1998 Dodge Dakota Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 1998 Dodge Dakota, and owners have filed 545 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

safety recalls

545

owner complaints to NHTSA

43 / 1

complaints citing a crash / fire

13–20

MPG combined (EPA)

5 safety recalls for the 1998 Dodge Dakota

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

Air bags

NHTSA 01V153000 Reported May 8, 2001 216,100 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the RAM pickup trucks were built at the warren assembly plant ("s" in the 11th VIN position) from may 16, 2000 through october 23, 2000; st. Louis north assembly plant ("j" in the 11th VIN…

Remedy: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly. Owner notification began june 18, 2001. Also some 1997-200 model year vehicles that, according to warranty records, have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed,…
Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

NHTSA 00V193000 Reported July 17, 2000 40,000 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

Vehicle description: pickup trucks built with 2.5l engines. Some vehicles may have been built with inadequate clearance between the left front brake tube and the power steering hose.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake tube and power steering hose for wear. If wear is evident, the brake tube and/or power steering hose will be replaced. A power steering standoff bracket will be installed on all vehicles…
Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

NHTSA 00V198000 Reported July 17, 2000 437,000 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Some vehicles may have been built with inadequate clearance between the rear axle vent hose and the brake hose.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear brake hose for evidence of wear. Worn brake hoses will be replaced. The rear vent hose will be shortened by 3 inches and a clip will be installed to assure clearance between the axle vent…
Structure

NHTSA 98V208000 Reported September 8, 1998 12,400 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. These vehicles may have been built with bolts that were not properly hardened. The bolts were used to attach the cab and the core support to the frame.

Remedy: Dealers will replace these bolts with properly hardened bolts.
Service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module and hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

NHTSA 97V170000 Reported October 7, 1997 7,500 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks (2 wheel drive only). The front brake hoses or anti-lock brake system (ABS) sensor wire may be abraded at the front wheels by contact with a front wheelhouse splash shield.

Remedy: Dealers will trim the front wheelhouse splash shields and the brake hoses and ABS sensor wires will be inspected. If evidence of abrasion is found on any hose or ABS wire, they will be replaced.

545 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1998 Dodge Dakota have filed 545 complaints with NHTSA; 43 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 29 injuries and 6 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 71,066 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 122 filed that year.

Most-reported components

Suspension: upper ball joint137
Suspension: lower ball joint105
Power train: automatic transmission33
Air bags: frontal23
Engine and engine cooling: gasoline23
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip19
Suspension: front18
Tires15

What owners are reporting

“The contact owned a 1998 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 25 MPH and attempting to slow the vehicle with the brake pedal depressed all the way to the floorboard,”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 10, 2023 · Service brakes, hydraulic

“1 Safety recall found,Reprogram Pcm and inspect Catalytic Converter.I never got a recall notice in the mail just happen to go on line and find it.My engine light,Anti -brake light and emergency light”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 26, 2022 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1998 Dodge Dakota Pickup (Dakota Pickup 2WD, Dakota Pickup 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined	13–20 mpg
City / Highway	12–18 / 16–23
Fuel	Regular
EPA class	Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engine	4/6/8 cyl, 2.5/3.9/5.2/5.9 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 1998 Dodge Dakota

How do I know if my 1998 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. 5 campaigns currently list the 1998 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 00V193000).

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.