DODGE DAKOTA · model year

1989 DODGE DAKOTA

88 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989DODGEDAKOTA carries 88 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1989 DAKOTA is steering:rack and pinion with 14 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (6) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (5). 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 1989 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.

88
Complaints
3
Crashes
2
Fires
4
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

88 filings

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

ComponentCount
STEERING:RACK AND PINION14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP5
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS3
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY3
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)3
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR2
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR2
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY2
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK2

Recent Complaints

20110916STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED WHICH PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM STEERING THE VEHICLE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLTS ON THE RACK AND PINION WERE CRACKED. AS A RESULT, THE RACK AND PINION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXCEEDED THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS TO RECEIVE REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V094000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHO FILED A REPORT AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM BACK AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 209,000. UPDATED 10/12/11*LJ UPDATED 10/14/11 *BF WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK, DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO STEER AND ULTIMATELY ENDED UP IN A DITCH. UPDATED 10/18/11 UPDATED 10/26/11 UPDATED 10/31/1

Mileage: 209,000

20070307POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

WHEN SWITCHING FROM 4H TO 2H ON 89 DODGE DAKOTA ON FLOOR SHIFTER IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO ENGAGE AND WHEN IT DOES IT JARS THE VEHICLE TO A SIDE JERKING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT SUDDENLY. *JB

Mileage: 105,980

20061024POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTS INTO REVERSE OR IF PARKED ON AN INCLINE WILL ROLL DOWN A HILL. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT PROPERLY LOCK INTO THE PARKING GEAR. NO EXAMINATION OR REPAIRS WERE MADE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 00V106000 REGARDING POWERTRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Mileage: 144,000

20050524WHEELS

DT: CONSUMER STATES: WHEEL DIDN'T FIT HUB CORRECTLY AND IT WAS STRIPPING LUGS: NUTS AND STUDS WHEN HITTING SMALL BUMPS. THERE WAS NOTHING TO HOLD THEM. . DODGE SAID NEEDED A FACTORY RIM, AND THEY DIDN'T MAKE THEM ANYMORE. *AK UPDATED 01/09/07. *JB

Mileage: 100,000

20041024FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING DOWN 1994 AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED A HUGE FIRE. MELTING ALL THE WIRING AND DESTROYING THE TRUCK. THE DETROIT FIREDEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THE TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS. MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT BECAUSE I HAD BASIC COVERAGE. I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS A RECALL. I WAS NEVER CONTACTED. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1993 AFTER THE RECALL. I BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALER YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD HAVE FIXED IT. LUCKILY THE POLICE AND FIRE WERE CLOSE AND THEY PUT IT OUT BEFORE IT BLEW UP. THE FREEWAY WAS CLOSED FOR A WHILE AFTER THIS HAPPENED. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE TO MAKE DODGE REPAIR THIS? IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR 1 YEAR AND I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIX IT. I AM NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE BUT IT WAS A WEEK. *AK

Mileage: 167,000

20040108POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND MELTED.*MR *PH *NM

Mileage: 99,100

20020912TIRES

WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE DISINTEGRATED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE DAMAGE FOUND TO THE TIRE WAS CAUSED BY A ROAD HAZARD AND NOT A DESIGN FLAW.(COOPER TRENDSETTER AW RADIAL TIRE P235 75R15, DOT NUMBER, VP HL CNA 7500)*JB

20010919STEERING:RACK AND PINION

RACK AND PINION BOLTS FRACTURED ,CAUSING RACK AND PINION STEERING TO SEPARATE FROM FRAME, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20010614STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND TURNING RACK AND PINION STEERING SEPARATED FROM CROSS MEMBER OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 96V094000. *AK

20000905TIRES

FRONT-LEFT TIRE BEGAN TO PEEL OFF THE CASING, SIMILAR TO THE 23575R15'S( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 21575R15 )

20000519POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

HAVING ALOT OF HOWLING IN THE DRIVESHAFT??AND THEY DON'T WHY.*AK

20000512STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

RECALL 96V-094000/ STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLT FAILURE. CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE, DRIVEABILITY OF THE VEHICLE WORSENED. CONSUMER HAS NOTIFIED THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK

20000329ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND IT TAKE A WHILE TO RESTART. YH

20000117EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK

SPARE WHEEL FELL FROM CARRIER WHEN WINCH CABLE PARTED DUE TO WEAR/CORROSION. WHEN REPORTED TO DEALER, HE SAID THAT IT WAS HAPPENING A LOT LATELY. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND HE RESPONDED NO. A TIRE FALLING FROM UNDER VEHICLE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS CAN EASILY KILL PEOPLE IN OTHER VEHICLES, YET DEALER (AND MANUFACTURER?) SEEMED TO NOT CARE. SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE TRACKED AND A MORE PERMANENT DEVICE OTHER THAT FLIMSY, CORROSION PRONE CABLE BE USED TO SECURE THESE SPARE TIRES. *AK

19991126ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

MOTOR FAILED

19991117POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. THEN IT MADE A CLUNKING NOISE.THE DRIVESHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE & THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. WAS TOWED TO SHOP THE REAR END OF DRIVESHAFT WAS SHOT. HAD THE WRONG REAR END PUT IN VEHICLE. HAD TO REPLACE IT. *AK

19990604SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEAT BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTON BROKE APART, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

19990511STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE FRAME IS CRACKED FROM THE STEERING GEAR ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK

19990324STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

STEERING REPAIRED UNDER RECALL EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO ACTUAL PROBLEM, HOWEVER AFTER THE REPAIR CONSUMER'S POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE RACK-N-PINION WAS REPLACED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.

19990324STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

STEERING REPAIRED UNDER RECALL EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO ACTUAL PROBLEM, HOWEVER AFTER THE REPAIR CONSUMER'S POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE RACK-N-PINION WAS REPLACED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.

Compare 1989DODGEDAKOTA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 DODGE DAKOTA have?
The 1989 DODGE DAKOTA has 88 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 DODGE DAKOTA?
The most-complained component for the 1989 DODGE DAKOTA is STEERING:RACK AND PINION with 14 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1989 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.