1999 Dodge Dakota Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Dakota years
- Far more complaints than other years 4th of 17 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 641 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Dodge Dakota. That ranks 4th out of 17 Dakota model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is suspension (342 complaints, 53%), typically at around 55,500 miles. Complaints mention 49 crashes, 6 fires, 27 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 641owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 49complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1999 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 | 342 | 53% | 55,500 | “ball joints” (74%) | $1,750 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 85 | 13% | 60,000 | “brake line” (12%) | — |
| Steering problems | 72 | 11% | 54,824 | “ball joints” (57%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 70 | 11% | 55,000 | “catalytic converter” (17%) | $1,050 |
| Power Train problems | 56 | 9% | 92,000 | “ball joints” (13%) | — |
| Air Bags | 32 | 5% | 109,494 | — | — |
| Tires | 24 | 4% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 23 | 4% | 87,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 17 | 3% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 15 | 2% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 12 | 2% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 11 | 2% | 36,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 11 | 2% | 105,845 | — | — |
| Visibility | 8 | 1% | 68,870 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 1% | 63,870 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 1% | 75,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 1% | 153,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 4 | 1% | 40,870 | — | — |
| Wheels | 4 | 1% | 75,750 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 0% | 32,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 0% | 137,681 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 0% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 0% | 153,362 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | 68,500 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1999 Dodge Dakota recalls (4)
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.
Seat belts:front:retractor
Problem: Vehicle description: certain van, wagon, pickup trucks, passenger and sport utility vehicles, fail to comply with requirements of fmvss no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the front seat belt retractor may not comply with the requirements of the standard.
Risk: If the retractor does not work properly, it will not adequately protect occupants in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat belt retractor. Owner notification began august 20, 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.
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.
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.
Driving on take off heard a piping on right side. Front took tire off seen where bolts on caliper pop out from spindle knuckle ## vin passed ## ##
Often when i start my truck the oil pressure gauge will go all the way up, the gauge for the battery stays down, and when it does start, the serpentine belt will squeal, sometimes it will start and idle, other times it will not idle, unless i keep my foot on the gas, as soon as i take my foot off…
Vehicle stalls intermittently in a unpredictable pattern. Vehicle restarts after stalling 7 out of 10 times. When it wont restart immediately after stalling it will take upwards of 10 minutes to achieve engine operation. I've replaced the crank position sensor, as well the cam position sensor…
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 dodge dakota equipped with four brand new cooper cornell 1000 all season tires, size: p235/75r15. While driving 65 mph, the contact smelled burning rubber. As the contact was pulling off the main road, the vehicle began to shake and the rear passenger side tire blew out…
Driving to the grocery store about 30 mph needing to brake and the front brakes were gone. Right front caliper bolt broke thread and the caliper came off the spindle, steering caused more grinding and then i thought of the emergency/parking brake. I have replaced the same spindle before, but parts…
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 | 641 | 4 |
| 1998 Dakota | 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 1999 Dodge Dakota?
Owners most often report suspension, service brakes, hydraulic, steering problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 342 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Dodge Dakota?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1999 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 1999 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.