Safety ratings
1994 Dodge Dakota Regular Cab
- Lane departure warningNo
- Forward collision warningNo
- Electronic stability controlNo
Crash test videos & photos
Crash test #1NHTSA test 2022
Full test report (PDF) ↗Recalls (4)
- EXTERIOR LIGHTINGCampaign 06E049000 · 24/05/2006
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.
- STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BARCampaign 95V088000 · 12/05/1995
WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE EXTRA KEYS ON A VEHICLE OPERATOR'S KEY RING CAN BECOME TEMPORARILY LODGED IN THE SCREW ACCESS HOLES IN THE BACK COVER OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN HAMPER THE STEERING WHEEL RETURN ORCAUSE THE IGNITION TO BE TURNED OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK COVER WITH A REDESIGNED COVER.
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTINGCampaign 94V005000 · 12/01/1994
TWO FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP ATTACHING STUDS WERE NOT ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED, WHICH COULD CAUSE ONE OR BOTH OF THE STRAP(S) TO SEPARATE, MISLOCATING THE FUEL TANKS OR ALLOW COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE FUEL TANK FROM THE VEHICLE.
Risk: IN EITHER CASE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP(S) FAILURE RESULTS IN FUEL LEAKAGE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: THE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP ATTACHING STUDS WILL BE PROPERLY TIGHTENED.
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARMCampaign 94V043000 · 09/03/1994
SOME UPPER CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BOLTS CAN FAIL DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT. THE BOLTS ARE TOO SOFT TO WITHSTAND THE STRESSES IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND CAN BREAK.
Risk: IF THE ATTACHING BOLTS OF THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BREAK, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: REPLACE THE UPPER CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BOLTS.
Owner complaints
Most-reported areas
- POWER TRAIN26
- SERVICE BRAKES26
- HYDRAULIC26
- AIR BAGS24
- STEERING20
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20
- FUEL SYSTEM14
- SEATS13
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)
These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.
- 12/30/1994· STRUCTURE
LEFT DOOR SEAL FAILED. *AK
- 12/29/1998· POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS NOISY,NOT SHIFTING PAINT, ENGINE PROBLEMS
- 12/29/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FAILURE ON THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. TT
- 12/28/1994· AIR BAGSCrash
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURY. *AK
- 12/26/1995· TIRES
208-772-1261: ABS: FRONT BRAKES SEEM TO BE STOPPING VEHICLE; BACK BRAKES NOT BEING USED; PULSATES; TIRES WORN ON FRONT;FRONT WHEEL LOCK UP;BRAKES WORN HEAVILY.
- 12/21/1994· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
- 12/21/1994· POWER TRAIN
OVERDRIVE/TRANSMISSION HOUSING IS TOO SMALL FOR OVERDRIVE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. *SKD
- 12/19/1995· SUSPENSION
FRONT END SHIMMYING DUE TO TRACK BAR WHICH HAD 3/8 INCH PLAY IN THE BALL JOINT END. *SD
- 12/19/1994· STEERING
KEY JAMMED IN STEERING COLUMN/SHUTTING IGNITION OFF DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH BEING TOO CLOSELY SITUATE TO WHEEL PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS (94V-145). *AK
- 12/18/2004· SUSPENSION,EQUIPMENT
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND LOWER BALL JOINT ON RIGHT SIDE OF TRUCK BROKE . DID NOT WRECK. WHEEL FELL OFF OF TRUCK ALONG WITH AXLE END, BRAKE ROTOR AND CALIPER. SPINDLE ALSO BROKE . I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED SPINDLE AND AXLE BUT HAVE NOT YET PUT ALL BACK TOGETHER BECAUSE IM TRYING TO SEE IF MY TRUCK SHOULD BE IN WITH THIS BIG RECALL ON DAKOTAS AND DURANGOS. *JB
- 12/16/1997· SUSPENSION,EQUIPMENT
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES FRONT END NOISE. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. *AK
- 12/16/1994· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES FAILED 3 TIMES. *AK
- 12/15/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
- 12/15/1994· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES FAILED TWICE. *AK
- 12/14/1994· POWER TRAIN
DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS FAILED. *AK
- 12/13/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
W/ABS BRAKES, REAR BRAKES DON'T APPEAR TO ACTIVATE RESULTING IN SKIDDING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
- 12/10/2003· SEATSCrash
WHILE WAITING AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL . *AK
- 12/10/2003· SEATSCrash
WHILE WAITING AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. *AK
- 12/08/1997· SEATS
DRIVER'S SIDE RECLINER BOLTS BROKE CAUSING CONSUMER TO FALL BACKWARD IN THE SEAT.
- 12/05/1994· SEATS
HEADREST ADJUSTER FAILS TO LOCK IN PLACE. *AK
- 12/02/2002· STRUCTURE
NO SUMMARY. DT
- 12/01/2004· AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SRS AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO WORK WHEN APPLIED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *TC
- 12/01/1995· POWER TRAIN
SPEEDOMETER PINION UNDERSIZED, CAUSING SPEEDOMETER TO REGISTER WRONG SPEED, AND ODOMETER TO REGISTER INCORRECT MILEAGE.
- 11/30/1994· STEERING
STEERING WHEEL BACK COVER PLUGS FAILED. *AK
- 11/27/1996· STEERING
RECALL NO-94V145000, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 11-1-96 AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PLUGS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. *AK
- 11/25/1997· SEAT BELTS
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG IN ACCIDENT.
- 11/25/1997· AIR BAGS
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING VEHICLE COLLISION.
- 11/23/1994· STEERING
OPEN GROOVE ON STEERING COLUMN CATCHES DANGLING KEYS ON KEYRING, SWITCHING VEHICLE IGNITION OFF. *TW
- 11/19/2006· EXTERIOR LIGHTING
NIGHT DRIVING, SMELLED ELECTRICAL SMOKE IN CAB. HEADLAMPS WENT OFF THEN CAME BACK ON AFTER 5 TO 10 SECONDS. MOVED HEADLAMP SWITCH IN AND OUT BUT CONDITION STILL PERSISTED. LUCKILY I WAS LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM HOME ON DIVIDED HWY WITH NO TRAFFIC. IF LAMP SWITCH IS OFF THEN THERE IS NO SMELL OF ELECTRICAL SMOKE. WHEN LAMP SWITCH IS IN EITHER THE PARKING OR THE HEADLAMP POSITION, CAN SMELL ELECTRICAL SMOKE AND LIGHT WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS SECOND FAILURE IN 2 YEARS. LAMP SWITCH FAILED. *JB
- 11/19/2002· EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SEVERAL MONTHS TO A YEAR, A MODULE IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS MODULE CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS HIGH/LOW BEAM, TURN SIGNAL, 4-WAY FLASHER AND WIPER MOTION. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT WHILE IN USE FOLLOWING THE OTHER COMPONENTS FAILING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS TS
- 11/17/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN NOISE. REPAIR SHOP QUOTE IS $450 TO REPLACE. TSB 9-7-97 COVERS THIS--NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: SB052529. SHOULD I EXPECT A DODGE DEALER TO MAKE THIS REPAIR AT NO COST?
- 11/16/1994· STEERING
TWO STEERING WHEEL BACK COVER PLUGS FAILED. *SKD
- 11/13/2006· AIR BAGSCrash
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN DRIVER SIDE COLLISION. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS PRE-IMPACT BRAKING. THE OCCUPANT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUFFERED OF HYPERTHERMIA DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED.
- 11/13/1994· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
AIR INTAKE SYSTEM MOTOR FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HESITATE WHEN COLD OR STARTING FROM STOPPED POSITION. *SKD
- 11/13/1994· STEERING
STEERING WHEEL BACK COVER PLUG FAILED PRIOR TO MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK
- 11/12/1995· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE FAILED. *SD
- 11/11/1994· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
COMPUTER FAILURE. *AK
- 11/10/1998· SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK. CONSUMER IS AFRAID IF IN AN ACCIDENT THEY WILL NOT HOLD HIM. RETRACT MECHANISM FOR SEAT BELTS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO RETRACT THE SEAT BELT WHEN REMOVED. * AK *ML
- 11/09/1994· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE OVERRIDE SWITCH FAILED. *AK
- 11/08/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RECALL #627 MODIFIED BY CARL GREGORY CHRYSLER HAS FAILED RESULTING IN KEY LODGING/LOCKING STEERING COLUMN. DRIVER HAS LOST CONTROL DUE TO FAILURES. TT
- 11/07/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash
CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20MPH COMING OFF A RAMP INTO SURFACE STREET, ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAD TO STOP, BUT CONSUMERS VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, AND HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. *AK *SLC
- 11/07/1996· SEAT BELTS
THE PLASTIC PROTECTIVE HOUSING ON SEAT BELT LOCKING /UNLOCKING MECHANISM BROKE AND FELL OFF, BELT WOULD BOT RELEASE/UNLOCK. *AK
- 11/04/1994· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FRONT/REAR BRAKES LOCK UP. *AK
- 10/31/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FRONT DISC BRAKE CALIPERS DON'T RELEASE PROPERLY CAUSING BRAKE OVERHEATING, REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY, VIOLENT SHAKING UPON BRAKE APPLICATION AND A NEAR FIRE. BRAKE SERVICE HAS BEEN NEEDED EVERY 20,000 TO 25,000 MILES.
- 10/28/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS SHORTED, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY 4 TIMES.
- 10/26/2010· AIR BAGS
DRIVING DOWN ROAD, ABOUT TO TURN RIGHT, BUT AIRBAG DEPLOYED BEFORE I WAS OFF THE MAIN ROAD. HAD TO STOP IMMEDIATELY. HAD SLOWED DOWN TO APP. 10 MPH TO MAKE TURN. ROAD CLEAR. HAD MADE THIS TURN MANY TIMES BEFORE (ON WAY TO WORK). *TR
- 10/25/1996· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS WITH NO WARNING DUE TO CRANKSHAFT/FUEL PUM FAILURES, STEERING WHEEL BACK COVER PLUG MALFUNCTIONED PRIOR TO RECALL (94V-145). *AK
- 10/25/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash
ABS: NOTICED NOISE IN BRAKE SYSTEM, FOLLOWING DAY, APPLIED BRAKES; BRAKE CALIPER STUCK RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT; DISC WORN DOWN TO METAL, DAMAGED INSIDE ROTOR.
- 10/21/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PROPORTIONAL VALVE IS DEFECTIVE. UNABLE TO GET PARTS ON A TIMELY BASIS, DEALER. *AK
- 10/20/1998· AIR BAGSCrash
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING REAR END COLLISION RESULTED IN DRIVER SUSTAINING INJURIES. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK