The Dodge Dakota is a pickup truck built from 1987 to 2012 over 7 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 99.8% of those on record. Between 1987 and 2010 it grew 60 cm longer and gained 536 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6, V8. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Dakota is
The Dodge Dakota is a pickup truck that Dodge built from 1987 to 2012 — 26 model years. Our measurements put it at 7 generations, the current one starting in 2005. It has been offered with 4-cyl, V6, V8 power. Its closest siblings in the Dodge range: Charger, Ram, Challenger.
Where the Dakota is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 5,060 Dakotas on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1B7, 1D7, 187, 1D3 | 1987-2011 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Dodge VIN decide which of these 7 lines your Dakota belongs to. What every character in a Dakota VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Dodge Dakota adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Dakota generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Dakota's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Dakota that gives 7 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987-1989 | 496 cm | 302 cm | 1448 kg | - | - |
| 1990-1992 | 519 cm | 315 cm | 1500 kg | +23 cm | +52 kg |
| 1993-1996 | 527 cm | 315 cm | 1565 kg | +8 cm | +65 kg |
| 1997 | 546 cm | 315 cm | 1599 kg | +19 cm | +34 kg |
| 1998-1999 | 533 cm | 315 cm | 1613 kg | -13 cm | +14 kg |
| 2000-2004 | 532 cm | 333 cm | 1715 kg | -1 cm | +102 kg |
| 2005-2010 | 556 cm | 333 cm | 1984 kg | +24 cm | +269 kg |
Between 1987 and 2010 the Dakota gained 60 cm in length (+12.1%) and 536 kg in weight (+37.0%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Dakota that is 536 kg against 60 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Dodge Dakota tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Dakota owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Dodge Dakota have? Power & range
The Dodge Dakota is offered with 3 powertrains — 3.7L 6-cyl, 4.7L 8-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 3 for the Dodge Dakota, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.7L · 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Regular |
| V8 | 4.7L · 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | RWD | Gasoline or E85 |
| 4-cyl | 2.5L · 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | RWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Dodge Dakota tow? Towing & payload
As a pickup, the Dodge Dakota is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Dakota's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
The Dakota by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Dodge Dakota. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Dakota | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 152 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 7,097 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,317/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 916 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Dodge Dakota?
The Dakota is a pickup truck, built from 1987 to 2012 across 7 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6, V8.
Where is the Dodge Dakota made?
Across 5,060 cars in our records the split is: the United States (99.8%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Dakota have?
7 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2005. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Dakota grew 60 cm longer and gained 536 kg.
What is the Dodge Dakota warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Dakota reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Dakota?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Dodge
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Charger | 1983–2026 | 133 | 98 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Dodge Ram | 1994–2012 | 188 | 17 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Challenger | 1981–2026 | 77 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Dodge Durango | 1995–2026 | 160 | 21 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Dodge Viper | 1992–2017 | 45 | 16 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Caravan | 1984–2008 | 208 | 35 mpg | 3.5/5 |
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