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KLUNK

2008 Dodge Dakota

The Verdict

75 Solid Pick

The 2008 Dodge Dakota has 90 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (37 complaints) and body (26 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 75/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Dodge Dakota, consider the 2009 model year which has 80% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2009 has 80% fewer complaints

View the 2009 Dodge Dakota dashboard →

75

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2008 Dodge Dakota. No spam, no marketing.

Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2000395251457765
2001332118866582
2002280205705584
200313040504727
200411920341716
2005119751633278
200667221302434
200734771923
2008261137610
200931725
2011542158

By Category

Electrical
37
Body
26
Brakes
11
Transmission
10
Engine
6

By Severity

1
40
2
44
4
6

Worst Problems

Complaints

Body 2

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.

64mo ago
Body 4

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.

69mo ago
Electrical 4

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.

87mo ago
Transmission 2

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.

88mo ago
Engine 2

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.

97mo ago
Transmission 1

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.

102mo ago
Electrical 1

TAKATA RECALL

106mo ago
Brakes 2

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 @ 800-992-1997. 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.

107mo ago
Electrical 2

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 (877-377-9460) 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

108mo ago
Electrical 1

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.

111mo ago
Electrical 2

DUE TO MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG BEING POTENTIALLY DEADLY I CANNOT TRADE OFF MY TRUCK FOR A FAIR MARKET VALUE. ALSO I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE FOR ANY PERSON OR PERSONS TO RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK. I CONTACTED DODGE BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2016 AND EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS ON THE SAFETY OF ME VEHICLE AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT THERE WOULD BE A FIX IN MARCH 2017. HOWEVER THERE IS STILL NO FIX AND I STILL CANNOT TRADE OFF MY TRUCK OR ALLOW PASSENGERS IN IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT BUILT BY DODGE BUT THEY NEED TO BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE RISK AND THE SITUATION THAT FAITHFUL CUSTOMERS ARE BEING PUT IN.

112mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. 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. UPDATED 05/30/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 9/15/2017*JS

113mo ago
Body 2

THE STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT TURN. INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE PAST 3 MONTHS THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY STOP WORKING AND THE CAR WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER AND CONTROL. AFTER TWICE REPLACING THE RACK AND PINION AND STEERING PUMP THE SITUATION SEEMED TO IMPROVE. THEN SUDDENLY, TRAVELING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE STEERING JERKED RIGHT AND WHEN I TURNED IT BACK TO THE LEFT IT COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEELS AT ALL, THEY WERE LOCKED STRAIGHT CAUSING US TO IMMEDIATELY CROSS ALL LANES OF THE FREEWAY AS THE ROAD TURNED FORCING US TO THE CENTER DIVIDER.

113mo ago
Electrical 1

TAKATA RECALL FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR HOUSING MAY RUPTURE.

114mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.. UPDATED 09/01/17 *JS

115mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

115mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JULY OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

115mo ago
Electrical 2

THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WORKS WHEN IT WANTS AND WHEN I TURN IT ON THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL COMES ON. THE WIPERS AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE CURRENTLY GOING OUT OR COMING ON BY THEMSELVES. I HAVE AN ERROR ON THE AIRBAGS (WHICH HAVE HAD THE DRIVERS REPLACED AND CURRENTLY AWAITING THE PASSENGERS, PLUS THE NEW RECALL ON THE HOSE TO THE AIR BAGS). THIS ISSUE STARTED AT AROUND 120K MILES. THE FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND PASSED. THE BULBS-REPLACED. THE SITUATION IS GETTING WORSE AS THE DASH AND INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THE NIGHT LIGHTS WENT OUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING ONE NIGHT AND DO NOT DRIVE AFTER DUSK ANYMORE. ALL OF THIS HAPPENS DRIVING. THE TURNS DO IT WHETHER I AM MAKING A TURN OR PULLING OUT OR EVEN TESTING THEM PARKED. *TR

116mo ago
Electrical 1

TURN SIGNAL ACTIVATES THE WRONG INDICATOR. WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS SET TO A LEFT TURN, THE RIGHT TURN INDICATORS FLASH, BOTH ON THE DASHBOARD AND ON THE EXTERIOR SIGNAL LAMPS. FROM A WEB SEARCH, THIS IS A RELATIVELY COMMON PROBLEM STEMMING FROM A FAULTY SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS SITUATION IS FAR MORE DANGEROUS THAN A SITUATION WHERE THE EXTERIOR LAMPS ARE NOT WORKING. BECAUSE THE WRONG INDICATOR FLASHES, OTHER DRIVER CAN MAKE ERRONEOUS DECISIONS ABOUT THE DRIVER'S INTENT, LEADING TO A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER PROBABILITY OF A CRASH. THE SYMPTOMS ARE INTERMITTENT, BUT NOT LINKED TO STEERING WHEEL POSITION OR THE MOTION OF THE VEHICLE. THERE MIGHT BE A CORRELATION BETWEEN RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND THE ERROR - IT HAS NOT OCCURRED IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS OF DROUGHT AFTER IT BEGAN ON 8/31 UNTIL WE HAD EXPERIENCED A WEEK OF RAIN. BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE SWITCH, THE DEFECT IS QUITE COSTLY TO REPAIR, REQUIRING THE STEERING COLUMN TO BE BREACHED. I AM ASKING THAT THIS BE A VERY HIGH PRIORITY DUE TO THE DANGER POSED BY SIGNALLING THE ENTIRELY OPPOSITE INTENTION FROM THAT OF THE DRIVER. THIS IS NOT COSMETIC, IT IS A FAILURE OF A SAFETY SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE THAT IS USED MORE FREQUENTLY THAN AN AIRBAG OR CRUMPLE ZONE. IT ALSO PUTS INNOCENT DRIVERS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AT SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER RISK THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.

117mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V313000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. 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. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

117mo ago

90 total

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