Dodge Dakota Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 376 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Dodge Dakota across 17 model years. The 2001 model year has the most (58). The words owners use most often: “timer module” (6% of reports).
- 376electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Timer module: mentioned in 21 of 376 complaints (6%)
- Wiring harness: mentioned in 21 of 376 complaints (6%)
- Windshield wipers: mentioned in 21 of 376 complaints (6%)
- Turn signals: mentioned in 19 of 376 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 234 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 376 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 40 a fire, 2 an injury.
Dodge Dakota electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Dakota | 4 | 9% | 115,000 |
| 2010 Dakota | 6 | 17% | 50,000 |
| 2009 Dakota | 3 | 17% | 82,924 |
| 2008 Dakota | 11 | 12% | 61,078 |
| 2007 Dakota | 14 | 10% | 59,121 |
| 2006 Dakota | 30 | 11% | 80,000 |
| 2005 Dakota | 32 | 7% | 80,000 |
| 2004 Dakota | 21 | 10% | 54,282 |
| 2003 Dakota | 34 | 11% | 92,000 |
| 2002 Dakota | 52 | 8% | 60,000 |
| 2001 Dakota | 58 | 9% | 90,000 |
| 2000 Dakota | 21 | 3% | 42,500 |
| 1999 Dakota | 23 | 4% | 87,000 |
| 1998 Dakota | 19 | 3% | 170,000 |
| 1997 Dakota | 17 | 4% | 125,000 |
| 1996 Dakota | 19 | 10% | 78,000 |
| 1995 Dakota | 12 | 6% | 142,658 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Model years: 2006, 2007
Problem: Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, Dakota, and 2006 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles manufactured July 1, 2005, to July 31, 2006 with manual transmissions. The return springs in the clutch ignition interlock switch may break.
Risk: Broken springs can result in a no-start condition, or cause unintended movement when the ignition is cranked, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clutch ignition interlock switch, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P80.
Electrical system:wiring
Model years: 2001, 2002, 2003
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated, almost causing a crash. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with alternator and ECM failure. The vehicle was repaired. The…
The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that a dealer technician came to the contactâs residence and performed an air bag recall repair. Following the repair, the vehicle became inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and that a burning odor was coming…
Vehicle Has Experienced all Dash waring lights & noises going on and off while driving Threw multiple codes saying the PCM was not connecting with the ODB2 reader , Vehicle would not crank or start 2 times did a Hard reset and it started, the end result is all Dash Lights luminated when Key is on…
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 2006 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while her son was at a complete stop at the red traffic light, the driver's side air bag deployed unexpectedly, and the driver noticed that there was white smoke and dark smoke coming from the air bag. There was no warning light…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Dakotas have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 376 owner complaints about electrical system for the Dodge Dakota. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Dodge Dakota electrical system?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Dodge Dakota?
The most frequent phrase is “timer module”, in 21 of 376 complaints, followed by “wiring harness” (21).
Other Dodge Dakota problems
- Suspension problems (1,716)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (969)
- Power Train problems (716)
- Air Bags problems (659)
- Steering problems (555)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (432)
- Visibility problems (179)
- Tires problems (169)
See all Dodge Dakota problems.