10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 103,489 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The nut came off the pinion
- Nearket, TN, USA
I got the '99 Dakota about 7 months ago and liked it drove pretty good even through the week when it was all single digits no problem. Then once it started to warm up into the mid to high teens and up to then 60S and 70 it would shake at least twice a week. It always seemed to start at about 45 then once the engine warmed up it would stop. That stopped now that its in the 80S and 90S. Now I barely have power steering and looking at it, it seems to be the intermediate steering column shaft which looking at all the complaints I'm surprised you haven't looked into it for it to be recalled by now along with the tie rods, ball joints, etc. These things seem to be falling apart at the front. I just hope nobody dies before this is fixed.
- Ulster, PA, USA
Tsb#030299A, sounds like my truck is going to fall apart.
- Albany, KY, USA
Upon starting my 1999 Dodge Dakota, it immediately went full throttle and lurched forward, brakes would not hold the vehicle. Was placed in reverse and vehicle immediately went backwards in full throttle. Still unable to stop the vehicle with brakes, hit an oak tree which totally wrecked the truck. Note: The transmission was still in "park" when truck went forward. Things happened so fast that my wife, who was driving the truck, did not think to turn off the ignition.
- Cabot, AR, USA
1999 Dodge Dakota sport transmission failure at 150,000mi and air cond. Gone
- Saranac, MI, USA
My son escaped danger when the transmission/torque converter of his 1999 Dodge Dakota went out on an interstate highway. After replacing that and heading back home, his U joints and wheel bearings went out almost causing another wreck. These were all repaired. So far $3000 in repairs in a month. Then the oil pressure dropped to zero as he was driving. Now the oil pump needs replaced. Along with the tie end rods, the timing chain, and the serpentine. He'd already had the total brake system replaced this summer. Having all the receipts showing regular oil changes, the warranty company refuses to pay for the oil pump because of some sludge in the pump. Now I find from researching on the computer that this is a very common problem in durangos and Dakotas. We've put $5000 in this truck in less than one month. The manufacturer needs to admit the flaws in this vehicle. They have some responsibility here. We are just glad he was not injured or killed. But we've put over $5000 in a '99 vehicle - which is unfair when the problems are related to the design and manufacture of the vehicle.
- Logansport, IN, USA
Dodge Dakota 1999 numerous problems with vehicle ball joint and steering mechanisms. There were also problems with the rear end, transmission, engine malfunction lights, poor engine performance which consisted of hesitation and loss of power especially when under a load-going up and hill and seemed to get worse as the gas level in the tank lowered, hard abrupt shifting when in reverse and park to reverse, loud rubbing which was intermittent when making left turns and when stopping, the front would shake, the four wheel drive light was not visible on the dash when activated and would only show when the all wheel drive was activated, and there was a wobble, flexing and or vibration that would be present when braking along with a loose feeling or wobble when turning the front wheels.
- Naugatuck, CT, USA
There was a noise from the rear end of the vehicle. It was determined that the rear end bolts and other components came apart. The dealer replaced the gears and differential. The ABS system also failed.
- Newtonville, MA, USA
- Lansing, MI, USA