1990 Dodge Dakota Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1990 Dodge Dakota, and owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

safety recalls

owner complaints to NHTSA

5 / 0

complaints citing a crash / fire

11–13

MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 1990 Dodge Dakota

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)

NHTSA 01V232000 Reported July 6, 2001 4,000 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

Vehicle description: 4x2 pickup truck convertibles equipped with v6 engines (built from november 1988 - june 1990) and 4x2 pickup trucks equipped with the shelby package (built october 1988 - june 1989). The frame can crack at the steering gear attachment and/or the steering gear mounting bolts can fracture.

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. Owner notification began august 27, 2001.…
Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)

NHTSA 96V094000 Reported June 13, 1996 140,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

The frame can crack at the steering gear attachment and/or the steering gear mounting bolts can fracture.

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.
Engine (engine and engine cooling)

NHTSA 89V237000 Reported December 27, 1989 634,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

The engine valve cover gasket may dislocate and allow an engine oil leak at the gasket.

Remedy: Replace gasket cover with revised cover, and rtv sealant will be applied in place of a gasket.

63 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1990 Dodge Dakota have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 19 filed that year.

Most-reported components

Steering: rack and pinion17
Power train: automatic transmission7
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)5
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip4
Power train: park/neutral start interlock switch3
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system2
Engine and engine cooling: radiator assembly2
Equipment: air conditioner2

What owners are reporting

“Dodge ignition system locked up without warning.*mr *jb”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 14, 2005 · Electrical system

“First tire separation discovered by csaa auto service during routine maintenance, on 11/07/01. Second and third tread separation were during vacation, when driving down highway, at 50mph, the tires st”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 20, 2002 · Tires

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1990 Dodge Dakota Cab Chassis (Dakota Cab Chassis 2WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined	11–13 mpg
City / Highway	11 / 11–16
Fuel	Regular
EPA class	Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD
Engine	6 cyl, 3.9 L
Transmission	Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Dodge Dakota model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Dodge Dakota model year in NHTSA's database.

Model year	Recalls	Complaints
1985 Dodge Dakota	0	2
1986 Dodge Dakota	0	1
1987 Dodge Dakota	2	20
1988 Dodge Dakota	3	55
1989 Dodge Dakota	3	63
1990 Dodge Dakota	3	63
1991 Dodge Dakota	4	128
1992 Dodge Dakota	1	216
1993 Dodge Dakota	1	134
1994 Dodge Dakota	3	166
1995 Dodge Dakota	0	208
1996 Dodge Dakota	1	189
1997 Dodge Dakota	5	446
1998 Dodge Dakota	5	545
1999 Dodge Dakota	4	641
2000 Dodge Dakota	5	806
2001 Dodge Dakota	7	678
2002 Dodge Dakota	5	678
2003 Dodge Dakota	4	296
2004 Dodge Dakota	1	206
2005 Dodge Dakota	6	470
2006 Dodge Dakota	5	285
2007 Dodge Dakota	4	145
2008 Dodge Dakota	2	91
2009 Dodge Dakota	5	18
2010 Dodge Dakota	7	35
2011 Dodge Dakota	6	44

Checking a specific 1990 Dodge Dakota

How do I know if my 1990 Dodge Dakota has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1990 Dodge Dakota; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Dodge dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 01V232000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Dodge models

Durango13,770 complaints
Grand Caravan13,508 complaints
RAM 150012,416 complaints
Caravan10,526 complaints
RAM 25006,443 complaints
Intrepid6,228 complaints
Charger5,741 complaints
Journey5,290 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.