1994 Dodge Dakota Problems, Recalls & Reliability
240 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1994 Dodge Dakota, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 31/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports.
Typical
Where 1994 sits among all Dakota years
What owners report
“208-772-1261: abs: front brakes seem to be stopping vehicle; back brakes not being used; pulsates; tires worn on front;front wheel lock up;brakes worn heavily.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Dakota
“Headlight switch failed/headlights went out/switch showed overheating damage and also melted some of the wiring in the cabling under the dash/could smell something burning before failure/lost lights at night”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Dakota
“The transmission lock up, in park and reverse took to dealer couldn't find anything wrong with transmission and all four tires worn out they were good year tire”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Dakota
Recalls (4)
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.
WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE EXTRA KEYS ON A VEHICLE OPERATOR'S KEY RING CAN BECOME TEMPORARILY LODGED IN THE SCREW ACCESS HOLES IN THE BACK COVER OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK COVER WITH A REDESIGNED COVER.
SOME UPPER CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BOLTS CAN FAIL DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT. THE BOLTS ARE TOO SOFT TO WITHSTAND THE STRESSES IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND CAN BREAK.
Fix: REPLACE THE UPPER CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BOLTS.
TWO FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP ATTACHING STUDS WERE NOT ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED, WHICH COULD CAUSE ONE OR BOTH OF THE STRAP(S) TO SEPARATE, MISLOCATING THE FUEL TANKS OR ALLOW COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE FUEL TANK FROM THE VEHICLE.
Fix: THE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP ATTACHING STUDS WILL BE PROPERLY TIGHTENED.
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
There is no summary currently available
Model years named: 1994
Technical service bulletins
42 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 1994 Dodge Dakota. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1994 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 1994 Dodge Dakota reliable?
The 1994 Dodge Dakota drew 240 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 31/100, scored against the model's worst year (2000).
What are the most common 1994 Dodge Dakota problems?
The top reported problems for the 1994 Dodge Dakota are brakes & stability (34 complaints), electrical (30), and transmission & drivetrain (26).
Does the 1994 Dodge Dakota have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 1994 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.