KnownCarProblems2010 Dodge Dakota Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Dodge Dakota, most often about the air bags (46% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles). It is 11th of 12 Dakota model years by number of complaints and has 7 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory4 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2010 Dodge Dakota problems
Air bags
16 complaints · 46%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Dakota. While driving 65 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle veered to the left and flipped over. The air bags did not deploy. In addition, it was suspected that the harness strap of the driver's seat belt did not restrain the contact during the crash. A police…
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Dakota. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 18v021000 (air bags) and 15v313000 (air bags). The dealer was contacted for the recall repairs and was informed that parts were not yet available. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that it would take…
Transmission
7 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles.
Rolling slowly through a parking lot, the truck lunged forward, the transmission slipped into neutral and the engine began to over rev wildly up and down. (my foot was on the brake at this point. Earlier this year it did it on the freeway ramp as I attempted to merge into traffic. I took the truck to the dealer and…
I was attempting to pass a semi. The cruise was set at 70. The semi sped up to 70 also and I had to touch my accelerator to get past him. As I did, my transmission dropped into neutral and I had to let off the accelerator. It dropped back into gear at 65. I was then able to speed up to 75 and pass the semi. I had a…
Electrical
6 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Dakota. While driving at various speeds, the left turn signal was turned on and the signal switched to the right turn signal without being prompted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.
Dodge dokata 2010. Heater resistor overheats repeatedly. Electrical smoke and burning smell repeatedly. Very hot to touch. So overheated wires and resistor melts. Resistor and wires replaced numerous times. Same results. Front ball joints keep going bad causing dangerous driving conditions. Many resistor and ball…
Steering
5 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 23,500 miles.
Truck was being driven at a slow speed when the tie rod fell off and truck hit a tree. No injury but left front side of bumper damaged. The tie rod end was replaced at a local mechanic. The ball joint end was badly deteriorated.
My 2010 Dodge Dakota 4dr 4x4 has turned off while on am driving down the road. I notified the dealership shortly after I purchased it (purchased used with about 17,000 miles) and they said that nothing showed/they did not find anything wrong. I said ok, and then it happened again and again. It just shuts down, I have…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2010 Dodge Dakota recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began february 4, 2019. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is v01.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain 2010 dodge ram 3500, ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 dodge dakota, 2010-2014 dodge challenger, 2010-2015 dodge challenger, chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 jeep wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp 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 owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began february 28, 2018. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is u03.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain 2009-2013 jeep wrangler, chrysler 300, dodge challenger and dodge charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 dodge dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, chrysler is recalling certain 2009-2010 ram 4500 cab chassis, ram 5500 cab chassis, ram 3500 cab chassis, jeep wrangler, chrysler 300, dodge dakota, dodge challenger, and dodge charger vehicles ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, and west virginia or "zone
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.
Transmission: differential unit
Risk: If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.
Fix: On november 7, 2013 chrysler notified owners that dealers would install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. In july 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for remedying their vehicles: perform the original remedy, offer to repurchase the vehicle at the fair market value plus 10%, or offer an additional incentive offer towards the purchase of a new dodge, jeep, chrysler, or fiat vehicle. Chrysler will notify owners of the new recall options in a letter expected to be mailed on august 31, 2015. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-247-9753
Full defect summary
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 ram 1500 trucks manufactured from february 27, 2008, through june 30, 2009, and from december 1, 2009, through october 20, 2011; model year 2009-2011 dodge dakota trucks manufactured from february 27, 2007, through june 30, 2009, and from december 1, 2009, through september 30, 2011; model year 2009 chrysler aspen trucks manufactured from january 3, 2008, through december 18, 2008; and model year 2009 dodge durango trucks manufactured from january 3, 2008, through december 18, 2008. The rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to an undersized pinion spline that can allow relative motion between the nut and companion flange.
Transmission: differential unit
Risk: If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. The recall began on june 17, 2013. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.
Full defect summary
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2010, ram 1500 and dodge dakota trucks, manufactured from july 1, 2009, through november 30, 2009, because the rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to a lack of adhesive.
Equipment: electrical
Risk: Overheating of the battery separator can result in smoke and possible fire.
Fix: Nbc will notify owners, and sure power will replace the battery separators free of charge. The safety recall began november 26, 2012. Owners may contact nbc truck equipment, inc. At 1-586-774-4900.
Full defect summary
Nbc truck equipment, inc. (nbc) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 and model year 2010-2011 trucks equipped with sure power battery separator devices, due to overheating.
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 2010 Dodge Dakota
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Dodge Dakota?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (16 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles); transmission (7 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles); electrical (6 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2010 Dodge Dakota have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 15, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2010 a bad year for the Dodge Dakota?
- It is 11th of 12 Dakota model years by number of complaints, with 35 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.