Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Dodge Dakota problems

Owners filed 678 complaints about the 2001 Dodge Dakota with NHTSA between Nov 2000 and Oct 2025. The most-cited component is suspension (235).

Complaints
678
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
44
Reported by owners
Fires
11
Reported by owners
Injuries
27
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension235
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic118
  3. Power train93
  4. Electrical system57
  5. Engine and engine cooling53
  6. Steering48
  7. Air bags39
  8. Tires30
  9. Visibility30
  10. Exterior lighting20
  11. Vehicle speed control18
  12. Equipment14
  13. Structure11
  14. Seats7

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20001
200148
200269
2003133
2004194
200566
200627
200717
200824
200911
201021
201111
20125
20139
20148
20158
20163
20175
20184
20195
20202
20213
20220
20231
20240
20253

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Suspension

235 reports7 crashes2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, there was a wobble coming from the front passenger’s side tire. The contact was able to pull over and had the vehicle towed to a local mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ball joints needed to be replaced however, the vehicle was not repaired. There was no warning light illuminated. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 300,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 29, 2021SuspensionODI 11445473

Service brakes, hydraulic

118 reports6 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE MODULE WAS DEFECTIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 10, 2014Service brakes, hydraulic, Service brakesODI 10597400

Power train

93 reports10 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic to have the catalytic converter replaced, the vehicle stalled while driving at various speeds. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the contact had to have the vehicle towed to the residence on nine separate occasions. The vehicle was also towed to a dealer, where the PCM was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to the Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM). The contact believed that a defect with the SKIM had caused the sudden stall with the security light flashing. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 119,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2025Power train, Electrical systemODI 11680215

Electrical system

57 reports2 crashes7 fires1 related recall
“THE GAUGES WOULD STOP WORKING. SEEMS THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION CMT AND I HAD THE EMC CHECKED AND IT WAS FINE. IT ONLY COSTS $90 TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. SEEMS THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS IN REGARD TO THIS FAILURE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2020Electrical systemODI 11321446

Engine and engine cooling

53 reports1 crash1 related recall
“ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON. THIS WAS DUE TO THE FAN CLUTCH NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE IS BROKEN IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND SO IS NOT REPORTING OIL PRESSURE ACCURATELY. THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR THIS. *KB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 18, 2011Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10413463

Steering

48 reports7 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE A GEAR WAS LOOSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2015SteeringODI 10747663
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026

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