Dodge Dakota Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 432 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Dodge Dakota across 14 model years. The 1999 model year has the most (70). The words owners use most often: “oil pressure” (7% of reports).
- 432engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 10mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,150typical repair cost reported by owners
- 40%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.
- Oil pressure: mentioned in 32 of 432 complaints (7%)
- Catalytic converter: mentioned in 32 of 432 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Dodge Dakota at $1,150, and half of them between $1,000 and $7,500.
Based on 17 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2010), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 190 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 432 complaints, 10 mention a crash, 9 a fire, 4 an injury.
Dodge Dakota engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Dakota | 1 | 1% | 4,108 |
| 2007 Dakota | 3 | 2% | 3,800 |
| 2006 Dakota | 9 | 3% | 37,027 |
| 2005 Dakota | 12 | 3% | 16,457 |
| 2004 Dakota | 12 | 6% | 7,910 |
| 2003 Dakota | 34 | 11% | 6,222 |
| 2002 Dakota | 34 | 5% | 40,685 |
| 2001 Dakota | 53 | 8% | 56,982 |
| 2000 Dakota | 50 | 6% | 60,000 |
| 1999 Dakota | 70 | 11% | 55,000 |
| 1998 Dakota | 60 | 11% | 70,798 |
| 1997 Dakota | 49 | 11% | 75,000 |
| 1996 Dakota | 27 | 14% | 167,251 |
| 1995 Dakota | 18 | 9% | 13,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine and engine cooling for the Dodge Dakota. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
2003 dodge dakota. Consumer writes in regards to dealership unable to diagnose and repair engine stalling problems. *smd after having a computer update performed, the vehicle continued to stall. *jb
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. The contact stated that the windshield wipers failed and the exterior lighting sporadically malfunctioned. Also, the side cap to the main radiator spewed antifreeze approximately five feet in the air. The contact shut off the vehicle. The vehicle was not…
Radiator support bracket rusted away. Radiator could become detached from vehicle while in motion. *tr
At idle/park my 1996 dodge dakota 4x4 v8 5.2l slt will sputter and sometimes kill the engine. Now i'm not sure if that's a safety feature so the engine doesn't over flood itself, but i've replaced the iac valve, pcv valve, distributor rotor/cap, and spark plugs with no improvement. I recent had a…
Replace rusted radiator. *js
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Dakotas have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 432 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling 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 engine and engine cooling?
No recall currently lists engine and engine cooling for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Dodge Dakota?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,150 (half paid between $1,000 and $7,500), from 17 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Dodge Dakota?
The most frequent phrase is “oil pressure”, in 32 of 432 complaints, followed by “catalytic converter” (32).
Other Dodge Dakota problems
- Suspension problems (1,716)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (969)
- Power Train problems (716)
- Air Bags problems (659)
- Steering problems (555)
- Electrical System problems (376)
- Visibility problems (179)
- Tires problems (169)
See all Dodge Dakota problems.