE RACK ASSEMBLY WAS LOOSE ALL THESE YEARS BECAUSE OF A "DEFECT IN WELDING" FROM THE FACTORY. *TR
Mileage: 118,100
20050104WHEELS:HUB
DECORATIVE END COVERS CAME OFF OF WHEEL NUT. WHEEL NUT CATCH 1/2 " OF THE END OF LUG BOLTS. *BF *TC
20050104WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
DECORATIVE END COVERS CAME OFF OF WHEEL NUT. WHEEL NUT CATCH 1/2 " OF THE END OF LUG BOLTS. *BF *TC
20030326WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT DESCRIBED IN RECALL RECALL NUMBER 88 V 074 (WHEEL, LUGS, NUTS). THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM
20030318ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN EXHAUST LEAK. *NLM
Mileage: 47,950
20011127SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
AFTER MARKET BRAKE PAD RIVET FAILURE CAUSING SEPARATION. *AK
20010827EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
SPARE TIRE MOUNTING CABLE CORRODED, CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO SEPARATE FROM UNDER BODY MOUNT, AND ALLOWING SPARE TIRE TO FALL IN THE STREET.
20000918POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
GEAR LEVER DOES NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE INTO PARK AND SOMETIMES GETS STUCK IN PARK. *AK
19991129TIRES:TREAD/BELT
BELTS POPPED ON RIGHT FRONT TIRE (GOODYEAR WRANGLER HT- TIRE SIZE P235/75R15- DOTMKHLTH2R392)CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND JACKNIFE RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED BEHIND TRUCK. NLM
19990915SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE THREE TIMES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED IN 1988. THE BUCKLE JUST CAME APART WHEN TRYING TO SNAP THE LOCKING MECHANISM IN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. ALSO, PASSENGER REAR BELT BUCKLE BROKE THREE TIMES. AK
19990908STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RECALL ON RACK AND PINION--REFUND REQUESTED FOR REPAIRS PREVIOUSLY DONE.
19990331STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
CONSUMER BELIEVES POWER STEERING UNIT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ON STEERING/GEAR ATTACHMENT, INCOMPLETE REMEDY.
19990309STEERING:RACK AND PINION
BOLTS TO RACK AND PINION BROKE LOOSE CAUSING DAMAGE TO RACK AND PINION AND BUSHINGS DUE TO CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, REPLACEMENT IS FAILING DUE TO BOLT LOOSENING.
19990309STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
19990217STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION/FRAM CROSSMEMBER BUILT STURDY, RESULTING IN A SEPARATION.
19981014STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
RECALL NOTICE SENT CONCERNING REINFORCEMENT OF THE FRAME CROSSMEMBER WHERE THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHES, HOWEVER WORK DENIED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
19980708EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE UNDER THE TRUCK RUSTED OUT, LOST THE TIRE. MANUFACTURER NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
19980612STEERING:RACK AND PINION
VEHICLE ON RECALL. ACCORDING TO DEALER, WAS TOLD TO BRING VEHICLE IN & LEAVE IT. WOULD TAKE ONE DAY TO FIX. TOOK VEHICLE & LEFT IT. RETURNED TO PICK IT UP & WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS REPAIRED ON RACK & PINION DUE TO A BROKEN PART UNDER VEHICLE. *AK
19980611STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION BOLTS BROKE LOOSE AND CAUSED RACK AND PINION TO GO BAD, BUSHING FAILED CAUSING FRONT END TO BE OUT OF LINE, REPLACE RACK AND PINION.
19980610STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING COUPLING BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AFTER RECALL REPAIR.
Compare 1988DODGEDAKOTA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 DODGE DAKOTA have?▼
The 1988 DODGE DAKOTA has 65 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 3 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 DODGE DAKOTA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 DODGE DAKOTA is STEERING:RACK AND PINION with 22 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1988 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.