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Dodge Dakota VIN Check

NHTSA holds 5,126 owner complaints on the Dodge Dakota from 2,369 production runs; the worst run has 21, the typical one 2.2.

NHTSA complaint records · 5,126 complaints · 2,369 runs · 1987–2011 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported Dakota run is 1B7GG22YXXS (1999 builds) with 21 complaints, 9.5× the typical run. Suspension problems make up 23% of reports; 1999 is the worst model year at 3.6 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 58 recall campaigns for Dakota model years 1987–2011.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Dodge Dakota has 2,369 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 2% of every Dakota complaint on file.

FIG.01·Dodge Dakota — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
1B7GG22YXXS••••••199921——
1B7GG22Y4XS••••••1999182—
1B7GG22N6YS••••••200018——
1B7GG22N3YS••••••2000171—
1B7GG22N1YS••••••200017——
1B7GG22N4YS••••••200015—1
1B7GG22N9YS••••••2000151—
1B7GL23X5VS••••••1997152—
1B7GG22Y7XS••••••1999141—
1B7GL23X0VS••••••199714—1
1B7GG23Y2VS••••••1997142—
1B7GG22Y1XS••••••199913——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 2,357 Dakota runs has 13 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 77 Dakota VINs so far, most often 2005, 2002, 2006 builds; 1 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Dodge Dakota the gap between build years is 3.3×: a 1999 car draws 3.6 complaints per run, a 2009 one 1.1.

FIG.02·Dodge Dakota — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20111.240338
20091.117151
20081.381613
20071.41349311
20061.925113420
20052.340717825
20041.6153989
20031.824013714
20022.250822642
20012.549319730
20003.261418942
19993.649013532
19982.741815334
19972.733412233
19961.71508915
19951.51479727
19941.414210323
19931.5986712
19921.71629617
19911.295779
ROWS 20·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 1999 at 3.6 complaints per run; lightest is 2009 at 1.1.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 23% of everything Dodge Dakota owners report: Suspension, 1,264 of 5,126 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Dodge Dakota — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Suspension1264301
Service Brakes9359219
Hydraulic8218113
Power Train746738
Air Bags5671847
Steering531261
Engine And Engine Cooling381913
Electrical System355442
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 58 recall campaigns on the Dodge Dakota; the 6 below cover build years 1997 to 2011. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Dodge Dakota — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
09E012000Exterior Lighting1997–2006
08E064000Suspension:front:hub1997–2004
09E025000Exterior Lighting:headlights1997–2004
06E026000Exterior Lighting1997–2004
15V313000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module2005–2011
16V352000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module2005–2011
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

The Dakota against its rivals

The Dakota draws 2.2 complaints per production run; the Lincoln Mark LT 1.4 and the Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2.3.

FIG.05·Dodge Dakota VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
Dodge Dakota5,1262,3692.28.1%
Lincoln Mark LT36251.422.2%
Ford Explorer Sport Trac5832512.38.1%
ROWS 3·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 5,126 reports on the Dodge Dakota, 8.1% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.

FIG.06·Dodge Dakota — complaint severity
OutcomeDodge DakotaAll vehicles
Complaints filed5,1261,115,966
Involved a crash416 (8.1%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire113 (2.2%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported30658,013
Deaths reported162,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 40% above the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Dodge Dakota share of that is 5,126 complaints over 2,369 runs, 0.46% of everything on record.

Everything on the Dodge Dakota
Recalls152 campaignsFuel economy22 mpg bestReliability3.5/5Common problems7,098 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsUsed prices1,515 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageInsurance costEstimated per yearWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car1987–2012

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Dodge Dakota VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 5,126 NHTSA complaints from 2,369 Dakota runs and 58 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Dakota production run has the most complaints?

1B7GG22YXXS, a 1999 build, with 21 complaints. The typical Dakota run has 2.2.

Which Dakota years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 1999 is heaviest at 3.6 complaints per run and 2009 lightest at 1.1.

Does the Dakota get more complaints than the Lincoln Mark LT?

Yes: 2.2 complaints per production run for the Dakota against 1.4 for the Lincoln Mark LT.

How many Dakota complaints involve a crash?

8.1% of 5,126 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 113 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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