2011 Dodge Dakota problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (15) · Power Train (5) · Service Brakes (4)
🧭 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
25 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (6)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2019-01-15 · campaign 19V018000 · 1,413,222 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially 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 4, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V01.
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
Equipment:electrical 2012-08-28 · campaign 12V420000 · 32 vehicles
Defect: NBC Truck Equipment, Inc. (NBC) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 and model year 2010-2011 trucks equipped with Sure Power battery separator devices, due to overheating.
Risk: Overheating of the battery separator can result in smoke and possible fire.
Fix: NBC will notify owners, and Sure Power will replace the battery separators free of charge. The safety recall began November 26, 2012. Owners may contact NBC Truck Equipment, Inc. at 1-586-774-4900.
Service bulletins (68)
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
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-07-27 · 9100196 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
lubrication and maintenance fluids if mopar fluids and chemicals are not readily available, please review service library for specifications so a suitable alternative can be used
Structure 2022-08-19 · 3100122 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
approved use of weld through primers this bulletin documents the fca us llc position regarding the use of weld through primer when using squeeze type resistance spot welding (strsw) and gas metal arc welding (gmaw) processes when welding steel body panels and structural components.
Structure 2022-08-19 · 3100122 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
approved use of weld through primers this bulletin documents the fca us llc position regarding the use of weld through primer when using squeeze type resistance spot welding (strsw) and gas metal arc welding (gmaw) processes when welding steel body panels and structural components.
Showing the 6 most recent of 68 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-10-25 · Vehicle Speed Control“many dodge vehicle models experience failure of illumination for instrument clusters. this creates an unsafe condition for the driver since information presented at the instrument cluster, cannot be determined during night time driving conditions. dodge makes no provision to customers for replacement or repair parts and does not provide any docume…”
2022-10-04 · Exterior Lighting“the backlighting on the instrument cluster is defective. only a portion of the gauges are illuminated. should this occur for the speedometer then driver will not have a way to determine vehicle speed during the nighttime hours.…”
2021-09-07 · Unknown Or Other“my truck has a white panel that's fading out, turning black. the instrument panel is getting hard to read. pretty soon i won't be able to see how fast i'm going, how much gas i have, any important gauge's that i need to be able to see at night.…”
2020-07-15 · Engine · 83,996 mi“bought this vehicle about 5 years ago from a local dealer with 28,000 miles on it.the previous owner bought it new.i have all the service records of what was done to it including oil changes every 3,000 miles.have always treated it like a baby and bragged about it.now has 84,016 miles on it and about 3 weeks ago the engine started knocking.took it …”
2020-02-26 · Engine · 72,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2011 dodge dakota. the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage, the contact became aware of a coolant leak. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the coolant reservoir was punctured by the front passenger side fender. the vehicle was not repaired. the local dealer (unknown)…”
2019-03-13 · Electrical System · 130,000 mi“airbag clockspring is not working, drivers airbag will not work and horn doesnt work along with any other controls on the steering wheel…”
2018-10-01 · Service Brakes · 43,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2011 dodge dakota. while driving at unknown speeds, the brake pedal was applied, but failed to respond. the brake pedal had to be pumped to stop the vehicle. there were no warning indicators illuminated. the local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the failure mileage was 43…”
2018-06-12 · Power Train:driveline:differential Unit · 190,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2011 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the vehicle emitted an abnormal noise without warning. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the pinion bearing failed. the vehicle was not repaired. the dealer was not contacted. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage…”
2018-06-05 · Power Train · 90,000 mi“when accelerating it shudders tremendously. let of the gas and it stops sometimes.…”
2017-11-07 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 dodge dakota. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v352000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. hall chrysler dodge jeep ram virginia beach (3152 virgin…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.