Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1991 Dodge Dakota, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train60
- Steering15
- Service brakes, hydraulic12
- Fuel system, gasoline8
- Vehicle speed control7
- Electrical system7
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Structure5
- Equipment5
- Tires4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 8 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 9 1991 Dakota vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 9 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1991 Dodge Dakota failed the safety check 1.10% of the time — 2% less often than the average 1991 passenger car (1.13%). Median odometer at inspection: 138,702 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1991 Dodge Dakota.
| 2000111 28 Apr 2000 | Powertrain Certain vehicles may be inadvertently left in reverse when the operator places the shift lever in the "Park" position. Should this occur, unintentional rearward… |
| 1995109 16 Jun 1995 | Steering On certain vehicles, the steering wheel armature may crack due to fatigue and separate from the centre hub attachment to the steering column. This could adverse… |
| 1991158 21 Nov 1991 | Brakes ON TWO WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE MAY CONTACT THE TIRE DURING FULL LOCK LEFT TURNS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE HOSE TO WEAR THROUGH AND RESU… |
| 1990159 18 Oct 1990 | Fuel System AN IMPROPERLY ROUTED TRANSMISSION WIRING HARNESS MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH THE FUEL HOSES AND CAUSE FUEL HOSE ABRASION. THIS COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE WIT… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A500 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. INADVERTENT PLACEMENT OF THE SHIFT LEVER IN REVERSE CAN OCCUR WHEN THE DRIVER BELIEVES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN PLACED IN PARK.
THE STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE STAMPING CAN CRACK DUE TO FATIGUE AND SEPARATE FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN.
THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE MAY RUB AGAINST THE TIRE DURING A FULL LOCK LEFT TURN, WHICH MAY EVENTUALLY CAUSE WEAR THROUGH OF THE BRAKE HOSE ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE.
STEEL BRAIDED FUEL HOSE ROUTING MAY ALLOW CONTACT BETWEEN THE HOSE AND TRANSMISSION WIRING HARNESS.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Dodge told its dealers about the 1991 Dodge Dakota: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 621898 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ |
| 618049 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB |
| 612160 | SUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS |
| 610635 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 609995 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT |
| 6089000 | INFORMATION ON TRANSMISSION COOLER REVERSE FLUSHING WITH COOLER BYPASS KIT INSTALLED. *NLM |
| 6088786 | CONCERNS WITH ENGINE COOLANT USAGE. *NLM |
| 607963 | INFORMATION ON CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 604710 | INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT BRAKE CALIPER MOUNTING TO STEERING KNUCKLE THREAD REPAIR. *TT |
| 602327 | THE OUTER EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS MAY FATIGUE AND BREAK. *YC |
| 600862 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLATION OF RADIO TRANSMITTING EQUIPMENT. *AK |
| 52963 | VARIOUS CAR OWNER'S HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN USING ENGINE COOLANTS MADE WITH PROPYLENE GLYCOL INSTEAD OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL. *YC |
| 52529 | TIMING CHAIN NOISE. *TW |
| 51942 | DIFFICULT TO CLEAN LIGHT COLORED "CHALKY" RESIDUE FROM PLASTIC BODY COMPONENTS THAT ARE MOLDED IN BLACK. *TW |
| 46371 | BULLETIN SUPERSEDES TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 08-16-95, DATED APR. 14, 1995. IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR **REPEATEDLY** PRESSES AND RELEASES THE SET BUTTON WITH THEIR FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR (A 'LIFT FOOT SET' TO BEGIN SPEED CONTROL OPERATION), THE VEHICLE MAY ACCELERATE AND EXCEED THE DESIRED SET SPEED BY UP TO 5 MPH (8 KM/H) AND THEN DECELERATE TO LESS THAN THE DESIRED SET SPEED BEFORE FINALLY ACHIEVING THE DESIRED SET SPEED. |
| 39987 | SLIGHT FRONT BRAKE LEAD/DRIFT. *TW |
| 39531 | IMPROVED FUEL PUMP. *TW |
| 37863 | OIL LEAK DIAGNOSIS OF THE REAR MAIN BEARING AREA. *TW |
| 37858 | PCM NOT PROPERLY DISENGAGING A/C CLUTCH VIA THE RELAY ALSO THE PCM MAY NOT ENERGIZE THE A/C CLUTCH RELAY. *TW |
| 10005298 | FRAME CRACKING. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ROLLAWAY IN REVERSE WHEN PARKED
INADVERTENT MOVEMENT OF SHIFTER
STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation