1988 DODGE DAKOTA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
65
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1988 DODGE DAKOTA
The 1988 DODGE DAKOTA has received a total of 65 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION), WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL). The most commonly reported problems involve the Steeringrack And Pinion (22 complaints), Power Trainautomatic Transmission (6 complaints), and Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline (3 complaints).
Recalls for the 1988 DODGE DAKOTA
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 1988 DODGE DAKOTA, potentially affecting up to 145,200 vehicles.
Recall 96V094000 — STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
| 140,000 vehicles affected
Defect: THE FRAME CAN CRACK AT THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT AND/OR THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS CAN FRACTURE.
Consequence: THE STEERING GEAR CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD REINFORCEMENTS TO THE FRAME AND REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS. IF THE FRAME IS ALREADY CRACKED, THE STEERING GEAR WELD NUTS WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.
View full details →Recall 88V074000 — WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
| 1,700 vehicles affected
Defect: MACHINING ERROR IN LOCATING WHEEL STUD HOLES MAY PREVENT FULL SEATING OF BRAKE DRUM TO SHAFT FLANGE.
Consequence: WHEEL STUDS COULD LOOSEN, ALLOWING WHEEL TO SEPARATEFROM THE TRUCK.
Remedy: REPLACE AXLE SHAFTS AS NECESSARY.
View full details →Recall 87V194000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
| 3,500 vehicles affected
Defect: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY CONTAIN A PARK SPRAG ROD ASSEMBLY THAT MAY STICK IN THE TOOTH BUTT UNENGAGED POSITION.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL WITH THEGEAR SHIFT LEVER IN PARK POSITION.
Remedy: ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES WILL HAVE THE PARK SPRAG ROD ASSEMBLIES REPLACED.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1988 DODGE DAKOTA
65 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1988 DODGE DAKOTA. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
RE: STEERING RECALL AS ISSUED... NHTSA ACTION # PE96003 FOR DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLE. RECALL WAS FOR STEERING BOX "OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION" STEERING. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD A ISSUE WITH A WANDERING VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR MANY YEARS. DEALER COULD NEVER FIND A PROBLEM. I FOUND THE STEERING RACK AND PINION MOUNTING POINTS STRESS FRACTURED, WELD NUT MOUNTS PULLED AWAY. VISUAL CRACKING AROUND AREA AT THE BACK OF THE CROSS MEMBER. DODGE SAID RECALL WAS ONLY FOR THE STEERING GEAR BOX MOUNTS. WHY WAS THE RACK AND PINION MOUNTS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL? ENTIRE RACK ASSEMBLY WAS LOOSE ALL THESE YEARS BECAUSE OF A "DEFECT IN WELDING" FROM THE FACTORY. *TR
DECORATIVE END COVERS CAME OFF OF WHEEL NUT. WHEEL NUT CATCH 1/2 " OF THE END OF LUG BOLTS. *BF *TC
DECORATIVE END COVERS CAME OFF OF WHEEL NUT. WHEEL NUT CATCH 1/2 " OF THE END OF LUG BOLTS. *BF *TC
THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT DESCRIBED IN RECALL RECALL NUMBER 88 V 074 (WHEEL, LUGS, NUTS). THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN EXHAUST LEAK. *NLM
Safety Rating for the 1988 DODGE DAKOTA
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1988 DODGE DAKOTA in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1988 DODGE DAKOTA
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1988 DODGE DAKOTA
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the DODGE DAKOTA
- 1985 DODGE DAKOTA — 3 complaints
- 1986 DODGE DAKOTA — 1 complaint
- 1987 DODGE DAKOTA — 21 complaints
- 1988 DODGE DAKOTA (current)
- 1989 DODGE DAKOTA — 88 complaints
- 1990 DODGE DAKOTA — 88 complaints
- 1991 DODGE DAKOTA — 161 complaints
- 1992 DODGE DAKOTA — 314 complaints
- 1993 DODGE DAKOTA — 159 complaints
Other DODGE Models
- DODGE DURANGO — 19,139 total complaints
- DODGE GRAND CARAVAN — 18,729 total complaints
- DODGE RAM 1500 — 15,420 total complaints
- DODGE CARAVAN — 14,266 total complaints
- DODGE CHARGER — 8,114 total complaints
- DODGE RAM 2500 — 8,092 total complaints
- DODGE INTREPID — 8,078 total complaints
- DODGE JOURNEY — 7,849 total complaints