Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Dodge Dakota
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Dodge Dakota has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns and 544 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E064000 REPLACEMENT HUB UNITS/ABS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E065000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E024000 REPLACEMENT AIR INTAKE SYSTEMS/DEBRIS CAN ENTER NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E022000 BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDER NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V153000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/CLOCKSPRING MATERIAL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V198000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/REAR AXLE VENT HOSE/BRAKE HOSE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V193000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/BRAKE TUBE/STEERING HOSE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V208000 CHRYSLER/CAB/FRAME BOLTS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #97V170000 CHRYSLER/FRONT AND ABS BRAKES NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 216 complaints
- Power Train 72 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 67 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 58 complaints
- Steering 47 complaints
- Air Bags 32 complaints
Of the 544 complaints on file, 43 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 544 complaints, owners report 28 injuries and 6 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Dodge Dakota shows a high number of complaints, particularly in suspension and power train, indicating notable reliability issues. There are 12 recall campaigns, many related to safety-critical components such as brakes and airbags. Limited data on specific failures and costs necessitates caution, especially as some components may be subject to wear and failures over time.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 60,000–120,000 miles | $300–$1,000 | very common |
| Power train | 80,000–150,000 miles | $500–$2,500 | common |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 70,000–130,000 miles | $150–$700 | common |
| Engine and engine cooling | 90,000–160,000 miles | $300–$2,000 | occasional |
| Steering | 60,000–120,000 miles | $200–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission service
- Coolant system flush
- Tire rotation and alignment
- Air filter replacement
- Battery check and replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual suspension noises
- Transmission slipping
- Brake pedal softness
- Engine overheating
- Steering wheel vibration
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Dodge Dakota at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.