2008 Dodge Dakota problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (26) · Steering (14) · Service Brakes (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Dodge Dakota model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
60 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2016-05-24 · campaign 16V352000 · 4,648,270 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-201
Risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2015-05-26 · campaign 15V313000 · 4,077,169 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time,
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for Chrylser on June 8, 2015. The recall for Mitsubishi started on June 24, 2015. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-782
Service bulletins (53)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Power Train 2024-10-30 · 101232 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
plate - planetary
Electrical System 2023-09-15 · 9100226 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
connector kit before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957a$, check it in the mopar connector repair kit website to confirm part number and applicability. there is an error with the wiring diagrams in service library that is causing the incorrect repair kit part number to populate. please use
Electrical System:wiring 2023-09-15 · 9100226 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
connector kit before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957a$, check it in the mopar connector repair kit website to confirm part number and applicability. there is an error with the wiring diagrams in service library that is causing the incorrect repair kit part number to populate. please use
Power Train 2021-04-07 · 9004009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
transmission kit with torque converter 1. all promaster (vf) 3.6l/62te equipped vehicles. if the transmission bracket to the transmission case fasteners are removed during servicing, the fasteners (part number 06511385a$) are one-time usage. vehicles built prior to 10/23/2015 requires service kit p
Power Train 2021-03-10 · 9004350 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
gear motor, transfer case the gear motor assembly is shipped in awd/2wd position. the transfer case needs to be positioned in awd/2wd position to properly assemble gear motor to t-case. please reference star online publication s2121000003 for further details. do not have the transfer case in in ano
Engine And Engine Cooling 2021-03-10 · 9004350 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
gear motor, transfer case the gear motor assembly is shipped in awd/2wd position. the transfer case needs to be positioned in awd/2wd position to properly assemble gear motor to t-case. please reference star online publication s2121000003 for further details. do not have the transfer case in in ano
Showing the 6 most recent of 53 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-03-24 · Wheels“extended cab doors will not open which makes it impossible to access tire changing tools. looking on the internet, i've discovered this happens to many dodge dakota extended cab trucks. vehicle was stationary.…”
2020-11-15 · Unknown Or Other · 138,000 mi · 💥 crash“driving in our lane on a city street going 40 mph as a vehicle tried to turn into a gas station, crossing our lane right front of us and they did not have enough time to make the turn. to avoid a full blown head on collision, i swerved and we hit front driver side vs front driver side. going 40 mph, and the speed of the other vehicle and my air bag…”
2019-05-22 · Electrical System · 100,000 mi · 🔥 fire“risk of fire by wrong sized fused in power outlet. i almost burn the truck charging a drone (57w charger) parking and left alone for about 20 minutes, when i back the cabin was filled with smoke. first i think in the lithium batteries catching fire, but no, the smoke comes from behind the dash. quickly i removed the 20a fuse and left like this. i…”
2019-04-19 · Unknown Or Other · 57,000 mi“my engine turns off while driving. i cannot restart the engine until i have stopped, shifted to park, and cycled the ignition to off. the engine stalling started as a low/slow idle condition, and now has escalated to cutting off at full acceleration while merging into expressway traffic. this has happened on several dates. i am selecting…”
2018-07-03 · Engine · 72,250 mi“4.7l engine blew hole the size of a golf ball in block while passing a slower moving car on a country paved highway maxed at about 60mph. engine has 72250 miles, running 5w30 synthetic oil. regular home maintenance - oil changes every 3000 miles, other maintenance as in user manual at home. had no check engine light, no warning. truck well mainta…”
2018-02-13 · Power Train · 150,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge dakota. while driving various speeds, the vehicle shifted from two wheel drive to four wheel drive independently. the vehicle was taken to bill bryan chrysler (3401 us-441, fruitland park, fl 34731) where it was diagnosed that the transfer case motor needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufact…”
2017-10-03 · Service Brakes · 270,000 mi“ref mfr recall 870- nhtsa recall 00v-193. brake line leaking from rubbing against power steering hose. contacted local dealer (m&l chrysler dodge jeep ram, lexington nc) was told they had the brake line but not part #cbed6701 and could not repair under recall but could sell me a brake line, referred me to customer service @ 800-992-1997. they took …”
2017-08-18 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge dakota. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v352000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. three brothers chrysler dodge jeep, located at 125 main st, lincoln, mai…”
2017-05-11 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge dakota. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v352000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the contact had not experie…”
2017-04-13 · Air Bags“due to my passenger side airbag being potentially deadly i cannot trade off my truck for a fair market value. also i feel it is unsafe for any person or persons to ride in the passenger side of the truck. i contacted dodge back in october of 2016 and expressed my concerns on the safety of me vehicle and they assured me that there would be a fix in …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.