Problems · by component

1999 Dodge Dakota electrical system problems

27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Dodge Dakota cite electrical system, 4% of all 688 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
27
4% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“OFTEN WHEN I START MY TRUCK THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WILL GO ALL THE WAY UP, THE GAUGE FOR THE BATTERY STAYS DOWN, AND WHEN IT DOES START, THE SERPENTINE BELT WILL SQUEAL, SOMETIMES IT WILL START AND IDLE, OTHER TIMES IT WILL NOT IDLE, UNLESS I KEEP MY FOOT ON THE GAS, AS SOON AS I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS IT WILL STALL, AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, EVERYTHING WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL AND IT RUNS FINE, BUT LATELY, ITS BEEN DOING IT MORE OFTEN, WHEN IT DOES THIS, THERE IS A FOUL SMELL COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I HAVE HAD IT SCANNED AND NO CODES CAME UP ON THE SCANNER. I DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, SO IF THERE IS A RECALL PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW A RECALL WORKS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE LAST TIME WAS 9/23/2019, WHEN I STARTED IT TODAY, IT RAN FINE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2019Electrical systemODI 11257872
“I HAVE A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. SEVERAL TIME THE TRUCK WILL NOT START OR WILL SHUT DOWN A FEW MINUTES/MILES AFTER STARTING. THE TRUCK HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS EVEN 'KICK' STARTING HAS NO EFFECT. AFTER THE TRUCK SHUTS DOWN, 10 TO 15 MINUTES LATER IT STARTS UP WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN CITY TRAFFIC. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2015Electrical systemODI 10712906
“DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, EVERYTHING SHUTS OFF; MOTOR, BRAKES, STEERING. ODOMETER READS "NO BUS" AND NON OF THE GAUGES IN THE CLUSTER WORK. AFTER RESETTING THE COMPUTER BY UNPLUGGIN THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL AND VEHICLE COOLS, IT STARTS UP. THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN AS I HAVE READ FOR MANY OWNERS OF SIMILAR MODELS AND YEARS. IT CONCERNS ME BECAUSE I DRIVE CONGESTED HIGHWAYS TO AND FROM WORK. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND ACCOUNTED FOR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2014Electrical systemODI 10631404
“I OWN A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA V-8 MAGNUM 5.2L, IT ONLY HAS 138,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I BOUGHT IT IT ONLY HAD 76,600 MILES. IN THAT LITTLE TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS TWICE, AND THE RACK AND PINION, AND THE WATER PUMP, THE THERMOSTAT, THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THE TIE RODS, AND THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WRONG. WHY AM HAVING TO REPLACE THESE THINGS TWICE IN SUCH LITTLE MILEAGE? AFTER READING UP ON IT THROUGH THE INTERNET I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE PROBLEMS, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS, WHY IS THERE A RECALL ON THE 2000, & 1998 BUT NOT 1999? I AM OUT SO MUCH MONEY AND HAVE ALMOST WRECKED MY TRUCK TWICE BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS, ONCE WITH 6 KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME AND AGAIN WITH MY 3 KIDS. THIS NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BEFORE SEVERAL PEOPLE GET HURT OR WORSE, DIE!!! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 15, 2009Steering, Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Tires, EquipmentODI 10287467
“1999 DODGE DURANGO SLT 5.9L V8 THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT NOTICE WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN YOU LET THE CAR SIT IT WILL EVENTUALLY START BACK UP AS IF THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST MINE BUT AFTER INVESTIGATING ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALLOT OF PEOPLE. THE PCM HAS ALL READY BEEN REPLACED IN MY VEHICLE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN THIS MODEL. THE DODGE COMPANY SHOULD BE MADE TO GO GOOD ON THIS. IT IS SAPPOSE TO BE A FAMILY VEHICLE HOWEVER I AM SCARED EVERY TIME I HAVE TO PUT MY CHILDREN IN IT.YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO STALL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 7, 2007Electrical systemODI 10192631
“I HAVE A 1999 DODGE DURANGO THAT HAS JUST DEVELOPED A PROBLEM. FOR SOME REASON THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE DRIVING. IT CAN BE ON A SIDE STREET DOWN A NARROW CANYON WHICH JUST HAPPENED TO MY WIFE (THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE FACT SHE LOST POWER STEERING AND HAD VERY LITTLE CHOICE FOR PULLING OVER). IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY ANOTHER VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR REASONS I DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN. ONCE I PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND LET IT SIT FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES IT STARTS BACK UP AND I AM ON MY WAY. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DODGE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY ARE QUITE PUZZLED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST 7-18-06. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 13, 2006Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10162337

Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.