Total Complaints
314 filings
DODGE DAKOTA · model year
314 NHTSA complaints, 22 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1992DODGEDAKOTA carries 314 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 22 crashes, 11 fires, 26 injuries, 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 1992 DAKOTA is power train:automatic transmission with 84 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (21) and power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl) (15). 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 1992 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.
Total Complaints
314 filings
Crashes Reported
22 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 84 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 21 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | 15 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 8 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 7 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT | 6 |
| POWER TRAIN | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 4 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 4 |
WELL MY TRUCK WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE RD AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF OUT OF NO WHERE AND I ALMOST GOT IN A COUPLE OF WRECKS BECAUSE OF IT FLICKERING AND I HAVE CHANGED AND FIXED EVERYTHING AND IT STILL DOSE IT SO IT LIKE A WIRE ISSUE OR SOMETHING BUT I DON'T FEEL SAFE AT ALL DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF IT THEN MY ENGINE WILL LIKE STOP OR SOMETHING WHEN I AM DRIVING AND JERK MY TRUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND BACKFIRE HELLA BAD LIKE GUNS ARE GOING OFF AND IT'S BLEW MY MUFFLER UP 10 TIMES AND BLEW MY CATILLAC CONVERTER UP 5 TIMES AND BLEW MY HEADERS OFF AND BROKE THE BOLTS INSIDE MY HEADS AND I ONLY HAVE 169 K MILES ON IT THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING BECAUSE THIS IS DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME AND OTHERS ON THE RD AND IT CAN CAUSE A WRECK LIKE I CAME REALLY CLOSE I WAS GOING DONE THE FREE WAY AND IT LIKE STOPPED THEN JERKED ME INTO THE BARRIER BUT THANK GOD I AVOIDED IT THEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE LIGHTS FLICKERING
Mileage: 165,000
WELL MY TRUCK WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE RD AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF OUT OF NO WHERE AND I ALMOST GOT IN A COUPLE OF WRECKS BECAUSE OF IT FLICKERING AND I HAVE CHANGED AND FIXED EVERYTHING AND IT STILL DOSE IT SO IT LIKE A WIRE ISSUE OR SOMETHING BUT I DON'T FEEL SAFE AT ALL DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF IT THEN MY ENGINE WILL LIKE STOP OR SOMETHING WHEN I AM DRIVING AND JERK MY TRUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND BACKFIRE HELLA BAD LIKE GUNS ARE GOING OFF AND IT'S BLEW MY MUFFLER UP 10 TIMES AND BLEW MY CATILLAC CONVERTER UP 5 TIMES AND BLEW MY HEADERS OFF AND BROKE THE BOLTS INSIDE MY HEADS AND I ONLY HAVE 169 K MILES ON IT THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING BECAUSE THIS IS DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME AND OTHERS ON THE RD AND IT CAN CAUSE A WRECK LIKE I CAME REALLY CLOSE I WAS GOING DONE THE FREE WAY AND IT LIKE STOPPED THEN JERKED ME INTO THE BARRIER BUT THANK GOD I AVOIDED IT THEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE LIGHTS FLICKERING
Mileage: 165,000
WELL MY TRUCK WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE RD AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF OUT OF NO WHERE AND I ALMOST GOT IN A COUPLE OF WRECKS BECAUSE OF IT FLICKERING AND I HAVE CHANGED AND FIXED EVERYTHING AND IT STILL DOSE IT SO IT LIKE A WIRE ISSUE OR SOMETHING BUT I DON'T FEEL SAFE AT ALL DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF IT THEN MY ENGINE WILL LIKE STOP OR SOMETHING WHEN I AM DRIVING AND JERK MY TRUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND BACKFIRE HELLA BAD LIKE GUNS ARE GOING OFF AND IT'S BLEW MY MUFFLER UP 10 TIMES AND BLEW MY CATILLAC CONVERTER UP 5 TIMES AND BLEW MY HEADERS OFF AND BROKE THE BOLTS INSIDE MY HEADS AND I ONLY HAVE 169 K MILES ON IT THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING BECAUSE THIS IS DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME AND OTHERS ON THE RD AND IT CAN CAUSE A WRECK LIKE I CAME REALLY CLOSE I WAS GOING DONE THE FREE WAY AND IT LIKE STOPPED THEN JERKED ME INTO THE BARRIER BUT THANK GOD I AVOIDED IT THEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE LIGHTS FLICKERING
Mileage: 165,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF A FAILURE WHICH INVOLVED THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY SLIPPING FROM PARK AND INTO REVERSE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V106000(POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION PRNDL) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE RECALL WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE INITIAL RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,059, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,960. UPDATED 04/19/12*LJ
ON MY 1992 DODGE DAKOTA (V8 5.2L WITH AT, 4X4) THE ENGINE QUITS INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES WHILE PARKED IDLING AND OTHER TIMES WHILE DRIVING. IT DOES IT WITHOUT WARNING, AS IF THE KEY IS TURNED OFF. SOMETIMES IT STARTS RIGHT UP AGAIN AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL HAVE TO CRANK FOR A WHILE BEFORE IT STARTS. I'VE HAD IT TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND THEY CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. ALL SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS WELL AS A NEW FUEL PUMP AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. TRUCK HAS JUST OVER 50,000 MILES ON IT. I'VE HAD IT FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS AND THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAPPENS IN TRAFFIC OR ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR
Mileage: 45,000
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE ON MY WAY TO A JOB INTERVIEW, WHEN I REALIZED I FORGOT SOMETHING . I DROVE BACK IN THE GARAGE, PUT THE SHIFTER IN PARK AND I STEPPED OUT OF THE TRUCK. NO SOONER HAD I GOTTEN AROUND THE TRUCK DOOR WHEN THE TRUCK JUST STARTED BACKING UP BY ITSELF. I ATTEMPTED TO JUMP BACK IN TO STOP IT BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT THE TRUCK TO HIT SOMEBODY . BUT THE MOMENTUM WAS TO QUICK AND THE DOOR SLAMMED AGAINST ME HITTING THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY,BOTH MY KNEES WERE KNOCKED TOGETHER,CAUSING BRUISING AND SOME SWELLING. I ALSO HAD A SMALL CUT ON MY RIGHT INDEX FINGER WHEN THE DOOR HIT ME,IT PUSHED MY ARM BACK AND MY FINGER HIT MY FRONT TEETH. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM(PARK-TO-REVERSE). THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE IN MY POSSESSION THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. I CALLED A DODGE DEALERSHIP IN B.R. AND THEY TOLD ME THIS VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE TRUCK WAS BOUGHT USED SO I DO NOT KNOW IF THE PREVIOUS OWNER
2 ISSUES-THE POWER TRAIN-I DON'T THINK IT WAS EVER FIXED AS MY GEARSHIFT LEVER INDICATOR IS NOT IN THE GEAR IT INDICATES-CAN THIS STILL BE FIXED UNDER THE RECALL-2ND PROBLEM-I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK JUST SHUTS ITSELF OFF WITHOUT WARNING-SOMETIMES IT WILL RESTART AFTER SITTING A FEW MINUTES BUT YESTERDAY I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED WITH MY 74 YR. OLD MOTHER-I HAVE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD THE SHUTDOWN OCCUR-I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN-I AM NOT THE FIRST OWNER BUT THE GUY I GOT IT FROM TOLD ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE AFTER I HAD BOUGHT IT -I THOUGHT THE FUEL FILTER MAY BE PLUGGED AND HAD A COMPLETE TUNE-UP-STILL THE PROBLEM CONTINUES-IS THERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE-THANKS BARB *TR
Mileage: 160,000
2 ISSUES-THE POWER TRAIN-I DON'T THINK IT WAS EVER FIXED AS MY GEARSHIFT LEVER INDICATOR IS NOT IN THE GEAR IT INDICATES-CAN THIS STILL BE FIXED UNDER THE RECALL-2ND PROBLEM-I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK JUST SHUTS ITSELF OFF WITHOUT WARNING-SOMETIMES IT WILL RESTART AFTER SITTING A FEW MINUTES BUT YESTERDAY I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED WITH MY 74 YR. OLD MOTHER-I HAVE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD THE SHUTDOWN OCCUR-I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN-I AM NOT THE FIRST OWNER BUT THE GUY I GOT IT FROM TOLD ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE AFTER I HAD BOUGHT IT -I THOUGHT THE FUEL FILTER MAY BE PLUGGED AND HAD A COMPLETE TUNE-UP-STILL THE PROBLEM CONTINUES-IS THERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE-THANKS BARB *TR
Mileage: 160,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 DODGE DAKOTA. HE HEARD A CHATTER NOISE AND THE LIFTER NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LIFTER FAILED IN THE CAM SHAFT WHICH AFFECTED THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 164,000. *AK
Mileage: 164,000
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
Mileage: 105,000
VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WHILE RUNNING AND IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, ROLLED DOWN THE HILL, AND HIT A MOTOR HOME. CONSUMERE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP. *AK
THE PAINT IS PEELILING OFF. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED AND THEY SIAD THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST THEY HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS AND SAID WE HAD TO PAY FOR IT OURSELVES. NOW THE MAJORITY OF THE PAINT IS GONE AND RUSTING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND STILL RUNNING WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF PARK AND ROLLED BACK INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEIHICLE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A VIBRATION . WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. THE MECHANIC STATED THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS FAILED. *NLM
THE TRANSMISSION RECALL WAS DONE IN JUNE 2000. SINCE THEN, THE VEHICLE HAD TO WARM UP FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. *JB PH *JB
ON DAYS OVER 90 DEGREE TEMPERATURE THE ENGINE WILL REV VERY LOUD AT FIRST START, WHILE VEHICLE WILL BARELY MOVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAN CLUTCH TWICE AND REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER THE REMEDIES DID NOT HELP. *JB THIS PROBLEM HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHILE AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, WHEN DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS THEN KICK INTO NORMAL SPEED, MAKE NOISE, AND THEN STOP. *SCC
Mileage: 1,600
THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE DEALER ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO THE OVER DRIVE CONTROL FEATURE. *PH *JB
Mileage: 29,628
THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN REVERSE. THE DRIVER THOUGHT THE KEY WAS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION BUT IT WAS NOT. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WENT TO PULL THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION WHEN IT SUDDENLY STARTED AND RAN OVER HER. THE DRIVER SUSTAIN 2 BROKEN BONES IN HER RIGHT LEG AND A BROKEN COLLAR BONE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES A CLUTCH SAFETY SWITCH SHOULD BE INSTALLED. *NLM *NLM
THE VEHICLE LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LEAK WAS NOT RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION RECALL. *NLM THE VEHICLE LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID. DEALER STATED THAT THE LEAK WAS NOT RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION RECALL.
Mileage: 120,000
VEHICLE FRAME IS DISINTERGRATING, BREAKING OFF IN BIG CHUNKS, IN TIRE FRAME FROM CAB BACK MUST BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT FOR 8 OF ITS 10 YEARS. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THE SALT WASHED OFF FREQUENTLY DURING THE WINTERS ALSO. THIS MUST BE A DEFECT IN THE FRAME MATERIAL. DT
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.