The 1998 Dodge Dakota has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 713,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 793 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the suspension. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS01V1530002001-05-08216,100 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS. SOUND DEADENER MATERIAL INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE COVER AND HOUSING. NOTE: THE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS WERE BUILT AT THE WARREN ASSEMBLY PLANT ("S" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 16, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; ST. LOUIS NORTH ASSEMBLY PLANT…
Consequence
WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE MATERIAL COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING RIBBON AND CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT. THE DRIVER AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL BECOME DISABLED, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 18, 2001. ALSO SOME 1997-200 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE HAD A SUSPECT REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC00V1980002000-07-17437,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE REAR AXLE VENT HOSE AND THE BRAKE HOSE.
Consequence
A PUNCTURE IN THE REAR BRAKE HOSE WILL RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING FORCE AT THE REAR WHEELS.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR BRAKE HOSE FOR EVIDENCE OF WEAR. WORN BRAKE HOSES WILL BE REPLACED. THE REAR VENT HOSE WILL BE SHORTENED BY 3 INCHES AND A CLIP WILL BE INSTALLED TO ASSURE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE AXLE VENT LINE AND BRAKE HOSE IS MAINTAINED.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC00V1930002000-07-1740,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS BUILT WITH 2.5L ENGINES. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE TUBE AND THE POWER STEERING HOSE.
Consequence
A PUNCTURE OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE TUBE CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING FORCE AT THE FRONT WHEELS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE TUBE AND POWER STEERING HOSE FOR WEAR. IF WEAR IS EVIDENT, THE BRAKE TUBE AND/OR POWER STEERING HOSE WILL BE REPLACED. A POWER STEERING STANDOFF BRACKET WILL BE INSTALLED ON ALL VEHICLES TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE TUBE AND POWER STEERING HOSE IS MAINTAINED.
STRUCTURE98V2080001998-09-0812,400 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH BOLTS THAT WERE NOT PROPERLY HARDENED. THE BOLTS WERE USED TO ATTACH THE CAB AND THE CORE SUPPORT TO THE FRAME.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN ALLOW THE CAB TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE BOLTS WITH PROPERLY HARDENED BOLTS.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC97V1700001997-10-077,500 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS (2 WHEEL DRIVE ONLY). THE FRONT BRAKE HOSES OR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) SENSOR WIRE MAY BE ABRADED AT THE FRONT WHEELS BY CONTACT WITH A FRONT WHEELHOUSE SPLASH SHIELD.
Consequence
PROLONGED BRAKE HOSE CONTACT CAN CAUSE A PARTIAL LOSS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. PROLONGED ABS SENSOR WIRE CONTACT CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF ABS FUNCTION.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL TRIM THE FRONT WHEELHOUSE SPLASH SHIELDS AND THE BRAKE HOSES AND ABS SENSOR WIRES WILL BE INSPECTED. IF EVIDENCE OF ABRASION IS FOUND ON ANY HOSE OR ABS WIRE, THEY WILL BE REPLACED.
Complaints by component
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
137
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
105
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
33
4crashes
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
23
16crashes13injuries1deaths
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
23
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
19
5crashes2injuries3deaths
SUSPENSION:FRONT
18
TIRES
15
2crashes
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
13
3crashes4injuries
SUSPENSION:REAR
12
Total complaints793
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“1 safety recall found,reprogram pcm and inspect catalytic converter.I never got a recall notice in the mail just happen to go on line and find it.my engine light,anti -brake light and emergency light stays on.my speedometer and odometer quit working.I took my truck to the dodge dealership and they…”
“1 safety recall found,reprogram pcm and inspect catalytic converter.I never got a recall notice in the mail just happen to go on line and find it.my engine light,anti -brake light and emergency light stays on.my speedometer and odometer quit working.I took my truck to the dodge dealership and they…”
“52019555 for dodge dakota pickup spare tire hoist wheel carrier winch hanger. Defective spare tire hoist wheel carrier winch hanger the spare tire hoist wheel carrier winch hanger contains soft rubber part which disintegrates easily with the elements (rain, cold, dirt, wind, etc.). This allows…”
“The contact owns a 1998 dodge dakota. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was restarted and operated as designed. During the failure, there were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was…”
“The contact owns a 1998 dodge dakota. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was restarted and operated as designed. During the failure, there were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was…”
“The contact owns a 1998 dodge dakota. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was restarted and operated as designed. During the failure, there were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was…”
“Engine mysteriously dies for no apparent reason. It may happen at idle all the way to and including highway speeds. Dry weather or wet weather. Cold weather or hot weather. Cold engine or warm engine. No pattern detected. It doesn't splutter -- it just dies as if the ignition key has been turned…”
“I found a list of recalls on pep boys website”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA03023 Opened 2003-11-19 · closed 2005-02-11
UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) IS RECALLING THE TARGET POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 600,000 MY 2000 THROUGH 2003 DURANGO AND DAKOTA VEHICLES WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE TO REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS WITH REDESIGNED PARTS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE JOINT INTEGRITY CONCERNS AND HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED…
InvestigationEA03023 Opened 2003-11-19 · closed 2005-02-11
UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) IS RECALLING THE TARGET POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 600,000 MY 2000 THROUGH 2003 DURANGO AND DAKOTA VEHICLES WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE TO REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS WITH REDESIGNED PARTS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE JOINT INTEGRITY CONCERNS AND HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED…
InvestigationEA03023 Opened 2003-11-19 · closed 2005-02-11
UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) IS RECALLING THE TARGET POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 600,000 MY 2000 THROUGH 2003 DURANGO AND DAKOTA VEHICLES WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE TO REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS WITH REDESIGNED PARTS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE JOINT INTEGRITY CONCERNS AND HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED…
InvestigationEA03023 Opened 2003-11-19 · closed 2005-02-11
UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) IS RECALLING THE TARGET POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 600,000 MY 2000 THROUGH 2003 DURANGO AND DAKOTA VEHICLES WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE TO REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS WITH REDESIGNED PARTS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE JOINT INTEGRITY CONCERNS AND HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED…
InvestigationEA03023 Opened 2003-11-19 · closed 2005-02-11
UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) IS RECALLING THE TARGET POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 600,000 MY 2000 THROUGH 2003 DURANGO AND DAKOTA VEHICLES WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE TO REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS WITH REDESIGNED PARTS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE JOINT INTEGRITY CONCERNS AND HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Dodge Dakota as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.