What are the common problems with the 2001 Dodge Dakota?

Owners filed 678 complaints with NHTSA. The suspension group has 236 and brakes have 130.

Does the 2001 Dodge Dakota have recalls?

Yes, recalls exist for this model year. The count is in the by-year fact and each one is listed in the Recalls section of this page.

How reliable is the 2001 Dodge Dakota?

We do not score reliability. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so read them as a guide to what owners report. Suspension, brakes and power train lead the groups.

What is the gas mileage of the 2001 Dodge Dakota?

See the Fuel economy section of this page for the official figures.

Is the 2001 Dakota the best year?

See the by-year comparison on this page to compare it with other years of the same model.

2001 Dodge Dakota Pickup Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 678 owner complaints on file for the 2001 Dodge Dakota Pickup^[1]. The suspension group is the biggest, with 236 complaints^[2].

678owner complaints^[1]

7recalls^[3]

13–20MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups owners name, biggest first.

Suspension. 236 complaints^[2]. Owners describe a truck that wanders or pulls to one side, even after the dealer replaced parts. Some mention odd noises from a rear wheel and a jumpy ride on rough roads.
Brakes. 130 complaints^[5]. In the stories we read, owners describe brake pedals that fade, rotors that warp again and again, and a parking brake handle that broke. Dealers often could not find a cause.
Power Train. 93 complaints^[6]. Owners describe rough surging at low speed, the truck slipping out of gear, and a loss of power when shifting. A few describe wheel and axle trouble.
Electrical System. 58 complaints^[7], and 7 of them mention a fire^[7]. Owners describe stalling, warning lights that make no sense, and a wiring problem that shut the engine off on the highway.
Engine. 58 complaints^[8].
Steering. 48 complaints^[9].
Air Bags. 39 complaints^[10], and 14 of them mention a crash^[10].
Visibility. 31 complaints^[11].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2001 Dakota Pickup is necessarily included.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever And Linkage › Column Shift (07V555), December 2007. About 576,418 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, the car rolling away. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[12]
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Upper Ball Joint (04V596), December 2004. About 592,707 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: parts separating.^[13]
Equipment › Other › Labels (03V505), December 2003. About 35,692 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash.^[14]
Electrical System › Wiring (03V389), October 2003. About 50,082 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced visibility.^[15]
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage (01V233), July 2001. About 104,252 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash.^[16]
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever And Linkage › Column Shift (01V077), March 2001. About 85,400 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: reduced braking, the car rolling away.^[17]
Child Seat (00V366), November 2000. About 1,211,756 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury.^[18]

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]	17 / 23 / 20	$3,350
Dakota Pickup 2WD, 3.9L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[19]	14 / 19 / 16	$4,200
Dakota Pickup 2WD, 3.9L 6-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[20]	14 / 20 / 16	$4,200
Dakota Pickup 2WD, 4.7L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[21]	13 / 18 / 14	$4,800
Dakota Pickup 2WD, 4.7L 8-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[22]	13 / 19 / 15	$4,450
Dakota Pickup 2WD, 5.9L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[23]	11 / 15 / 13	$5,150
Dakota Pickup 4WD, 3.9L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[24]	13 / 17 / 14	$4,800
Dakota Pickup 4WD, 3.9L 6-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[25]	14 / 18 / 15	$4,450
Dakota Pickup 4WD, 4.7L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[26]	12 / 17 / 14	$4,800
Dakota Pickup 4WD, 4.7L 8-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[27]	13 / 18 / 15	$4,450
Dakota Pickup 4WD, 5.9L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[28]	11 / 16 / 13	$5,150

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
2 DR None^[29]	n/a	n/a	n/a	3	n/a

NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: 4 DR None^[30].

How 2001 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Dakota Pickup model year. The 2001 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 678 complaints and 7 recalls for 2001^[3]. Among the 17 model years listed, 14 have fewer complaints than 2001 and 1 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 2001 Dakota Pickup?

These are unverified reports sent to NHTSA by owners, so they show what people ran into rather than how every truck behaved^[1]. Suspension and brakes lead the list, with 236 and 130 complaints^[2]^[5]. Electrical complaints are fewer at 58, but they carry the most fire mentions^[7]. If you shop for one, check the suspension, brakes and wiring first. The page also lists the recalls built from official records, so look there too^[3].

Frequently asked questions

What are the common problems with the 2001 Dodge Dakota?: Owners filed 678 complaints with NHTSA^[1]. The suspension group has 236^[2] and brakes have 130^[5].
Does the 2001 Dodge Dakota have recalls?: Yes, recalls exist for this model year. The count is in the by-year fact^[3] and each one is listed in the Recalls section of this page.
How reliable is the 2001 Dodge Dakota?: We do not score reliability. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so read them as a guide to what owners report^[1]. Suspension, brakes and power train lead the groups^[2]^[5]^[6].
What is the gas mileage of the 2001 Dodge Dakota?: See the Fuel economy section of this page for the official figures.
Is the 2001 Dakota the best year?: See the by-year comparison on this page to compare it with other years of the same model.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Dodge Dakota Pickup

2000 806 complaints, 5 recalls
2001 this page
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 2001

2001 Dodge Intrepid 656 complaints, 3 recalls
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 1,112 complaints, 2 recalls
2001 Dodge Stratus 218 complaints, 10 recalls

All Dodge models

Similar cars from 2001: pickup trucks

2001 Chevrolet S10 Pickup 308 complaints, 1 recall

All pickup trucks we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 678 owner complaints on file for the 2001 Dodge Dakota Pickup (44 mention a crash, 11 a fire, 27 injuries, 2 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
236 complaints name the suspension component group (7 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 44,490). 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: 17 city / 23 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
130 complaints name the brakes component group (7 crashes, 1 fires, 8 injuries, median mileage at failure 29,000). NHTSA vehicle records
93 complaints name the power train component group (10 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 56,491). NHTSA vehicle records
58 complaints name the electrical system component group (2 crashes, 7 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 89,500). NHTSA vehicle records
58 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 62,105). NHTSA vehicle records
48 complaints name the steering component group (7 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 43,517). NHTSA vehicle records
39 complaints name the air bags component group (14 crashes, 0 fires, 10 injuries, median mileage at failure 81,500). NHTSA vehicle records
31 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 71,012). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 07V555, filed December 4, 2007: Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever And Linkage › Column Shift. NHTSA recall database
Recall 04V596, filed December 21, 2004: Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Upper Ball Joint. NHTSA recall database
Recall 03V505, filed December 10, 2003: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
Recall 03V389, filed October 10, 2003: Electrical System › Wiring. NHTSA recall database
Recall 01V233, filed July 5, 2001: Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage. NHTSA recall database
Recall 01V077, filed March 7, 2001: Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever And Linkage › Column Shift. NHTSA recall database
Recall 00V366, filed November 9, 2000: Child Seat. 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 / 16 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Dakota Pickup 2WD, 4.7L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 13 city / 18 highway / 14 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Dakota Pickup 2WD, 4.7L 8-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 13 city / 19 highway / 15 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,450. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Dakota Pickup 2WD, 5.9L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 11 city / 15 highway / 13 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,150. 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 / 14 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,800. 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, 4.7L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-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, 4.7L 8-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 13 city / 18 highway / 15 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,450. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Dakota Pickup 4WD, 5.9L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 11 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: rollover 3 stars. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records

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.

2001 Dodge Dakota Pickup: problems, recalls and fuel economy