Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.
vehicle
2005 / dodge / dakota
known issues
7 clusters (reviewed 2026-09-20)
complaints
470 on file (2005-02-08 → 2026-03-20)
recalls
0
investigations
0
fars
110 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
Spontaneous transfer case engagement into 4WDPOWER TRAIN27 complaints2015-10 → 2022-03dakota-2005-spontaneous-4wd-engagement
10945009 FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGES AND DISENGAGES BY ITSELF. IT DOES IT SOMETIMES WHEN I UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH REMOTE AND OTHER TIMES WHEN NOTHING IS DONE. THERE IS NO CERTAIN THING THAT I DO TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. IT DOES IT IN DRIVE ALSO BUT I HAVE ONLY NOTICED IT WHEN I AM STOPPED AT A
10794516 THE 4WD TRANSFER CASE MOTOR SOMETIMES OPERATES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS OFF, AFTER DOORS ARE UNLOCKED WITH THE KEY FOB. THE 4WD RANDOMLY & SPONTANEOUSLY ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITHOUT ANY 4WD-RELATED INDICATOR LIGHTS
10786112 THE "CHECK 4WD" INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AT RANDOM TIMES AND THE 4WD ENGAGES ON IT'S OWN. EVEN PARKED WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION YOU CAN HERE THE ELECTRONIC HUBS ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE
11246205 TICKING NOISE FROM EXHAUST MANIFOLD. EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS & STUDS PREMATURELY BROKE! LEAKING EXHAUST FUMES ARE ABLE TO ENTER PASSENGER CABIN & CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD!
11171091 EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKE CAUSING EXHAUST FUMES TO FILTER INTO THE CABIN. THE FILTRATION OF EXHAUST FUME OCCURS WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. ACCORDING TO DEALER IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE
11089234 MINE IS THE 2005 DODGE DAKOTA EXTRA CAB AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAKING/SHEARING AT THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS CAN CAUSE (AND IT HAS) A TICKING SOUND THAT GETS LOUDER AS YOU ACCELERATE
Frame and brake line corrosionSTRUCTURE8 complaints2015-11 → 2026-03dakota-2005-frame-and-brake-line-corrosion
10838823 SEVERE FRAME AND BODY RUST!
11143394 HELLO, I RECENTLY PURCHASED A ONE OWNER 2005 DODGE DAKOTA, WHICH HAS LESS THAN 35,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. THE CAR FAX CAME BACK CLEAN FOR ACCIDENTS ETC, BUT I HAVE FOUND, THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR SECTIONS OF THE CHASSIS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON DRIVER AND
10809836 BRAKE LINE AT THE ABS CENTER RUSTED TO THE POINT OF FAILURE THIS HAPPENED WHILE STOPPED AND PRESSING THE BRAKE TO SHIFT ONLY DAMAGE WAS T THE PERSONS DRIVEWAY - BRAKE FLUID ON THE ASPHALT
Front suspension ball joint and tie rod wearSUSPENSION8 complaints2015-07 → 2022-03dakota-2005-front-suspension-ball-joint-wear
11163897 I TOOK MY 2005 DAKOTA TO REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE OF CLUNKING NOISE ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN DRIVING OR ROCKING THE TRUCK WHEN IT WAS PARKED. REPAIR SHOP SAID LOWER BALL JOINT COMPLETELY FAILED AND WAS RIDING ON LOWER CONTROL ARM INSTEAD OF SUPPORTED BY BALL JOINT
10749965 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED
10839928 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS DOWN A MOUNTAIN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD AND HUB ASSEMBLY
Takata airbag inflator recall parts delayAIR BAGS104 complaints2015-06 → 2021-04dakota-2005-takata-airbag-recall-delay
10908308 TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE
10913754 SIGNED UP FOR PASSENGER AIR BAG RECALL ON JULY 22, 2016. I HAVE WAITED OVER TWO AND A HALF MONTHS TO BE NOTIFIED TO BRING MY TRUCK IN TO HAVE AIRBAG REPLACED. I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS CALLS TO 1-800-853-1403, ONLY TO HAVE BEEN HUNG UP ON
11166520 TAKATA RECALL.. OVER 8 MONTHS WAITING FOR NEW AIRBAGS. NO END IN SIGHT
Heated seat overheating and fireSEATS16 complaints2015-12 → 2020-02dakota-2005-heated-seat-overheat-fire
10811314 HAD DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT TURNED ON LOW AND THE SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. LUCKILY I HAD NOT LEFT BECAUSE I FORGOT MY LIST INSIDE AND WENT INSIDE HOUSE. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT THE SEAT WAS SMOKING SO I RAN IN AN GOT SOME WATER TO POUR ON SEAT. IT PUT THE FIRE OUT. FIRE DEPT. CAME OUT
11054920 I WAS PICKING UP MY BOYS FROM SCHOOL WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THEN I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. I TURNED OFF THE HEAT TO THE SEAT. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK, THERE WAS A BURN MARK IN THE SEAT AND ON MY JACKET
11122094 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V820000 (SEATS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME
Brake failure from corroded lines and caliper wearSERVICE BRAKES9 complaints2015-12 → 2023-04dakota-2005-brake-failure-corroded-lines
10948783 ON 1/30/17 WHILE DRIVING, MY TRUCK LOST ALL BRAKING ABILITY. THE PEDAL WHEN TO THE FLOOR, DESPITE RAPIDLY PUMPING THE BREAKS, I REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHE HAD IT HAPPENED IN ANOTHER LOCATION. THE TRUCK
10838822 THE ENTIRE FRONT BRAKES {ROTORS, CALIPER, PADS} REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT 33K MILES, IN ADDITION SEVERAL HARD BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE ON A TRUCK!
11515548 The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle vibrated, pulled to the right, with a burning odor coming into the cabin of the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and diagnosed that the caliper had failed. The
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.
Cite this
Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.
Wrench.Pro (2026). 2005 Dodge Dakota vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2005/dodge/dakota
@misc{wrenchpro_2005_dodge_dakota_2026,
author = {Wrench.Pro},
title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2005 Dodge Dakota},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2005/dodge/dakota}},
note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}
