Dodge Dakota Steering Problems
Owners have filed 555 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Dodge Dakota across 15 model years. The 2004 model year has the most (74). The words owners use most often: “ball joints” (24% of reports).
- 555steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 33mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,600typical repair cost reported by owners
- 25%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.
- Ball joints: mentioned in 134 of 555 complaints (24%)
- Tie rod: mentioned in 91 of 555 complaints (16%)
- Rack pinion: mentioned in 54 of 555 complaints (10%)
- Steering shaft: mentioned in 42 of 555 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the Dodge Dakota at $1,600, and half of them between $630 and $1,800.
Based on 22 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2001–2016), 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 steering problems happen?
Based on 390 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 555 complaints, 33 mention a crash, 6 an injury.
Dodge Dakota steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Dakota | 5 | 14% | 23,400 |
| 2008 Dakota | 17 | 19% | 51,243 |
| 2007 Dakota | 12 | 8% | 60,000 |
| 2006 Dakota | 47 | 16% | 54,000 |
| 2005 Dakota | 47 | 10% | 57,500 |
| 2004 Dakota | 74 | 36% | 59,000 |
| 2003 Dakota | 14 | 5% | 15,500 |
| 2002 Dakota | 44 | 6% | 36,200 |
| 2001 Dakota | 48 | 7% | 44,035 |
| 2000 Dakota | 68 | 8% | 60,000 |
| 1999 Dakota | 72 | 11% | 54,824 |
| 1998 Dakota | 47 | 9% | 66,000 |
| 1997 Dakota | 34 | 8% | 70,000 |
| 1996 Dakota | 7 | 4% | — |
| 1995 Dakota | 19 | 9% | 135,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists steering 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.
The manufacturer sent a third party to fix an airbag recall. Before the third-party technician touched my truck for the recall, both my horn and cigarette lighter worked. Now, after their repair, neither works. Therefore, something they did caused an electrical fault. I advised whoever sent the…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND STARTED THE ENGINE, THE KEY WOULD COME OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE STRENGTH TO TURN THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO…
The car goes into park, but park does not engage. I'm able to remove the key. The column shows park but the car continues to roll. I see that 2002 dakotas have a recall for this problem but my vin # doesn't show a recall for this problem.
Has developed loose steering. Problem exist whether moving or not. Though an accident has not happened yet, believe there is great potential for it to happen.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge dakota. While driving 45 mph, an odor of power steering fluid emitted through the air vents. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and noticed power steering fluid leaking from the bearing of the power steering pump. The vehicle was towed to the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Dakotas have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 555 owner complaints about steering 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 steering?
No recall currently lists steering for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the Dodge Dakota?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,600 (half paid between $630 and $1,800), from 22 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Dodge Dakota?
The most frequent phrase is “ball joints”, in 134 of 555 complaints, followed by “tie rod” (91).
Other Dodge Dakota problems
- Suspension problems (1,716)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (969)
- Power Train problems (716)
- Air Bags problems (659)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (432)
- Electrical System problems (376)
- Visibility problems (179)
- Tires problems (169)
See all Dodge Dakota problems.