Your vehicle report
1988 Dodge Dakota
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 55
- Received Mar 1995 to Apr 2008
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Power steering rack leaks fluid10 complaints · 18% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Vehicle catches fire from wiring3 complaints · 5.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #96V094000The frame can crack at the steering gear attachment and/or the steering gear mounting bolts can fracture.
- Recall #88V074000Machining error in locating wheel stud holes may prevent full seating of brake drum to shaft flange.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 3 crashes, 3 fires, 1 person injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 2 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 6 |
| 1996 | 21 |
| 1997 | 15 |
| 1998 | 5 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 55 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power steering rack leaks fluid | 10 | 18% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 3 | 5.5% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #96V094000June 13, 1996140,000 vehicles affected
steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)
The frame Can crack at the steering gear attachment and/or the steering gear mounting bolts Can fracture.
The steering gear Can separate from the vehicle frame resulting in a loss of vehicle control increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Remedy
Dealers will add reinforcements to the frame and replace the steering gear mounting bolts. If the frame is already cracked, the steering gear weld nuts will also be replaced.
NHTSA recall #88V074000May 4, 19881,700 vehicles affected
wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Machining error in locating wheel stud holes may prevent full seating of brake drum to shaft flange.
Wheel studs could loosen, allowing wheel to separatefrom the truck.
Remedy
Replace axle shafts as necessary.
NHTSA recall #87V194000December 26, 19873,500 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)
Automatic transmission may contain a park sprag rod assembly that may stick in the tooth butt unengaged position.
This condition could allow the vehicle to roll with thegear shift lever in park position.
Remedy
All involved vehicles will have the park sprag rod assemblies replaced.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1988 Dodge Dakota.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN