RecallMyCar

2001 Dodge Dakota Recalls, Complaints & Specs

7 safety recalls list the 2001 Dodge Dakota, and owners have filed 678 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

7
safety recalls
678
owner complaints to NHTSA
44 / 11
complaints citing a crash / fire
13–20
MPG combined (EPA)

7 safety recalls for the 2001 Dodge Dakota

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

  1. Column shift (power train)

    NHTSA 07V555000 Reported 576,418 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER LLC

    On certain van and pickup trucks equipped with automatic transmissions, the ignition/park shift interlock system may become inoperative. This can allow the shifter to be moved out of the "park" position with the ignition key removed (or in the "lock" position). This can also allow the ignition key to be removed when the shifter has not…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the gearshift blocker and bracket assembly free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during january 2008. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

  2. Suspension: upper ball joint

    NHTSA 04V596000 Reported 592,707 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    On certain sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks equipped with four-wheel drive (4x4), if moisture leaks into the front suspension upper ball joint, evacuation of the lubricant and corrosion of the joint may cause the joint to wear over an extended period of time. This could cause a clunking noise in the front suspension, which may…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front suspension upper ball joints. This safety improvement campaign began on december 21, 2004. Owners can contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

  3. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 03V505000 Reported 35,692 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    On certain minivans and 4x2 pickup trucks, the vehicle certification label may have gross axle weight ratings (gawr) that exceed the maximum tire load capacity as defined in federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with vehicle certification label overlays containing corrected information relative to vehicle gawr and tire size. Owner notification began march 1, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler…

  4. Electrical system: wiring

    NHTSA 03V389000 Reported 50,082 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    On certain pickup trucks equipped with manual transmissions, the headlamp and dash wiring harness may be chafed by the actuation of the clutch pedal. This could result in abnormal operation of the wipers, turn signals, horn or lighting systems.

    Remedy: Dealers will reroute the wire harness and repair the harness if necessary. Owner notification began november 3, 2003. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-992-1997.

  5. Anchorage (seat belts)

    NHTSA 01V233000 Reported 104,252 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    Vehicle description: quad cab pickup trucks. The front outboard lower seat belt anchor bolts may not be tightened correctly.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driver and passenger side lower seat belt anchor bolts and tighten to specification. Owner notification began july 19, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed…

  6. Column shift (power train)

    NHTSA 01V077000 Reported 85,400 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    Vehicle description: light duty trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive. The electric shift transfer case may not fully engage into gear when the operator moves the transfer case selector switch.

    Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the transfer case control module. Owner notification began april 9, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy…

  7. Child seat

    NHTSA 00V366000 Reported 1,211,756 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." some of the owner's manuals for these vehicles are missing instructions that provide a step-by-step procedure, including diagrams, for properly attaching a…

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with an addendum to the owner's manuals.

678 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2001 Dodge Dakota have filed 678 complaints with NHTSA; 44 describe a crash and 11 describe a fire. Reports cite 27 injuries and 2 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 61,343 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 194 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V366000 (Child Seat); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dea”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 14, 2025 · Child seat

“My 2001 Dodge Dakota has a faulty SKIM system. The vehicle goes into No-Start/Stall while driving down the road. I have had it at a dealership and they do not have technical experience with these olde”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 12, 2025 · Fuel/propulsion system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2001 Dodge Dakota Pickup (Dakota Pickup 2WD, Dakota Pickup 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined13–20 mpg
City / Highway11–17 / 15–23
FuelRegular
EPA classStandard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engine4/6/8 cyl, 2.5/3.9/4.7/5.9 L
TransmissionAutomatic 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 yearRecallsComplaints
1985 Dodge Dakota02
1986 Dodge Dakota01
1987 Dodge Dakota220
1988 Dodge Dakota355
1989 Dodge Dakota363
1990 Dodge Dakota363
1991 Dodge Dakota4128
1992 Dodge Dakota1216
1993 Dodge Dakota1134
1994 Dodge Dakota3166
1995 Dodge Dakota0208
1996 Dodge Dakota1189
1997 Dodge Dakota5446
1998 Dodge Dakota5545
1999 Dodge Dakota4641
2000 Dodge Dakota5806
2001 Dodge Dakota7678
2002 Dodge Dakota5678
2003 Dodge Dakota4296
2004 Dodge Dakota1206
2005 Dodge Dakota6470
2006 Dodge Dakota5285
2007 Dodge Dakota4145
2008 Dodge Dakota291
2009 Dodge Dakota518
2010 Dodge Dakota735
2011 Dodge Dakota644

Checking a specific 2001 Dodge Dakota

How do I know if my 2001 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. 7 campaigns currently list the 2001 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 00V366000).

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

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.