Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Dodge Dakota problems
Owners filed 470 complaints about the 2005 Dodge Dakota with NHTSA between Feb 2005 and Mar 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (143).
Complaints
470
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
30
Reported by owners
Fires
27
Reported by owners
Injuries
20
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags143
- Power train81
- Service brakes, hydraulic67
- Suspension51
- Steering47
- Seats41
- Electrical system32
- Service brakes13
- Engine and engine cooling12
- Engine11
- Structure9
- Seat belts8
- Tires6
- Exterior lighting5
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 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
41
37
16
21
25
26
20
16
19
26
80
63
34
21
13
4
4
1
1
0
0
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 41 |
| 2006 | 37 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2008 | 21 |
| 2009 | 25 |
| 2010 | 26 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2014 | 26 |
| 2015 | 80 |
| 2016 | 63 |
| 2017 | 34 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 2 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
143 reports12 crashes4 related recalls
“GOT TRUCK SMOGGED 4/13/2021 AND WAS TOLD OF AN OUTSTANDING RECALL FOR AIRBAG. THIS RECALL WAS FIXED ON 11/13/2015. ATTACHED ARE COPIES OF NOTICE OF RECALL AFTER GETTING TRUCK SMOGGED AND PAGES 1 AND 2 OF INVOICE SHOWING REPAIR ON 11/13/2015. HOW DO WE GET THIS UPDATED IN THE SYSTEM SO IT WILL NOT SHOW UP AGAIN WHEN WE GET TRUCK SMOGGED NEXT TIME? Consumer stated vehicle has been repaired and no longer needs to be contacted.*JB”
Power train
81 reports4 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“*Incomplete Recall Status* ***Defect in transfer case*** Complaint of Manufacturer Defect in 2005 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab 4x4 3.7l v6. While driving at a speed of 30mph on a smooth paved highway and selector switch turned to 2 wheel drive mode; out of nowhere, the transfer case tried to engage 4 High which resulted in SVC 4X4 warning lamp illumination and a loud grinding/stuttering sound from under carriage as well as halting me to 10 mph without any help from me. after pulling over on the roadside and putting truck in park and turning the engine off, i waited a couple of minutes and SVC 4X4 indicator and 4High dash light had gone. I restarted the truck only to find that the SVC 4X4 Warning lamp immediately returned and now the 4lo illuminated dash light is constantly showing and truck is still showing in 2 wheel drive with selector switch but 4x4 will not engage at all now. Took to a mechanic shop 1/2 mile down the road and had it read for any DTCs and inspected. Code came back as C1404. Transfer case still tries to engage as soon as truck door is opened and dome light comes on. SVC 4X4 warning indicator stays on the dash lit up and 4lo warning light flashes non…”
Service brakes, hydraulic
67 reports5 crashes
“The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle vibrated, pulled to the right, with a burning odor coming into the cabin of the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and diagnosed that the caliper had failed. The calipers had been replaced six times; however, the failure persisted and became more frequent. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000.”
Suspension
51 reports3 crashes
“I TOOK MY 2005 DAKOTA TO REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE OF CLUNKING NOISE ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN DRIVING OR ROCKING THE TRUCK WHEN IT WAS PARKED. REPAIR SHOP SAID LOWER BALL JOINT COMPLETELY FAILED AND WAS RIDING ON LOWER CONTROL ARM INSTEAD OF SUPPORTED BY BALL JOINT. UPPER BALL JOINT WAS ALSO BAD. PASSENGER SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT WORN OUT AND LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT WAS CRACKED. ALL TIE ROD ENDS ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.”
Steering
47 reports6 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, AN ODOR OF POWER STEERING FLUID EMITTED THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING FROM THE BEARING OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAL OF THE BEARING AND POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Seats
41 reports22 fires1 related recall
“WHILE DRIVING ON I-635 NORTHBOUND AT AROUND 25 TO 30 MPH WITH 4X4 ACTIVATED ON A SINGLE LINE AVAILABLE SINCE IT WAS CLEARED AND SALTED. WITHOUT WARNING I WAS THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT VEERED RIGHT HARD AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ALMOST CRASHING ONTO THE METAL BEAM ALONG THE HIGHWAY. I WENT PAST THE SHOULDER AND DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF HILL, BUT THANKFULLY VEHICLE DIDN'T TURN OFF. I HAD TO SWITCH OFF 4X4 AND BACK ON AND WAS ABLE TO CLIMB UP DESPITE THE SNOW BACK TO THE HIGHWAY WITH NO FURTHER REOCCURRENCE. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN THIS HAPPENED MY PASSENGER SEAT WENT FORWARD AND IS NOW STUCK AND I BROKE LEVER TRYING TO BRING IT BACK FROM FRONT RECLINING. BECAUSE OF THE ROUGH TERRAIN THE REAR QUARTER PANELS WHERE THE WAS SOME RUST HAVE CRACKED”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.