The 1993 Dodge Dakota has 2 safety recalls and 134 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (24 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints134filed by owners
Crashes · fires15 · 6reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths16 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Exterior lighting
NHTSA recall 06E049000 · May 24, 2006 · 27,176 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
NHTSA recall 93V082000 · May 11, 1993 · 2,000 vehicles
Problem: SOME OF THE ABS EQUIPPED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN UNDERSIZED BRAKE RETURN CHECK VALVE. IN INCIDENTS WHERE HARD BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT IS APPLIED ON LOW FRICTION ROAD SURFACES, LIKE RAIN COVERED STREETS, THE VALVES MAY FAIL, CAUSING THE ABS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS CREATES EXCESS BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND MAY CAUSE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON.
Risk: LACK OF FRONT WHEEL ABS COULD CAUSE THE FRONT WHEELBRAKES TO LOCK, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: REPLACE THE RETURN CHECK VALVE WITH THE CORRECT VALVE.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
1993 Dodge Dakota Regular Cab
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Dakota Pickup 2WD
22mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
Dakota Pickup 2WD
16mpg combined
City / highway
14 / 18 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel
Dakota Pickup 2WD
16mpg combined
City / highway
14 / 20 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.9 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel
Dakota Pickup 4WD
15mpg combined
City / highway
14 / 18 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.9 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel
Dakota Pickup 2WD
14mpg combined
City / highway
13 / 17 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
Dakota Pickup 4WD
14mpg combined
City / highway
13 / 17 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
Dakota Pickup 4WD
13mpg combined
City / highway
11 / 16 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
Dakota Cab Chassis 2WD
13mpg combined
City / highway
11 / 16 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
Dakota Cab Chassis 2WD
12mpg combined
City / highway
11 / 13 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,600/year to fuel
Dakota Cab Chassis 2WD
12mpg combined
City / highway
11 / 13 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.9 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,600/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc
24
4
0
4
—
Power train Automatic transmission; Clutch assembly
23
1
0
2
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline; Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor
15
0
3
1
—
Steering Rack and pinion; Steering wheel/handle bar
13
1
1
1
—
Structure Body; Frame and members
11
0
0
0
—
Electrical system Ignition › Switch; Wiring › Front underhood
9
0
4
0
—
Unknown or other
9
0
0
0
—
Suspension Front; Front › Control arm
8
1
0
0
—
Seat belts Front › Retractor; Front › Webbing
8
0
0
0
—
Seats Front assembly › Recliner
7
4
0
6
—
Fuel system, gasoline Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; Delivery
7
0
0
0
—
Visibility Defroster/defogger/hvac system; Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core
5
0
2
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Sep 6, 2017 · 3 milesVisibility/wiper 1993 DODGE DAKOTA HIGH BEAM FLASHING ON AND OFF
Jun 30, 2014 · 160,000 milesElectrical system › Ignition › Switch TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Jul 3, 2007 · 105,618 miles · crashTires TL*THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 1993 DODGE DAKOTA WITH FIRESTONE FIREHAWK ATX TIRES. HE STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, SHE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE BLOWOUT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FALL INTO A DITCH; IN ADDITION, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,618 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,621.
Oct 26, 2004 · 32,000 milesSuspension › Front › Control arm › Upper ball joint CONSUMER HAD A 1993 DODGE DAKOTA AND A NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE. OWNER HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS AFTER 32,000 MI. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE THAT WAS BEING HEARD WAS NORMAL. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Aug 5, 2004 · 81,000 milesLatches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch WHILE DRIVING, THE HOOD BLEW INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CLAIM. *JB
Oct 4, 1999 · 80,000 milesVisibility VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND CARED FOR. LARGE CHUCKS OF PAINT PEELING FROM HOOD MOMENTARILY DISTRACT OR STARTLE DRIVER AND HAVE CAUSED SITUATIONS WHERE AN ACCIDENT WAS JUST BARELY AVOIDED. THE LAST INCIDENT A LARGE SHEET OF THE PAINT COVERED THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING THE OPERATOR'S VIEW DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO AVOID COLLISION BY HITTING BRAKES AND TURNING ONTO THE ROADSIDE GRASS, AFTER JUMPING CURB AND NARROWLY MISSING A GUARD RAIL DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK WAS A BROKEN BALL JOINT AND A BENT CONTROL ARM. IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE HAD THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED! THE AFFECTED PAINT HAS BEEN SANDED AND PRIMED BUT OTHER SPOTS CONTINUE TO PEEL UP .*AK
Sep 27, 2000 · 68,000 miles · 1 injuryEngine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor THE CONSUMER WORKED FOR A GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND WAS FORCED TO DRIVE A DECOMMISSIONED VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD SEPARATED FROM THE MUFFLER. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED PERMANENT HEARING DAMAGE DO TO THE EXPLOSION. *LA
Apr 1, 1996 · 60,000 milesPower train › Automatic transmission I BOUGHT A USED 1993 DODGE DAKATO IN APRIL OF 96, AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE PAINT WAS ALREADY FLAKING OFF IN LARGE PIECES(BLUE/SILVER), AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REBUILT ONCE(60,000 MILES). SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE ALL OF THE PAINT IS GONE OFF THE HOOD AND ROOF, THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REBUILT AGAIN($1803.00), AND I REPLACED THE OVERHEAD CAM SENSOR 2X WITHIN 10 DAYS.I CONTACTED DODGE ABOUT THE PAINT FLAKING AND THEY OFFERED NO HELP.*AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
DP03002 · opened May 7, 2003 · closed Jul 22, 2003STEERING COLUMN SEPARATION MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR…