Total Complaints
131 filings
DODGE DAKOTA · model year
131 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2008DODGEDAKOTA carries 131 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 1 fire, 15 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 2008 DAKOTA is air bags with 29 filings, followed by steering (17) and electrical system (11). 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. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2008 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
131 filings
Crashes Reported
10 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 29 |
| STEERING | 17 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 11 |
| POWER TRAIN | 8 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 7 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 7 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 6 |
| SUSPENSION | 5 |
| WHEELS | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 3 |
| ENGINE | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 2 |
| TIRES | 2 |
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2
EXTENDED CAB DOORS WILL NOT OPEN WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCESS TIRE CHANGING TOOLS. LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, I'VE DISCOVERED THIS HAPPENS TO MANY DODGE DAKOTA EXTENDED CAB TRUCKS. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
EXTENDED CAB DOORS WILL NOT OPEN WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCESS TIRE CHANGING TOOLS. LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, I'VE DISCOVERED THIS HAPPENS TO MANY DODGE DAKOTA EXTENDED CAB TRUCKS. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
DRIVING IN OUR LANE ON A CITY STREET GOING 40 MPH AS A VEHICLE TRIED TO TURN INTO A GAS STATION, CROSSING OUR LANE RIGHT FRONT OF US AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE THE TURN. TO AVOID A FULL BLOWN HEAD ON COLLISION, I SWERVED AND WE HIT FRONT DRIVER SIDE VS FRONT DRIVER SIDE. GOING 40 MPH, AND THE SPEED OF THE OTHER VEHICLE AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THAT BEING MY MAIN CONCERN WHY THEY DID NOT DEPLOY WITH THE SPEED BEING CONSIDERED AND HITTING FRONT ON.
Mileage: 138,000
DRIVING IN OUR LANE ON A CITY STREET GOING 40 MPH AS A VEHICLE TRIED TO TURN INTO A GAS STATION, CROSSING OUR LANE RIGHT FRONT OF US AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE THE TURN. TO AVOID A FULL BLOWN HEAD ON COLLISION, I SWERVED AND WE HIT FRONT DRIVER SIDE VS FRONT DRIVER SIDE. GOING 40 MPH, AND THE SPEED OF THE OTHER VEHICLE AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THAT BEING MY MAIN CONCERN WHY THEY DID NOT DEPLOY WITH THE SPEED BEING CONSIDERED AND HITTING FRONT ON.
Mileage: 138,000
RISK OF FIRE BY WRONG SIZED FUSED IN POWER OUTLET. I ALMOST BURN THE TRUCK CHARGING A DRONE (57W CHARGER) PARKING AND LEFT ALONE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, WHEN I BACK THE CABIN WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. FIRST I THINK IN THE LITHIUM BATTERIES CATCHING FIRE, BUT NO, THE SMOKE COMES FROM BEHIND THE DASH. QUICKLY I REMOVED THE 20A FUSE AND LEFT LIKE THIS. I ORDERED THE REPLACEMENT OUTLET AND TODAY WHEN I WAS TO CHANGE I FOUND THE WIRES COMPLETE MELTED. CHECK THE SERVICE MANUAL AND SHOWS A 18AWG WIRE PROTECTED WHIT 20A FUSE. PROBABLY A INHERITED FROM SOME OLD DODGE RAM WHICH ONE HAVE A 20A FUSE AND 14AWG WIRE. CHECKING SOME NEWS MODELS AND HAVE 18AWG TOO, SO IT COULD BE MORE VEHICLES IN POTENTIAL RISK OF FIRE. THE USER MANUAL, PRINTED, DIGITAL ONLINE, THE FUSE BOX COVER, SERVICE MANUAL, EVERYWHERE SAYS 20A FUSE FOR A THIN 18AWG WIRE.
Mileage: 100,000
MY ENGINE TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. I CANNOT RESTART THE ENGINE UNTIL I HAVE STOPPED, SHIFTED TO PARK, AND CYCLED THE IGNITION TO OFF. THE ENGINE STALLING STARTED AS A LOW/SLOW IDLE CONDITION, AND NOW HAS ESCALATED TO CUTTING OFF AT FULL ACCELERATION WHILE MERGING INTO EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL DATES. I AM SELECTING THE DATE OF MY LAST REMEMBERED OCCASION.
Mileage: 57,000
MY ENGINE TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. I CANNOT RESTART THE ENGINE UNTIL I HAVE STOPPED, SHIFTED TO PARK, AND CYCLED THE IGNITION TO OFF. THE ENGINE STALLING STARTED AS A LOW/SLOW IDLE CONDITION, AND NOW HAS ESCALATED TO CUTTING OFF AT FULL ACCELERATION WHILE MERGING INTO EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL DATES. I AM SELECTING THE DATE OF MY LAST REMEMBERED OCCASION.
Mileage: 57,000
MY ENGINE TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. I CANNOT RESTART THE ENGINE UNTIL I HAVE STOPPED, SHIFTED TO PARK, AND CYCLED THE IGNITION TO OFF. THE ENGINE STALLING STARTED AS A LOW/SLOW IDLE CONDITION, AND NOW HAS ESCALATED TO CUTTING OFF AT FULL ACCELERATION WHILE MERGING INTO EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL DATES. I AM SELECTING THE DATE OF MY LAST REMEMBERED OCCASION.
Mileage: 57,000
4.7L ENGINE BLEW HOLE THE SIZE OF A GOLF BALL IN BLOCK WHILE PASSING A SLOWER MOVING CAR ON A COUNTRY PAVED HIGHWAY MAXED AT ABOUT 60MPH. ENGINE HAS 72250 MILES, RUNNING 5W30 SYNTHETIC OIL. REGULAR HOME MAINTENANCE - OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES, OTHER MAINTENANCE AS IN USER MANUAL AT HOME. HAD NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO WARNING. TRUCK WELL MAINTAINED (LIKE NEW INSIDE AND OUT. I'M RETIRED AND TRUCK IS FOR PLEASURE USE.
Mileage: 72,250
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM TWO WHEEL DRIVE TO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL BRYAN CHRYSLER (3401 US-441, FRUITLAND PARK, FL 34731) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Mileage: 150,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM TWO WHEEL DRIVE TO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL BRYAN CHRYSLER (3401 US-441, FRUITLAND PARK, FL 34731) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Mileage: 150,000
TAKATA RECALL
REF MFR RECALL 870- NHTSA RECALL 00V-193. BRAKE LINE LEAKING FROM RUBBING AGAINST POWER STEERING HOSE. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER (M&L CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM, LEXINGTON NC) WAS TOLD THEY HAD THE BRAKE LINE BUT NOT PART #CBED6701 AND COULD NOT REPAIR UNDER RECALL BUT COULD SELL ME A BRAKE LINE, REFERRED ME TO CUSTOMER SERVICE @ 800-992-1997. THEY TOOK INFORMATION AND SAID THEY HAD TO CHECK WITH DEALER. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING AFTER 10 DAYS FROM DEALER OR CUSTOMER SERVICE. MEANWHILE I HAVE TO ADD BRAKE FLUID TO KEEP FROM LOSING MY BRAKES WHEN THEY HAVE THE BRAKE LINE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT SAY I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.
Mileage: 270,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THREE BROTHERS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP, LOCATED AT 125 MAIN ST, LINCOLN, MAINE 04457 (877-377-9460) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT CHRYSLER WOULD ONLY ALLOW THE PARTS TO BE REQUESTED INDIVIDUALLY AND THAT THE CONTACT WAS WAITLISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 10/17/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED REPAIR WAS MADE ON AUG 28, 2017. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
DUE TO MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG BEING POTENTIALLY DEADLY I CANNOT TRADE OFF MY TRUCK FOR A FAIR MARKET VALUE. ALSO I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE FOR ANY PERSON OR PERSONS TO RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK. I CONTACTED DODGE BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2016 AND EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS ON THE SAFETY OF ME VEHICLE AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT THERE WOULD BE A FIX IN MARCH 2017. HOWEVER THERE IS STILL NO FIX AND I STILL CANNOT TRADE OFF MY TRUCK OR ALLOW PASSENGERS IN IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT BUILT BY DODGE BUT THEY NEED TO BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE RISK AND THE SITUATION THAT FAITHFUL CUSTOMERS ARE BEING PUT IN.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 05/30/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 9/15/2017*JS
THE STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT TURN. INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE PAST 3 MONTHS THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY STOP WORKING AND THE CAR WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER AND CONTROL. AFTER TWICE REPLACING THE RACK AND PINION AND STEERING PUMP THE SITUATION SEEMED TO IMPROVE. THEN SUDDENLY, TRAVELING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE STEERING JERKED RIGHT AND WHEN I TURNED IT BACK TO THE LEFT IT COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEELS AT ALL, THEY WERE LOCKED STRAIGHT CAUSING US TO IMMEDIATELY CROSS ALL LANES OF THE FREEWAY AS THE ROAD TURNED FORCING US TO THE CENTER DIVIDER.
Mileage: 130,000
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TAKATA RECALL FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR HOUSING MAY RUPTURE.
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.