Problems · by component

2005 Dodge Dakota electrical system problems

32 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Dodge Dakota cite electrical system, 7% of all 470 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
32
7% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“*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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2022Suspension, Power train, Electrical systemODI 11456536
“VEHICLE GOES IN AND OUT OF 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND 4 WHEEL LO ON IT'S OWN, WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING OR NOT AND MOVING OR NOT. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR, NOT UNLOCK, JUST OPEN, AND YOU CAN HEAR THE TRANSFER CASE SHIFTING . SOMETIME "SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE" LIGHT COMES ON, OTHER TIMES JUST 4 WHEEL INDICATOR AND OTHER TIMES NO LIGHT AT ALL. THOUGH IT IS A 2005, I ONLY HAVE 80K ON IT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 13, 2019Electrical systemODI 11268221
“I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE T80 HEATED SEATS IN MY 2005 DODGE DAKOTA I CALLED THE CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE SCHEDULE A REPAIR SERVICE WITH PERKINS DODGE COLORADO SPRINGS HE ORDERED THE SEATS I TOLD THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD A BURN HOLE IN IT AND HAD CAUGHT FIRE WHEN THE NEW SEATS ARRIVED AT PERKINS DODGE I TOOK MY TRUCK IN TO BE REPAIRED THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL NOT DO THE PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE OF THE BURN HOLE HAS CUT OUT PIECES. I TOLD THEM I HAD TO REMOVE SOME OF THE BURNT MATERIAL TO PUT A SEAT COVER ON AND STILL UTILIZE THE SEAT. SEATS ARE STILL UNDER RECALL THEY ORDERED THEM KNOWING THAT THERE WAS A BURN HOLE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WILL NOT PROCEED WITH THE REPAIR THE INFORMATION FOR THE CASE NUMBER AND REPRESENTATIVE I TALKED TO IS HERE.... MY NAME IS [XXX] FROM THE FCA CASE MANAGEMENT DIVISION, I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED AS YOUR CASE MANAGER. HERE IS SOME INFORMATION THAT WILL BE HELPFUL FOR YOU TO HAVE: YOUR CASE NUMBER IS [XXX] THE CHRYSLER CASE MANAGEMENT TELEPHONE NUMBER IS: [XXX] MY DIRECT EXTENSION: [XXX] MY WORK HOURS ARE: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM EASTERN STANDARD TIME (MONDAY-FRIDAY). I WILL CONTACT YOU WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 3, 2019Electrical system, SeatsFire reportedODI 11217628
“APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AGO FROM THIS COMPLAINT, WHILE DRIVING THE AFOREMENTIONED VEHICLE (2005 DODGE DAKOTA) DURING NORMAL, SUMMER TIME ROAD CONDITIONS, WRITER NOTICED THAT THE "SVC 4WD" WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES BEFORE TURNING OFF. LIGHT DIDN'T ILLUMINATE AGAIN UNTIL SUNDAY, 09/09/2018. WHEN UNLOCKING THE VEHICLE USING THE VEHICLE'S REMOTE UNLOCK ON THE KEY, WRITER NOTICED A SOUND THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE VEHICLE ENGAGING THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MECHANISMS. WRITER STARTED THE VEHICLE, NOTED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, AND THE SERVICE LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. DURING THE COURSE OF THIS WEEK, THE SERVICE LIGHT HAS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED ON OCCASION, REMAINING ON FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THEN TURNS OFF. TODAY, 09/14/2018, WHEN LEAVING MY WORK FOR AN ERRAND, I NOTED THAT THE "SVC 4WD" LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. WRITER NOTED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO, IN FACT, IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, AS THE VEHICLE WAS "SKIPPING" THE TIRES WHILE TURNING AND EXHIBITING SIGNS OF A VEHICLE IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE WHILE DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT. WRITER NOTED THAT THE "4WD…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 14, 2018Power train, Electrical systemODI 11129573
“TRUCK TRIES TO ENGAGE INTO 4X4 MODE WHILE KNOB IS IN 2X4 SELECTION AND KEY IS NOT EVEN IN IGNITION. ALSO WHILE DRIVING TRUCK ENGAGES INTO 4X4 MODE WHILE KNOB IS IN 2X4 MODE. DODGE DEALER SAID THEY NO LONGER MAKE TIPM PART TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND NO OTHER PARTS COMPANY MAKE THIS PART.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2018Power train, Electrical systemODI 11083083
“I WAS PICKING UP MY BOYS FROM SCHOOL WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THEN I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. I TURNED OFF THE HEAT TO THE SEAT. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK, THERE WAS A BURN MARK IN THE SEAT AND ON MY JACKET.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 15, 2017Electrical system, SeatsODI 11054920

Showing 6 of 32 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.