2001 Dodge Dakota Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Dakota years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 17 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 7 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 678 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Dodge Dakota. That ranks 2nd out of 17 Dakota model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is suspension (236 complaints, 35%), typically at around 46,129 miles. Complaints mention 44 crashes, 11 fires, 27 injuries. There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 678owner complaints
- 7safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 44complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 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 | 236 | 35% | 46,129 | “ball joints” (57%) | $1,000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 118 | 17% | 23,662 | “front rotors” (19%) | — |
| Power Train problems | 93 | 14% | 56,982 | “quad cab” (9%) | — |
| Electrical System problems | 58 | 9% | 90,000 | “timer module” (17%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 53 | 8% | 56,982 | “oil pressure” (9%) | — |
| Steering | 48 | 7% | 44,035 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 39 | 6% | 81,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 31 | 5% | 69,035 | — | — |
| Tires | 30 | 4% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 20 | 3% | 87,598 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 | 3% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 12 | 2% | 24,620 | — | — |
| Structure | 11 | 2% | 60,100 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 11 | 2% | 119,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 7 | 1% | 46,310 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 1% | 136,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 1% | 32,310 | — | — |
| Wheels | 6 | 1% | 71,342 | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 1% | 177,500 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 1% | 48,670 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 5 | 1% | 37,145 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 4 | 1% | 59,840 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 1% | 85,196 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 0% | 185,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 0% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 0% | 71,342 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 Dodge Dakota recalls (7)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift
Problem: 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.
Risk: Either of these conditions could allow the vehicle to roll away causing a crash without warning.
Fix: 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.
Suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint
Problem: 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.
Risk: Excessive wear in the upper ball joint may allow it to separate, which could result in loss of control of the vehicle.
Fix: 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.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: 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."
Risk: Improperly loading your vehicle can cause tire failure and result in a crash.
Fix: 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.
Electrical system:wiring
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Seat belts:front:anchorage
Problem: Vehicle description: quad cab pickup trucks. The front outboard lower seat belt anchor bolts may not be tightened correctly.
Risk: An improperly tightened seat belt anchor may not provide the anticipated level of occupant restraint in a crash.
Fix: 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.
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Child seat
Problem: 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.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the child seat may not be properly attached increasing the risk of injury to the child.
Fix: Owners will be provided with an addendum to the owner's manuals.
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.
- Front safety belt anchorage (EA01010) — opened Mar 8, 2001, closed Aug 17, 2001, led to recall 01V233000.
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 owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V366000 (Child Seat); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of…
My 2001 Dodge Dakota has a faulty SKIM system. The vehicle goes into No-Start/Stall while driving down the road. I have had it at a dealership and they do not have technical experience with these older vehicles that require an âantiquated software systemâ. This is a dangerous situation…
The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic to have the catalytic converter replaced, the vehicle stalled while driving at various speeds. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the contact had to have the…
The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle shifted out of gear. The contact stated that the vehicle was shifted into park(P) but rolled unintendedly. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent…
The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, there was a wobble coming from the front passengerâs side tire. The contact was able to pull over and had the vehicle towed to a local mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ball…
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 | 678 | 7 |
| 2000 Dakota | 806 | 5 |
| 1999 Dakota | 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 2001 Dodge Dakota?
Owners most often report suspension, service brakes, hydraulic, power train problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 236 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Dodge Dakota?
Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 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 2001 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.