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KLUNK

2011 Dodge Dakota

The Verdict

90 Smooth Ride

The 2011 Dodge Dakota has 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (21 complaints) and transmission (8 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 90/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Dodge Dakota, consider the 2009 model year which has 58% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2009 has 58% fewer complaints

View the 2009 Dodge Dakota dashboard →

90

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

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 2011 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
21
Transmission
8
Body
5
Engine
5
Brakes
4

By Severity

1
16
2
20
4
7

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 2

Many Dodge vehicle models experience failure of illumination for instrument clusters. This creates an unsafe condition for the driver since information presented at the instrument cluster, cannot be determined during night time driving conditions. Dodge makes no provision to customers for replacement or repair parts and does not provide any documentation through Dodge dealers on how to address this issue. It was determined that Dodge does not offer replacement instrument clusters to address this issue.

21mo ago
Electrical 1

The backlighting on the instrument cluster is defective. Only a portion of the gauges are illuminated. Should this occur for the speedometer then driver will not have a way to determine vehicle speed during the nighttime hours.

46mo ago
Body 2

My truck has a white panel that's fading out, turning black. The instrument panel is getting hard to read. Pretty soon I won't be able to see how fast I'm going, how much gas I have, any important gauge's that I need to be able to see at night.

59mo ago
Engine 1

BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO FROM A LOCAL DEALER WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT.THE PREVIOUS OWNER BOUGHT IT NEW.I HAVE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS OF WHAT WAS DONE TO IT INCLUDING OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES.HAVE ALWAYS TREATED IT LIKE A BABY AND BRAGGED ABOUT IT.NOW HAS 84,016 MILES ON IT AND ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING.TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A LOWER ENGINE KNOCK AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE.CALLED DODGE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT UP TO 100,000 MILES AND WAS TOLD THEIR WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT.I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT TO AT LEAST 100,00 MILES.NOW I HAVE A USELESS VEHICLE AND NOTHING TO DRIVE

73mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF A COOLANT LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS PUNCTURED BY THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FENDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (UNKNOWN) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

77mo ago
Electrical 1

AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING IS NOT WORKING, DRIVERS AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK AND HORN DOESNT WORK ALONG WITH ANY OTHER CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL

89mo ago
Brakes 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUMPED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

94mo ago
Transmission 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ABNORMAL NOISE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PINION BEARING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.. *BF

98mo ago
Transmission 1

WHEN ACCELERATING IT SHUDDERS TREMENDOUSLY. LET OF THE GAS AND IT STOPS SOMETIMES.

98mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. HALL CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM VIRGINIA BEACH (3152 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

105mo ago
Electrical 4

I WAS IN A WRECK WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY, THE TRUCK WAS TBONED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND TURNED OVER ON ITS SIDE AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

112mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

118mo ago
Engine 1

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V313000 AND 16V352000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE 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 FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,329. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

118mo ago
Electrical 1

I CONTACTED DODGE ABOUT THE RECALL AND THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION A BUT TO SIT AND WAIT FOR AIRBAGS TO COME IN. HOWEVER, IN THE INTERREM MY WIFE WON'T GET IN THE TRUCK. THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY HELP OR RESOLUTION. WHAT AM I TO DO? WE CONTACTED FCA AND THEY OFFER NO SOLUTION. DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE RECK AND SOMEONE IS KILLED BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT WILL FORCE THEM TO SUPPLY US WITH A SAFE VEHICLE? IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO?

121mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V313000 (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 NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

122mo ago
Electrical 2

TAKATA INFLATORS - NOTHING HAS HAPPENED, THAT'S THE PROBLEM. THE PART IS MY "DRIVER AIR BAG INFLATOR" MY DEALERSHIP, GREENBRIER DODGE OF CHESAPEAKE, VA. 1717 S. MILITARY HIGHWAY (855-890-3634) CONTINUES TO TELL ME THAT THE "REPLACEMENT" PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE - THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS !!! THE LAST TIME THEY CONTACTED ME WAS SEPTEMBER 23, 2015. RECALL # R25 / NHTSA 15V-313

123mo ago
Body 2

AT 60,597 MILES, ALL THE TIE RODS AND BALL JOINTS COMPLETELY FAILED. OTHER DODGE TRUCK MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME REASON, BUT NOT THE DAKOTAS. FAILURE WAS WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A GARAGE. REPAIR INVOICE IS ATTACHED (THREE PAGES, THREE PHOTOS) WITH THIS COMPLAINT.

124mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V313000 (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 NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

124mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR THE AIR BAGS AND STATED THAT 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 MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT

127mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V313000 (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.

128mo ago

43 total

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