Dodge Dakota Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Q: What year Dakota should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, the 2000 Dodge Dakota has the most documented problems with a problem score of 604 — driven by 6 recalls, 529 complaints, and 1 reported death.

Q: What is the best year Dakota to buy?

The 2009 Dodge Dakota is the best-scoring year in our analysis with a problem score of only 23, meaning 3 recalls and 12 complaints on record.

Q: Which Dakota has the fewest problems?

The 2009, 2010, 2011 model years have the fewest reported problems in the NHTSA database. Always verify a specific vehicle's history with a VIN report before purchasing.

Every Dodge Dakota model year (1992–2011) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Years Tracked

Total Recalls

4444

Total Complaints

222

Reported Injuries

Reported Deaths

Dodge Dakota Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

2000

6 recalls · 529 complaints

26 reported injuries

1 reported death

Top issue: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

Problem score: 604

#2 WORST

1999

6 recalls · 495 complaints

20 reported injuries

Top issue: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

Problem score: 553

#3 WORST

2001

5 recalls · 463 complaints

19 reported injuries

1 reported death

Top issue: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

Problem score: 521

Best Dodge Dakota Years to Buy

#1 BEST

2009

3 recalls · 12 complaints

Main area: AIR BAGS

Problem score: 23

#2 BEST

2010

4 recalls · 31 complaints

Main area: AIR BAGS

Problem score: 47

#3 BEST

2011

4 recalls · 34 complaints

Main area: AIR BAGS

Problem score: 48

Found the right year? Verify that specific Dakota with a free VIN report.

Dodge Dakota — Year-by-Year Problem Report

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Injuries	Deaths	Problem Score	Verdict
2011	4	34	1	—	48	Excellent
2010	4	31	2	—	47	Excellent
2009	3	12	1	—	23	Excellent
2008	2	60	8	—	82	Good
2007	2	89	6	—	107	Good
2006	4	199	9	—	229	Caution
2005	5	261	20	—	316	Caution
2004	3	139	4	2	166	Good
2003	5	208	12	—	247	Caution
2002	5	456	10	1	496	Avoid
2001	5	463	19	1	521	Avoid
2000	6	529	26	1	604	Avoid
1999	6	495	20	—	553	Avoid
1998	5	429	19	1	487	Avoid
1997	5	367	18	3	433	Avoid
1996	1	154	2	—	161	Good
1995	0	150	11	2	182	Good
1994	3	121	17	2	174	Good
1993	0	94	10	—	114	Good
1992	0	153	7	—	167	Good

All 20 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.

Dodge Dakota Shopping Guide by Era

Pre-2013

Proceed with Caution

Older Dakota models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year Dakota should I avoid?+

Avoid the 2000 Dodge Dakota if possible. It has 6 recalls, 529 owner complaints, and 1 reported death. The overall problem score is 604 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year Dakota to buy?+

The 2009 Dodge Dakota is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 23. It has only 3 recalls and 12 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which Dakota has the fewest problems?+

The 2009, 2010, 2011 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Dodge Dakota Research

Reliability Score

Overall reliability rating and score breakdown for the Dodge Dakota.

Common Problems

Full breakdown of every reported defect for the Dodge Dakota.

Check a Specific Dodge Dakota VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

Run a Free VIN Report →