What are the common problems with the 1998 Dodge Dakota Pickup?

Suspension leads the complaint list, followed by brakes, the power train and the engine. See the problems section above for what owners describe.

Does the 1998 Dodge Dakota Pickup have recalls?

Yes, the by-year data shows recalls for this model year. The Recalls section on this page lists each one.

What is the gas mileage of the 1998 Dodge Dakota Pickup?

See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.

Is the 1998 Dodge Dakota Pickup reliable?

Owners filed 545 complaints with NHTSA. These reports are unverified and not adjusted for sales, so use them as a guide to what to check.

Which year of the Dodge Dakota Pickup is best?

The by-year comparison section on this page shows complaints and recalls side by side.

1998 Dodge Dakota Pickup Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 545 owner complaints on file for the 1998 Dodge Dakota Pickup^[1]. The biggest group names the suspension, with 217 complaints^[2].

545owner complaints^[1]

5recalls^[3]

13–20MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups owners raised with NHTSA, biggest first.

Suspension. 217 complaints^[2]. Owners describe worn ball joints, a noisy rear end that kept coming back after parts were swapped, and a truck that feels unsteady on wet roads.
Brakes. 80 complaints^[5]. In the stories we read, owners describe a pedal that sinks to the floor, brakes that wear out early, and a parking brake that rubbed where it should not.
Power Train. 74 complaints^[6]. Owners describe the truck slipping out of park, grinding when shifted into reverse, and stalling on hills that led to transmission work.
Engine. 65 complaints^[7]. Owners describe stalling while driving, a knocking sound from under the hood, and oil leaks.
Steering. 47 complaints^[8].
Air Bags. 32 complaints^[9]. Some owners say the bags did not open in a crash.
Seat Belts. 20 complaints^[10].
Structure. 19 complaints^[11].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 1998 Dakota Pickup is necessarily included.

Air Bags (01V153), May 2001. About 216,100 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: an air bag that may not work as intended.^[12]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings (00V193), July 2000. About 40,000 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking.^[13]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings (00V198), July 2000. About 437,000 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: reduced braking.^[14]
Structure (98V208), September 1998. About 12,400 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, parts separating.^[15]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module (97V170), October 1997. About 7,500 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: reduced braking.^[16]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Dakota Pickup 2WD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[4]	18 / 23 / 20	$3,350
Dakota Pickup 2WD, 3.9L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[17]	14 / 19 / 16	$4,200
Dakota Pickup 2WD, 3.9L 6-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[18]	14 / 20 / 17	$3,950
Dakota Pickup 2WD, 5.2L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[19]	13 / 17 / 14	$4,800
Dakota Pickup 2WD, 5.9L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[20]	12 / 17 / 13	$5,150
Dakota Pickup 2WD, 5.2L 8-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[21]	12 / 17 / 14	$4,800
Dakota Pickup 4WD, 3.9L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[22]	13 / 17 / 15	$4,450
Dakota Pickup 4WD, 3.9L 6-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[23]	14 / 18 / 15	$4,450
Dakota Pickup 4WD, 5.2L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[24]	12 / 16 / 13	$5,150
Dakota Pickup 4WD, 5.2L 8-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[25]	12 / 16 / 13	$5,150

Safety ratings

NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: 2 DR None^[26].

Engine and size

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
DAKOTA P/U CLUB CAB S/BOX 2WD^[27]	210 in	72 in	67 in	131 in	3,508 lb
DAKOTA P/U CLUB CAB S/BOX 4WD^[28]	210 in	72 in	68 in	131 in	3,979 lb
DAKOTA P/U REG CAB L/BOX 2WD^[29]	210 in	72 in	65 in	124 in	3,556 lb
DAKOTA P/U REG CAB S/BOX 2WD^[30]	191 in	72 in	64 in	112 in	3,481 lb
DAKOTA P/U REG CAB S/BOX 4WD^[31]	191 in	72 in	67 in	112 in	3,765 lb

How 1998 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Dakota Pickup model year. The 1998 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1995	208	0
1996	189	1
1997	446	5
1998	545	5
1999	641	4
2000	806	5
2001	678	7
2002	678	5
2003	296	4
2004	206	1
2005	470	6
2006	285	5
2007	145	4
2008	91	2
2009	18	5
2010	35	7
2011	44	6

NHTSA's counts for the Dakota Pickup show 545 complaints and 5 recalls for 1998^[3]. Among the 17 model years listed, 12 have fewer complaints than 1998 and 4 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2009 (18) and the most are for 2000 (806)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 1998 Dakota Pickup?

The 1998 Dodge Dakota Pickup has 545 complaints on file^[1]. Suspension stands out as the largest group at 217 complaints^[2]. Brakes and the power train follow at 80 and 74 complaints^[5]^[6]. These are unverified owner reports and the counts are not adjusted for sales. A truck this old needs a careful look at the suspension and brakes before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What are the common problems with the 1998 Dodge Dakota Pickup?: Suspension leads the complaint list, followed by brakes, the power train and the engine^[2]^[5]^[6]^[7]. See the problems section above for what owners describe.
Does the 1998 Dodge Dakota Pickup have recalls?: Yes, the by-year data shows recalls for this model year^[3]. The Recalls section on this page lists each one.
What is the gas mileage of the 1998 Dodge Dakota Pickup?: See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.
Is the 1998 Dodge Dakota Pickup reliable?: Owners filed 545 complaints with NHTSA^[1]. These reports are unverified and not adjusted for sales, so use them as a guide to what to check.
Which year of the Dodge Dakota Pickup is best?: The by-year comparison section on this page shows complaints and recalls side by side^[3].

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Dodge Dakota Pickup

1998 this page
1999 641 complaints, 4 recalls
2000 806 complaints, 5 recalls
2001 678 complaints, 7 recalls
2002 678 complaints, 5 recalls
2003 296 complaints, 4 recalls
2004 206 complaints, 1 recall
2005 470 complaints, 6 recalls
2006 285 complaints, 5 recalls

Compare all model years of the Dodge Dakota Pickup

Other Dodge models from 1998

1998 Dodge Durango 965 complaints, 4 recalls
1998 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 520 complaints, 0 recalls

All Dodge models

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 545 owner complaints on file for the 1998 Dodge Dakota Pickup (43 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 28 injuries, 6 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
217 complaints name the suspension component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 64,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Dodge Dakota Pickup model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Dakota Pickup 2WD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 23 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
80 complaints name the brakes component group (12 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 88,668). NHTSA vehicle records
74 complaints name the power train component group (6 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 79,000). NHTSA vehicle records
65 complaints name the engine component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 89,000). NHTSA vehicle records
47 complaints name the steering component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 66,000). NHTSA vehicle records
32 complaints name the air bags component group (20 crashes, 0 fires, 18 injuries, median mileage at failure 98,000). NHTSA vehicle records
20 complaints name the seat belts component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
19 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 51,500). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 01V153, filed May 8, 2001: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
Recall 00V193, filed July 17, 2000: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines / Piping, And Fittings. NHTSA recall database
Recall 00V198, filed July 17, 2000: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines / Piping, And Fittings. NHTSA recall database
Recall 98V208, filed September 8, 1998: Structure. NHTSA recall database
Recall 97V170, filed October 7, 1997: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock / Traction Control / Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit / Module . NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Dakota Pickup 2WD, 3.9L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 19 highway / 16 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Dakota Pickup 2WD, 3.9L 6-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 20 highway / 17 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,950. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Dakota Pickup 2WD, 5.2L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 13 city / 17 highway / 14 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Dakota Pickup 2WD, 5.9L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 12 city / 17 highway / 13 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Dakota Pickup 2WD, 5.2L 8-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 12 city / 17 highway / 14 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Dakota Pickup 4WD, 3.9L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 13 city / 17 highway / 15 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,450. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Dakota Pickup 4WD, 3.9L 6-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 18 highway / 15 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,450. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Dakota Pickup 4WD, 5.2L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 12 city / 16 highway / 13 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Dakota Pickup 4WD, 5.2L 8-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 12 city / 16 highway / 13 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 2 DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, DAKOTA P/U CLUB CAB S/BOX 2WD: length 210 in, width 72 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 131 in, curb weight 3,508 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, DAKOTA P/U CLUB CAB S/BOX 4WD: length 210 in, width 72 in, height 68 in, wheelbase 131 in, curb weight 3,979 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, DAKOTA P/U REG CAB L/BOX 2WD: length 210 in, width 72 in, height 65 in, wheelbase 124 in, curb weight 3,556 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, DAKOTA P/U REG CAB S/BOX 2WD: length 191 in, width 72 in, height 64 in, wheelbase 112 in, curb weight 3,481 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, DAKOTA P/U REG CAB S/BOX 4WD: length 191 in, width 72 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 112 in, curb weight 3,765 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

1998 Dodge Dakota Pickup: problems, recalls and fuel economy