2008 Dodge Dakota Problems and Recalls (90 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2008 Dodge Dakota is Airbags (30% of 90 owner reports). There are 2 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Airbags — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 90 complaints · 2 recalls

What problems show up on the 2008 Dodge Dakota?

27 of 90 filings named Airbags (30% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Steering (12 reports).

There are 2 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2007 has 142 reports on file; this year has 90. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2008 Dodge Dakota

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 2 campaigns on file below.
  2. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  3. Steering. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight.
  4. Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Airbags. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Airbags 27 complaints · 30.0% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 5
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 7
  • Deaths 0
All Dodge Dakota years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Airbags (AIR BAGS) appears in 27 of 90 owner complaints (30.0%) in this vehicle snapshot. Airbags (AIR BAGS): 27 complaints, 30.0% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 2 crash reports 27 · 30.0% Steering (STEERING): 12 complaints, 13.3% of reports Steering (STEERING) 12 · 13.3% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 8 complaints, 8.9% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 8 · 8.9% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 7 complaints, 7.8% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 7 · 7.8% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 7 complaints, 7.8% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 7 · 7.8% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 5 complaints, 5.6% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 fire reports 5 · 5.6% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 5 complaints, 5.6% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 5 · 5.6% Engine (ENGINE): 3 complaints, 3.3% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 crash reports 3 · 3.3% Tires (TIRES): 2 complaints, 2.2% of reports Tires (TIRES) 2 · 2.2% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 20 complaints, 22.2% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 2 crash reports 20 · 22.2% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 27 30.0% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 12 13.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 8 8.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 7 7.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 7 7.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 5 5.6% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 5 5.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 3 3.3% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Tires (TIRES) 2 2.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 20 22.2% 2 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2008; the first recall shown was reported in May 2015. 2008-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2009-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2011-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2013-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2014-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2015-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2015-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2016-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2016-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2017-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 2008 Sep 2021 Recall campaign 15V313000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V313000 Recall campaign 16V352000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V352000 Investigation EA21002 ● Investigation EA21002
  • Campaign 15V313000 was reported 1,813 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 16V352000 was reported 2,176 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2008-Q1 Owner reports 2
2008-Q3 Owner reports 4
2009-Q3 Owner reports 1
2010-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q3 Owner reports 2
2011-Q1 Owner reports 1
2011-Q2 Owner reports 2
2011-Q3 Owner reports 3
2011-Q4 Owner reports 1
2012-Q1 Owner reports 2
2012-Q3 Owner reports 2
2012-Q4 Owner reports 1
2013-Q1 Owner reports 1
2013-Q2 Owner reports 1
2013-Q3 Owner reports 3
2013-Q4 Owner reports 1
2014-Q2 Owner reports 1
2014-Q3 Owner reports 5
2014-Q4 Owner reports 5
2015-Q2 Owner reports 2
2015-Q3 Owner reports 10
2015-Q4 Owner reports 5
2016-Q1 Owner reports 3
2016-Q2 Owner reports 2
2016-Q3 Owner reports 5
2016-Q4 Owner reports 5
2017-Q1 Owner reports 8
2017-Q2 Owner reports 2
2017-Q3 Owner reports 1
2017-Q4 Owner reports 2
2018-Q1 Owner reports 1
2018-Q3 Owner reports 1
2019-Q2 Owner reports 2
2020-Q4 Owner reports 1
2021-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 15V313000
Recall campaign 1 16V352000
Defect investigation 1 EA21002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (2)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags.

  1. Recall campaign 15V313000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for Chrylser on June 8, 2015. The recall for Mitsubishi started on June 24, 2015. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-7820. Chrysler's number for this recall is R25. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V817 in its entirety. Vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 16V352000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 90 complaints · page 1 of 4
2021-03-24Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11404762
CrashFireInjuryDeath
EXTENDED CAB DOORS WILL NOT OPEN WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCESS TIRE CHANGING TOOLS. LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, I'VE DISCOVERED THIS HAPPENS TO MANY DODGE DAKOTA EXTENDED CAB TRUCKS. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
2020-11-15Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11374709
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DRIVING IN OUR LANE ON A CITY STREET GOING 40 MPH AS A VEHICLE TRIED TO TURN INTO A GAS STATION, CROSSING OUR LANE RIGHT FRONT OF US AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE THE TURN. TO AVOID A FULL BLOWN HEAD ON COLLISION, I SWERVED AND WE HIT FRONT DRIVER SIDE VS FRONT DRIVER SIDE. GOING 40 MPH, AND THE SPEED OF THE OTHER VEHICLE AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THAT BEING MY MAIN CONCERN WHY THEY DID NOT DEPLOY WITH THE SPEED BEING CONSIDERED AND HITTING FRONT ON.
2019-05-22Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11209358
CrashFireInjuryDeath
RISK OF FIRE BY WRONG SIZED FUSED IN POWER OUTLET. I ALMOST BURN THE TRUCK CHARGING A DRONE (57W CHARGER) PARKING AND LEFT ALONE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, WHEN I BACK THE CABIN WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. FIRST I THINK IN THE LITHIUM BATTERIES CATCHING FIRE, BUT NO, THE SMOKE COMES FROM BEHIND THE DASH. QUICKLY I REMOVED THE 20A FUSE AND LEFT LIKE THIS. I ORDERED THE REPLACEMENT OUTLET AND TODAY WHEN I WAS TO CHANGE I FOUND THE WIRES COMPLETE MELTED. CHECK THE SERVICE MANUAL AND SHOWS A 18AWG WIRE PROTECTED WHIT 20A FUSE. PROBABLY A INHERITED FROM SOME OLD DODGE RAM WHICH ONE HAVE A 20A FUSE AND 14AWG WIRE. CHECKING SOME NEWS MODELS AND HAVE 18AWG TOO, SO IT COULD BE MORE VEHICLES IN POTENTIAL RISK OF FIRE. THE USER MANUAL, PRINTED, DIGITAL ONLINE, THE FUSE BOX COVER, SERVICE MANUAL, EVERYWHERE SAYS 20A FUSE FOR A THIN 18AWG WIRE.
2019-04-19Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11197318
CrashFireInjuryDeath
MY ENGINE TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. I CANNOT RESTART THE ENGINE UNTIL I HAVE STOPPED, SHIFTED TO PARK, AND CYCLED THE IGNITION TO OFF. THE ENGINE STALLING STARTED AS A LOW/SLOW IDLE CONDITION, AND NOW HAS ESCALATED TO CUTTING OFF AT FULL ACCELERATION WHILE MERGING INTO EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL DATES. I AM SELECTING THE DATE OF MY LAST REMEMBERED OCCASION.
2018-07-03Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11105422
CrashFireInjuryDeath
4.7L ENGINE BLEW HOLE THE SIZE OF A GOLF BALL IN BLOCK WHILE PASSING A SLOWER MOVING CAR ON A COUNTRY PAVED HIGHWAY MAXED AT ABOUT 60MPH. ENGINE HAS 72250 MILES, RUNNING 5W30 SYNTHETIC OIL. REGULAR HOME MAINTENANCE - OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES, OTHER MAINTENANCE AS IN USER MANUAL AT HOME. HAD NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO WARNING. TRUCK WELL MAINTAINED (LIKE NEW INSIDE AND OUT. I'M RETIRED AND TRUCK IS FOR PLEASURE USE.
2018-02-13Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11072651
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM TWO WHEEL DRIVE TO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL BRYAN CHRYSLER (3401 US-441, FRUITLAND PARK, FL 34731) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
2017-10-25Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11039871
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TAKATA RECALL
2017-10-03Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11031543
CrashFireInjuryDeath
REF MFR RECALL 870- NHTSA RECALL 00V-193. BRAKE LINE LEAKING FROM RUBBING AGAINST POWER STEERING HOSE. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER (M&L CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM, LEXINGTON NC) WAS TOLD THEY HAD THE BRAKE LINE BUT NOT PART #CBED6701 AND COULD NOT REPAIR UNDER RECALL BUT COULD SELL ME A BRAKE LINE, REFERRED ME TO CUSTOMER SERVICE @ [redacted]. THEY TOOK INFORMATION AND SAID THEY HAD TO CHECK WITH DEALER. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING AFTER 10 DAYS FROM DEALER OR CUSTOMER SERVICE. MEANWHILE I HAVE TO ADD BRAKE FLUID TO KEEP FROM LOSING MY BRAKES WHEN THEY HAVE THE BRAKE LINE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT SAY I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.
2017-08-18Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11016206
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THREE BROTHERS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP, LOCATED AT 125 MAIN ST, LINCOLN, MAINE 04457 ([redacted]) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT CHRYSLER WOULD ONLY ALLOW THE PARTS TO BE REQUESTED INDIVIDUALLY AND THAT THE CONTACT WAS WAITLISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 10/17/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED REPAIR WAS MADE ON AUG 28, 2017. *TR
2017-05-11Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 10984892
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2008 Dodge Dakota?

Owners named Airbags most often — 27 of 90 reports (30%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2008 Dodge Dakota?

NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2008 Dodge Dakota?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources