1992 Dodge Dakota recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-19. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
2 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Lights
What's wrong, in plain English: Headlights, tail lights or turn signals may not work, making the car hard to see. 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.
What could happen: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The 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.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1992 DAKOTA.
- Book a repair at any authorized Dodge dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 06E049000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-909-610-7211.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Summary: 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.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: 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.
Notes: THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAMP MODEL NUMBERS, CLICK ON DOCUMENT SEARCH AND VIEW DOCUMENT TITLED "LAMP MODEL NUMBERS." CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
2. Transmission / drivetrain
What's wrong, in plain English: The parts that send engine power to the wheels. Failure can mean a sudden loss of power or the car rolling away. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A500 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. INADVERTENT PLACEMENT OF THE SHIFT LEVER IN REVERSE CAN OCCUR WHEN THE DRIVER BELIEVES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN PLACED IN PARK.
What could happen: THIS CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY WITH THE ENGINE ON AFTER THE DRIVER HAS LEFT THE VEHICLE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEEL MANUAL VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION WITH AN ALUMINUM VERSION.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1992 DAKOTA.
- Book a repair at any authorized Dodge dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 00V106000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A500 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. INADVERTENT PLACEMENT OF THE SHIFT LEVER IN REVERSE CAN OCCUR WHEN THE DRIVER BELIEVES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN PLACED IN PARK.
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY WITH THE ENGINE ON AFTER THE DRIVER HAS LEFT THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEEL MANUAL VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION WITH AN ALUMINUM VERSION.
Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 5, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Compact car fire extinguisher
- 1992 Dodge Dakota owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Transmission / drivetrain (126), Brakes (56), Hydraulic (55), Electrical system (23), Engine (23).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
03/12/2021 · Electrical system · fire
WELL MY TRUCK WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE RD AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF OUT OF NO WHERE AND I ALMOST GOT IN A COUPLE OF WRECKS BECAUSE OF IT FLICKERING AND I HAVE CHANGED AND FIXED EVERYTHING AND IT STILL DOSE IT SO IT LIKE A WIRE ISSUE OR SOMETHING BUT I DON'T FEEL SAFE AT ALL DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF IT THEN MY ENGINE WILL LIKE S…
03/08/2012 · Transmission / drivetrain · crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF A FAILURE WHICH INVOLVED THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY SLIPPING FROM PARK AND INTO REVERSE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE…
12/30/2010 · Electrical system
ON MY 1992 DODGE DAKOTA (V8 5.2L WITH AT, 4X4) THE ENGINE QUITS INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES WHILE PARKED IDLING AND OTHER TIMES WHILE DRIVING. IT DOES IT WITHOUT WARNING, AS IF THE KEY IS TURNED OFF. SOMETIMES IT STARTS RIGHT UP AGAIN AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL HAVE TO CRANK FOR A WHILE BEFORE IT STARTS. I'VE HAD IT TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND THEY CAN'T DE…
06/13/2010 · Transmission / drivetrain · crash
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE ON MY WAY TO A JOB INTERVIEW, WHEN I REALIZED I FORGOT SOMETHING . I DROVE BACK IN THE GARAGE, PUT THE SHIFTER IN PARK AND I STEPPED OUT OF THE TRUCK. NO SOONER HAD I GOTTEN AROUND THE TRUCK DOOR WHEN THE TRUCK JUST STARTED BACKING UP BY ITSELF. I ATTEMPTED TO JUMP BACK IN TO STOP IT BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT THE TRUCK TO HIT SOM…
10/10/2008 · Transmission / drivetrain
2 ISSUES-THE POWER TRAIN-I DON'T THINK IT WAS EVER FIXED AS MY GEARSHIFT LEVER INDICATOR IS NOT IN THE GEAR IT INDICATES-CAN THIS STILL BE FIXED UNDER THE RECALL-2ND PROBLEM-I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK JUST SHUTS ITSELF OFF WITHOUT WARNING-SOMETIMES IT WILL RESTART AFTER SITTING A FEW MINUTES BUT YESTERDAY I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED WITH MY 74…
01/17/2008 · Steering
POWER STEERING ON 1992 DODGE 230 XPLORER M.H. VAN. HAD VAN TAKEN TO HEMET CHRYSLER IN HEMET CALIF. AND "THEY" DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER AND SERVICE WRITER ADAMANTLY STATE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AFTER THEY STATED THEY REPLACED THE BOX....YET....THE STEERING IS EXACTLY THE SAME…
05/01/2007 · Engine
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 DODGE DAKOTA. HE HEARD A CHATTER NOISE AND THE LIFTER NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LIFTER FAILED IN THE CAM SHAFT WHICH AFFECTED THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 164,000. *AK
08/20/2004 · Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *AK