1993 Dodge Dakota Problems, Recalls & Reliability

159 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1993 Dodge Dakota, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 18/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Brakes & stability leads the reports.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1993 Dodge Dakota has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

159Complaints
18/100Trouble index
2Recalls

Better year

Where 1993 sits among all Dakota years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Brakes & stability 27 complaints (17%)
“Vehicles front right abs braking system wheel locks up and causes truck to skid and loss control. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1993 Dakota
Transmission & drivetrain 23 complaints (14%)
Engine 15 complaints (9%)
Steering 13 complaints (8%)
Body & structure 11 complaints (7%)
Electrical 10 complaints (6%)

Recalls (2)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 06E049000 2006

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…

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.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 93V082000 1993

SOME OF THE ABS EQUIPPED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN UNDERSIZED BRAKE RETURN CHECK VALVE. IN INCIDENTS WHERE HARD BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT IS APPLIED ON LOW FRICTION ROAD SURFACES, LIKE RAIN COVERED STREETS, THE VALVES MAY FAIL, CAUSING THE ABS TO BECOME…

Fix: REPLACE THE RETURN CHECK VALVE WITH THE CORRECT VALVE.

Federal defect investigations

STEERING COLUMN SEPARATION DP03002 opened 2003, closed 2003

Technical service bulletins

29 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and body & structure — are on file for the 1993 Dodge Dakota. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 1993 Dakota TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

1995peak 30 in 20002017

Questions buyers ask

Is the 1993 Dodge Dakota reliable?

The 1993 Dodge Dakota drew 159 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 18/100, scored against the model's worst year (2000).

What are the most common 1993 Dodge Dakota problems?

The top reported problems for the 1993 Dodge Dakota are brakes & stability (27 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (23), and engine (15).

Does the 1993 Dodge Dakota have recalls?

2 recall campaigns apply to the 1993 Dodge Dakota. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 1992 Dakota All Dakota years 1994 Dakota →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

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.