1990 Dodge Dakota Problems, Recalls & Reliability
88 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1990 Dodge Dakota, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 7/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Steering leads the reports.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1990 Dodge Dakota has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 1990 sits among all Dakota years
What owners report
“While driving rack and pinion ripped loose from the frame, result in no steering. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1990 Dakota
Recalls (3)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4X2 PICKUP TRUCK CONVERTIBLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES (BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 1988 - JUNE 1990) AND 4X2 PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE SHELBY PACKAGE (BUILT OCTOBER 1988 - JUNE 1989). THE FRAME CAN CRACK AT THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT…
Fix: DEALERS WILL ADD REINFORCEMENTS TO THE FRAME AND REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS. IF THE FRAME IS ALREADY CRACKED, THE STEERING GEAR WELD NUTS WILL ALSO BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION…
THE FRAME CAN CRACK AT THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT AND/OR THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS CAN FRACTURE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL ADD REINFORCEMENTS TO THE FRAME AND REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS. IF THE FRAME IS ALREADY CRACKED, THE STEERING GEAR WELD NUTS WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.
THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
Fix: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 96V094000.
Technical service bulletins
16 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 1990 Dodge Dakota. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1990 Dakota TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1990 Dodge Dakota reliable?
The 1990 Dodge Dakota drew 88 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 7/100, scored against the model's worst year (2000).
What are the most common 1990 Dodge Dakota problems?
The top reported problems for the 1990 Dodge Dakota are steering (29 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (19), and brakes & stability (17).
Does the 1990 Dodge Dakota have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 1990 Dodge Dakota. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.