DODGE DAKOTA · model year

2011 DODGE DAKOTA

53 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2011DODGEDAKOTA carries 53 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 DAKOTA is air bags with 18 filings, followed by power train (7) and service brakes (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. This model year has 6 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 2011 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.

53
Complaints
10
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

53 filings

Crashes Reported

10 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated · Front: Not Rated/5 · Side: Not Rated/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS18
POWER TRAIN7
SERVICE BRAKES5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING3
ENGINE3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES1
WHEELS1
SUSPENSION1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1

Recalls (6)

12V42000028/08/2012

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

NBC Truck Equipment, Inc. (NBC) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 and model year 2010-2011 trucks equipped with Sure Power battery separator devices, due to overheating.

15V31300027/05/2015

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

16V35200024/05/2016

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

19V01800015/01/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause t

18V02100009/01/2018

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas,

13V03800006/02/2013

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured from February 27, 2008, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through October 20, 2011; model year 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota trucks manufactured from February 27, 2007, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1

Recent Complaints

20241025ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Many Dodge vehicle models experience failure of illumination for instrument clusters. This creates an unsafe condition for the driver since information presented at the instrument cluster, cannot be determined during night time driving conditions. Dodge makes no provision to customers for replacement or repair parts and does not provide any documentation through Dodge dealers on how to address this issue. It was determined that Dodge does not offer replacement instrument clusters to address this issue.

20241025VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Many Dodge vehicle models experience failure of illumination for instrument clusters. This creates an unsafe condition for the driver since information presented at the instrument cluster, cannot be determined during night time driving conditions. Dodge makes no provision to customers for replacement or repair parts and does not provide any documentation through Dodge dealers on how to address this issue. It was determined that Dodge does not offer replacement instrument clusters to address this issue.

20241025EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Many Dodge vehicle models experience failure of illumination for instrument clusters. This creates an unsafe condition for the driver since information presented at the instrument cluster, cannot be determined during night time driving conditions. Dodge makes no provision to customers for replacement or repair parts and does not provide any documentation through Dodge dealers on how to address this issue. It was determined that Dodge does not offer replacement instrument clusters to address this issue.

20221004EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The backlighting on the instrument cluster is defective. Only a portion of the gauges are illuminated. Should this occur for the speedometer then driver will not have a way to determine vehicle speed during the nighttime hours.

20221004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The backlighting on the instrument cluster is defective. Only a portion of the gauges are illuminated. Should this occur for the speedometer then driver will not have a way to determine vehicle speed during the nighttime hours.

20210907UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My truck has a white panel that's fading out, turning black. The instrument panel is getting hard to read. Pretty soon I won't be able to see how fast I'm going, how much gas I have, any important gauge's that I need to be able to see at night.

20200715ENGINE

BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO FROM A LOCAL DEALER WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT.THE PREVIOUS OWNER BOUGHT IT NEW.I HAVE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS OF WHAT WAS DONE TO IT INCLUDING OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES.HAVE ALWAYS TREATED IT LIKE A BABY AND BRAGGED ABOUT IT.NOW HAS 84,016 MILES ON IT AND ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING.TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A LOWER ENGINE KNOCK AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE.CALLED DODGE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT UP TO 100,000 MILES AND WAS TOLD THEIR WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT.I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT TO AT LEAST 100,00 MILES.NOW I HAVE A USELESS VEHICLE AND NOTHING TO DRIVE

Mileage: 83,996

20200226ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF A COOLANT LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS PUNCTURED BY THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FENDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (UNKNOWN) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

Mileage: 72,000

20190313AIR BAGS

AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING IS NOT WORKING, DRIVERS AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK AND HORN DOESNT WORK ALONG WITH ANY OTHER CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL

Mileage: 130,000

20190313ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING IS NOT WORKING, DRIVERS AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK AND HORN DOESNT WORK ALONG WITH ANY OTHER CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL

Mileage: 130,000

20181001SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUMPED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

Mileage: 43,000

20180612POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ABNORMAL NOISE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PINION BEARING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.. *BF

Mileage: 190,000

20180605POWER TRAIN

WHEN ACCELERATING IT SHUDDERS TREMENDOUSLY. LET OF THE GAS AND IT STOPS SOMETIMES.

Mileage: 90,000

20171107AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. HALL CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM VIRGINIA BEACH (3152 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20170506CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS IN A WRECK WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY, THE TRUCK WAS TBONED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND TURNED OVER ON ITS SIDE AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

Mileage: 107,000

20170506CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

I WAS IN A WRECK WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY, THE TRUCK WAS TBONED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND TURNED OVER ON ITS SIDE AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

Mileage: 107,000

20161031AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20161012AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V313000 AND 16V352000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE 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 FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,329. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 82,329

20161012ENGINE

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V313000 AND 16V352000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE 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 FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,329. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 82,329

20160723AIR BAGS

I CONTACTED DODGE ABOUT THE RECALL AND THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION A BUT TO SIT AND WAIT FOR AIRBAGS TO COME IN. HOWEVER, IN THE INTERREM MY WIFE WON'T GET IN THE TRUCK. THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY HELP OR RESOLUTION. WHAT AM I TO DO? WE CONTACTED FCA AND THEY OFFER NO SOLUTION. DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE RECK AND SOMEONE IS KILLED BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT WILL FORCE THEM TO SUPPLY US WITH A SAFE VEHICLE? IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO?

Compare 2011DODGEDAKOTA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2011 DODGE DAKOTA have?
The 2011 DODGE DAKOTA has 53 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2011 DODGE DAKOTA?
The 2011 DODGE DAKOTA received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2011 DODGE DAKOTA?
Yes, the 2011 DODGE DAKOTA has 6 recall(s). The most common affected component is EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 DODGE DAKOTA?
The most-complained component for the 2011 DODGE DAKOTA is AIR BAGS with 18 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 2011 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. The 2011 DODGE DAKOTA has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. 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.