2009 Dodge Dakota problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (5) · Air Bags (5) · Wheels (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Dodge Dakota model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (5)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2018-01-09 · campaign 18V021000 · 328,177 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Chrysler is recalling certain 2009-2010 RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 55
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp 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 owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U03.
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
Power Train:driveline:differential Unit 2013-02-06 · campaign 13V038000 · 278,674 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured from February 27, 2008, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through October 20, 2011; model year 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota trucks manufactured from February 27, 2007, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through September 30, 2011; model year 2009 Chrysler Aspen trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008; and model year 2009 Dodge Durango trucks manufactured from Janua
Risk: If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.
Fix: On November 7, 2013 Chrysler notified owners that dealers would install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. In July 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for remedying their vehicles: perform the original remedy, offer to repurchase the vehicle at the fair market value plus 10%, or offer an additional incentive offer towards the purchase of a new Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, or Fiat vehicle. Chrysler will notify owners of the new recall option
Power Train:driveline:differential Unit 2012-10-02 · campaign 12V474000 · 44,300 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2010, Ram 1500 and Dodge Dakota trucks, manufactured from July 1, 2009, through November 30, 2009, because the rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to a lack of adhesive.
Risk: If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. The recall began on June 17, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.
Service bulletins (50)
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 50 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-09-23 · Service Brakes“after starting the dakota, i pushed on the brake pedal so i could put the automatic transmission in drive. my foot went all the way to the floor. i tried again with the same result. i checked the brake fluid reservoir. it was a bit low, but not empty. when the tow truck arrived to haul it away, i noticed a pool of brake fluid on the driveway ap…”
2019-03-20 · Engine · 127,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2009 dodge dakota. while attempting to start the vehicle, all the instrument panel indicators illuminated and the vehicle failed to start. the dealer and manufacturer were not notified. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 127,000. the vin was not available.…”
2017-07-19 · Unknown Or Other · 24 mi“a/c drain tube had not been able to drain since owning the vehicle since november 2009, due to a flawed design, henceforth i was ill every time i drove the vehicle with the a/c on. this last ill driven 1 hour and 30 minute day, 7 july 2017, i was terribly nausea, extreme headaches and exhaustion lasting through to 9 july 2017. had it been a longer …”
2017-02-17 · Electrical System · 82,924 mi“truck stoping while driving had replace tipm on city and highway…”
2016-02-26 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2009 dodge dakota. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v313000 (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 not made aware of the issue. the cont…”
2015-12-10 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2009 dodge dakota. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v313000 (air bags); however, the part needed to perform the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact attempted to contact the manufactu…”
2015-10-09 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2009 dodge dakota. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v313000 (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 experien…”
2015-07-07 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2009 dodge dakota. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v313000 (air bags); however, the part needed 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 not made aware of the issue. the contact had …”
2014-06-17 · Air Bags · 32,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owns a 2009 dodge dakota. the contact stated that while traveling 5 mph down hill, the vehicle crashed into a tree and the air bags failed to deploy. the contact mentioned that no warning lamps illuminated in the instrument panel. the vehicle was towed. a police report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. the manufac…”
2014-06-17 · Electrical System:ignition · 38,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2009 dodge dakota. the contact stated that while traveling 70 mph, the contact inadvertently bumped the ignition key and all of the indicators on the instrument panel illuminated. a chime activated and the cruise control was turn on which cause the vehicle to resumed normal functioned. the failure recurred several times. t…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.