1998 Dodge Dakota Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Dakota years
- Far more complaints than other years 5th of 17 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 545 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Dodge Dakota. That ranks 5th out of 17 Dakota model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is suspension (217 complaints, 40%), typically at around 62,000 miles. Complaints mention 43 crashes, 1 fire, 29 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 545owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 43complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Dodge Dakota problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension problems | 217 | 40% | 62,000 | “ball joints” (70%) | $1,650 |
| Power Train problems | 74 | 14% | 79,000 | “ball joints” (7%) | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 68 | 12% | 76,500 | “brake line” (16%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 60 | 11% | 70,798 | “catalytic converter” (20%) | — |
| Steering | 47 | 9% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 32 | 6% | 98,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 20 | 4% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 19 | 3% | 170,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 19 | 3% | 51,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 19 | 3% | 90,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 18 | 3% | 61,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 12 | 2% | 106,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 | 2% | 170,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 11 | 2% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 10 | 2% | 59,526 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 2% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 1% | 98,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 1% | 126,487 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 1% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 1% | 162,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 0% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | 119,974 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0% | 170,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Dodge Dakota recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags
Problem: Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the ram pickup trucks were built at the warren assembly plant ("s" in the 11th vin position) from may 16, 2000 through october 23, 2000; st. Louis north assembly plant ("j" in the 11th vin position) from may 19, 2000 through october 23, 2000; lago alberto assembly plant ("m" in the 11th vin position) from may 23, 2000 through october 23, 2000; and saltillo assembly plant ("g" in the 11th vin position) from may 23, 2000 through october 23, 2000. Important: vehicles that have already had the proper clockspring installed, according to warranty records, have been excluded from this recall. In addition, 1997-2000 model year vehicles that have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed, according to warranty records, have been added to this recall.
Risk: When this occurs, the material could interfere with the clockspring ribbon and cause an open circuit. The driver air bag system will become disabled, and the air bag warning lamp will illuminate on the instrument panel.
Fix: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly. Owner notification began june 18, 2001. Also some 1997-200 model year vehicles that, according to warranty records, have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed, will also be included in this campaign. 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Vehicle description: pickup trucks built with 2.5l engines. Some vehicles may have been built with inadequate clearance between the left front brake tube and the power steering hose.
Risk: A puncture of the left front brake tube can result in a loss of braking force at the front wheels, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the brake tube and power steering hose for wear. If wear is evident, the brake tube and/or power steering hose will be replaced. A power steering standoff bracket will be installed on all vehicles to ensure that adequate clearance between the brake tube and power steering hose is maintained.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Some vehicles may have been built with inadequate clearance between the rear axle vent hose and the brake hose.
Risk: A puncture in the rear brake hose will result in a loss of braking force at the rear wheels.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear brake hose for evidence of wear. Worn brake hoses will be replaced. The rear vent hose will be shortened by 3 inches and a clip will be installed to assure clearance between the axle vent line and brake hose is maintained.
Structure
Problem: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. These vehicles may have been built with bolts that were not properly hardened. The bolts were used to attach the cab and the core support to the frame.
Risk: This condition can allow the cab to separate from the frame increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace these bolts with properly hardened bolts.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module; service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks (2 wheel drive only). The front brake hoses or anti-lock brake system (abs) sensor wire may be abraded at the front wheels by contact with a front wheelhouse splash shield.
Risk: Prolonged brake hose contact can cause a partial loss of the braking system. Prolonged abs sensor wire contact can cause a loss of abs function.
Fix: Dealers will trim the front wheelhouse splash shields and the brake hoses and abs sensor wires will be inspected. If evidence of abrasion is found on any hose or abs wire, they will be replaced.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Upper ball joint separation (EA03023) — opened Nov 19, 2003, closed Feb 11, 2005, led to recall 04V596000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owned a 1998 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 25 MPH and attempting to slow the vehicle with the brake pedal depressed all the way to the floorboard, the vehicle failed to come to a complete stop. As a result, the vehicle careened off the roadway…
1 Safety recall found,Reprogram Pcm and inspect Catalytic Converter.I never got a recall notice in the mail just happen to go on line and find it.My engine light,Anti -brake light and emergency light stays on.My speedometer and odometer quit working.I took my truck to the Dodge dealership and they…
52019555 For Dodge Dakota Pickup Spare Tire Hoist Wheel Carrier Winch Hanger. Defective Spare Tire Hoist Wheel Carrier Winch Hanger The Spare Tire Hoist Wheel Carrier Winch Hanger contains soft rubber part which disintegrates easily with the elements (rain, cold, dirt, wind, etc.). This allows…
The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was restarted and operated as designed. During the failure, there were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was…
Engine mysteriously dies for no apparent reason. It may happen at idle all the way to and including highway speeds. Dry weather or wet weather. Cold weather or hot weather. Cold engine or warm engine. No pattern detected. It doesn't splutter -- it just dies as if the ignition key has been turned…
Other Dodge Dakota years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Dakota | 44 | 6 |
| 2010 Dakota | 35 | 7 |
| 2009 Dakota | 18 | 5 |
| 2008 Dakota | 91 | 2 |
| 2007 Dakota | 145 | 4 |
| 2006 Dakota | 285 | 5 |
| 2005 Dakota | 470 | 6 |
| 2004 Dakota | 206 | 1 |
| 2003 Dakota | 296 | 4 |
| 2002 Dakota | 678 | 5 |
| 2001 Dakota | 678 | 7 |
| 2000 Dakota | 806 | 5 |
| 1999 Dakota | 641 | 4 |
| 1998 | 545 | 5 |
| 1997 Dakota | 446 | 5 |
| 1996 Dakota | 189 | 1 |
| 1995 Dakota | 208 | 0 |
See all Dodge Dakota problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Dodge Dakota?
Owners most often report suspension, power train, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 217 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Dodge Dakota?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Dodge Dakota a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Dakota model years, the 1998 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.