Your vehicle report
2001 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
- 678
- Received Nov 2000 to Oct 2025
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Ball joints wear out and fail123 complaints · 18% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Front brake rotors warp and wear early64 complaints · 9.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps31 complaints · 4.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #07V555000On certain van and pickup trucks equipped with automatic transmissions, the ignition/park shift interlock system may become inoperative. This can allow the shifter to be moved out of the "park" position with the ignition key removed (or in the "lock" position). This can also allow the ignition key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the "park" position.
- Recall #04V596000On certain sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks equipped with four-wheel drive (4X4), if moisture leaks into the front suspension upper ball joint, evacuation of the lubricant and corrosion of the joint may cause the joint to wear over an extended period of time. This could cause a clunking noise in the front suspension, which may not always be heard by the vehicle occupants.
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: 44 crashes, 11 fires, 27 people injured, 2 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 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
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
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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 48 |
| 2002 | 69 |
| 2003 | 133 |
| 2004 | 194 |
| 2005 | 66 |
| 2006 | 27 |
| 2007 | 17 |
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 678 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball joints wear out and fail | 123 | 18% | – | NHTSA recall #04V596000 |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 64 | 9.4% | – | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 31 | 4.6% | – | NHTSA recall #04V596000 |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 24 | 3.5% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 23 | 3.4% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 16 | 2.4% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 15 | 2.2% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 15 | 2.2% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 15 | 2.2% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 13 | 1.9% | – | |
| Axle breaks while driving, wheel detaches | 13 | 1.9% | – | |
| Horn fails with airbag warning light | 12 | 1.8% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 12 | 1.8% | – | |
| Heater blows cold air, defroster fails | 12 | 1.8% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 11 | 1.6% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 9 | 1.3% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 8 | 1.2% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 8 | 1.2% | – | |
| Tie rod ends break or come loose | 8 | 1.2% | – | |
| Air conditioner blows hot air or fails | 8 | 1.2% | – |
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 #07V555000December 4, 2007576,418 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift
On certain van and pickup trucks equipped with automatic transmissions, the ignition/park shift interlock system may become inoperative. This Can allow the shifter to be moved out of the "park" position with the ignition key removed (or in the "lock" position). This Can also allow the ignition key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the "park" position.
Either of these conditions could allow the vehicle to roll away causing a crash without warning.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the gearshift blocker and bracket assembly free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during january 2008. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA recall #04V596000December 21, 2004592,707 vehicles affected
suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint
On certain sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks equipped with four-wheel drive (4X4), if moisture leaks into the front suspension upper ball joint, evacuation of the lubricant and corrosion of the joint may cause the joint to wear over an extended period of time. This could cause a clunking noise in the front suspension, which may not always be heard by the vehicle occupants.
Excessive wear in the upper ball joint may allow it to separate, which could result in loss of control of the vehicle.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the front suspension upper ball joints. This safety improvement campaign began on december 21, 2004. Owners Can contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA recall #03V505000December 10, 200335,692 vehicles affected
equipment: other: labels
On certain minivans and 4X2 pickup trucks, the vehicle certification label may have gross axle weight ratings (gawr) that exceed the maximum tire load capacity as defined in federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
Improperly loading your vehicle Can cause tire failure and result in a crash.
Remedy
Owners will be provided with vehicle certification label overlays containing corrected information relative to vehicle gawr and tire size. Owner notification began march 1, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-992-1997.
NHTSA recall #03V389000October 10, 200350,082 vehicles affected
electrical system: wiring
On certain pickup trucks equipped with manual transmissions, the headlamp and dash wiring harness may be chafed by the actuation of the clutch pedal. This could result in abnormal operation of the wipers, turn signals, horn or lighting systems.
This could affect driver visibility, could prevent a driver from sounding a warning by using the horn, and, when the turn signals are inoperative, the driver cannot use them to signal intent to turn, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will reroute the wire harness and repair the harness if necessary. Owner notification began november 3, 2003. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-992-1997.
NHTSA recall #01V233000July 5, 2001104,252 vehicles affected
seat belts: front: anchorage
Vehicle description: quad cab pickup trucks. The front outboard lower seat belt anchor bolts may not be tightened correctly.
An improperly tightened seat belt anchor may not provide the anticipated level of occupant restraint in a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the driver and passenger side lower seat belt anchor bolts and tighten to specification. Owner notification began july 19, 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 #01V077000March 7, 200185,400 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift
Vehicle description: light duty trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with 4-WHEEL drive. The electric shift transfer case may not fully engage into gear when the operator moves the transfer case selector switch.
This could cause the transfer case to end up in the neutral position unexpectedly and allow the vehicle to roll away if the parking brake is not applied.
Remedy
Dealers will reprogram the transfer case control module. Owner notification began april 9, 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 #00V366000November 9, 20001,211,756 vehicles affected
child seat
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." some of the owner's manuals for these vehicles are missing instructions that provide a step-by-step procedure, including diagrams, for properly attaching a child restraint system's tether strap to the tether anchorage.
In the event of a crash, the child seat may not be properly attached increasing the risk of injury to the child.
Remedy
Owners will be provided with an addendum to the owner's manuals.
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 2001 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