KnownCarProblems2008 Dodge Dakota Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 91 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Dodge Dakota, most often about the air bags (32% of complaints). It is 9th of 12 Dakota model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2008 Dodge Dakota problems
Air bags
29 complaints · 32%Tl contact owns a 2008 Dodge Dakota clubcab 4x2. While driving at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a single car head-on crash in which the air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. One person was reported injured. The vehicle was totaled. The vehicle had not been inspected for the cause of…
This truck is the 4 and the last Dodge I will ever buy the trailer light pack is junk the break sys is junk its a two sensor ABS 1 one the driver front and one on the rear end and they say its all wheel ABS trans 2 times rebuilt rotors and brakes replace at every 3 months tie rods struts rack and pump replaced them 3…
Steering
17 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 51,000 miles. Parts named most often: linkages.
I was driving east on a two lane road, as I heard a slight pop come from my driver side tire. Suddenly after that pop, their was a slip in the steering and I had noticed that my driver side tire started to lose massive control, thus jerking and locking up the truck in matters of seconds. Luckily drivers behind me were…
Erratic power steering. Worse when cold. Never knew when the power steering would work. Vehicle would not recover from left turn requiring pulling the steering wheel to the right to keep under control.
Brakes
11 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 36,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components.
I had purchase this vehicle in feb 2011, and ever since I have reported to my dealer that I been feeling vibration when I apply my brakes and all of a sudden, steering wheel starts to shake and brakes shake when applied. They had test drove it an they came back an told me it was just the road, they informed to change…
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the front end of the vehicle shook vigorously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The mechanic replaced the front brake pads and cleaned the rotors. The failure…
Electrical
11 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 61,000 miles.
This truck has had to be towed in to the dealership several times in the 15 months since I've owned it. The service department tells me it is due to the tipm. The failure of this part makes the vehicle impossible to start. Apparently chrysler has a huge problem with this part.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that all the warning lights illuminated intermittently. The contact had to shut off the engine in order to reset the vehicle. The contact also stated that the air conditioner and radio could not be used simultaneously or it would cause electrical failures. The…
Transmission
10 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 57,000 miles. Parts named most often: driveline.
My engine turns off while driving. I cannot restart the engine until I have stopped, shifted to park, and cycled the ignition to off. The engine stalling started as a low/slow idle condition, and now has escalated to cutting off at full acceleration while merging into expressway traffic. This has happened on several…
I was driving east on a two lane road, as I heard a slight pop come from my driver side tire. Suddenly after that pop, their was a slip in the steering and I had noticed that my driver side tire started to lose massive control, thus jerking and locking up the truck in matters of seconds. Luckily drivers behind me were…
Lights
8 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: turn signal.
Re: 2008 Dodge Dakota been searching for recall on the above vehicle, been stopped numerous of time by officers about signals. Have replaced bulbs and doesn't work. Problems: turns left signal light on and the right one comes on, this happens 95% of the time. Emergency flashes does not work 75% of the time.
Went to use turn signals and they hang up. They do not quit blinking right away. Does not matter which one you turn on-left or right (up or down).
Other or unspecified
7 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 62,500 miles.
My four wheel drive is engaging on it's own. The shift motor engages while the vehicle is parked and turned off. The four wheel drive will engage on it's own while I am driving. I had the vehicle tested at a certified garage and the mechanic said that the transfer case shift motor needs to be replaced. After…
My engine turns off while driving. I cannot restart the engine until I have stopped, shifted to park, and cycled the ignition to off. The engine stalling started as a low/slow idle condition, and now has escalated to cutting off at full acceleration while merging into expressway traffic. This has happened on several…
Wheels and tires
5 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: valve.
On 9 july 2012, I took my vehicle into t j tire and service in richlands, nc. I was there to have tires installed onto my truck. The representative told me that there was a very bad situation with my valve stems and that they would not be able to perform the install with the current valve stems. The problem with the…
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Dakota. While inspecting the rear passenger side tire pressure the valve stem fractured. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic. The valve stem and tire pressure sensor were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Dodge Dakota recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the chrysler, dodge, jeep and ram owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on march 27, 2017. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is s43. Note: this recall supersedes recall 14v-7700.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 ram 2500 trucks produced at the st. Louis north assembly plant. With this change, chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 ram 1500, 2005-2009 ram 2500, 2006-2009 ram 3500, 2007-2010 ram 3500 cab chassis, 2008-2010 ram 4500 and 5500 cab chassis, 2004-2009 dodge durango, 2007-2009 chrysler aspen, 2007-2012 jeep wrangler, 2008-2012 dodge challenger, 2005-2008 dodge magnum, 2005-2012 chrysler 300, 2006-2012 dodge charger, 2005-2011 dodge dakota, and 2006-2009 mitsubishi raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in al, ca, fl, ga, hi, la, ms, sc, tx, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, chrysler is also recalling 2004-2008 ram 1500, 2005-2009 ram 2500, 2006-2009 r
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected chrysler and dodge owners and mitsubishi will notify the affected raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for chrylser on june 8, 2015. The recall for mitsubishi started on june 24, 2015. Chrysler and dodge owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-7820. Chrysler's number for this recall is r25. Note: this recall supersedes recall 14v817 in its entirety.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 dodge ram 2500, 2004-2008 dodge ram 1500 and durango, 2006-2009 dodge ram 3500, 2008-2010 dodge ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 chrysler aspen, 2005-2010 chrysler 300, 300c, 300s, and srt8, 2006-2010 dodge charger, 2005-2008 magnum, 2005-2011 dodge dakota, and 2006-2009 mitsubishi raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2008 Dodge Dakota
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Dodge Dakota?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (29 complaints); steering (17 complaints, typically around 51,000 miles); brakes (11 complaints, typically around 36,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Dodge Dakota have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 24, 2016 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Dodge Dakota?
- It is 9th of 12 Dakota model years by number of complaints, with 91 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.