Your vehicle report
1989 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
- 63
- Received Mar 1995 to Sep 2011
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Tires blow out or tread separates6 complaints · 9.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Power steering rack leaks fluid6 complaints · 9.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Head gasket leaks coolant into engine5 complaints · 7.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #01V232000Vehicle description: 4X2 pickup truck convertibles equipped with V6 engines (built from november 1988 - june 1990) and 4X2 pickup trucks equipped with the shelby package (built october 1988 - june 1989). The frame can crack at the steering gear attachment and/or the steering gear mounting bolts can fracture.
- Recall #96V094000The frame can crack at the steering gear attachment and/or the steering gear mounting bolts can fracture.
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, 2 fires, 4 people injured, 1 death.
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 9 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
- Tires blow out or tread separates
- Power steering rack leaks fluid
- Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly
1 more problem
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 | 10 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 1997 | 17 |
| 1998 | 5 |
| 1999 | 4 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 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 | 63 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 6 | 9.5% | – | |
| Power steering rack leaks fluid | 6 | 9.5% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 5 | 7.9% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 4 | 6.3% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 3 | 4.8% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 3 | 4.8% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 3 | 4.8% | – | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 3 | 4.8% | – | |
| Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly | 3 | 4.8% | – |
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 #01V232000July 6, 20014,000 vehicles affected
steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Vehicle description: 4X2 pickup truck convertibles equipped with V6 engines (built from november 1988 - june 1990) and 4X2 pickup trucks equipped with the shelby package (built october 1988 - june 1989). 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. Owner notification began august 27, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
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 #89V237000December 27, 1989634,000 vehicles affected
engine and engine cooling: engine
The engine valve cover gasket may dislocate and allow an engine oil leak at the gasket.
The leakage of oil in the engine compartment could causea fire.
Remedy
Replace gasket cover with revised cover, and rtv sealant will be applied in place of a gasket.
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 1989 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