Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1987 Dodge Dakota. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗EQUIPMENT:SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES(12:83)
- Summary
- SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM CABLES MAY PARTIALLY DISENGAGE AND BIND AT THE CARBURETOR THROTTLE LEVER ATTACHMENT.
- Consequence
- THROTTLE WOULD STAY PARTIALLY OPEN WHEN ACCELERATORPEDAL IS RELEASED.
- Remedy
- INSTALL A WASHER AT SPEED CONTROL CABLE TO CARBURETOR THROTTLE LEVER ATTACHMENT TO ELIMINATE POTENTIAL FOR THIS CONDITION.
EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE:MECHANICAL:LINKAGES AND CA
- Summary
- THESE TRUCKS WERE EQUIPPED WITH REAR PARK BRAKE CABLES WHICH CAUSED LIMITED REAR BRAKE SHOE TRAVEL RESULTING IN THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM NOT HOLDING THE VEHICLE IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION WHEN PARKED ON A 20% GRADE, AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 105. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THE TRUCK IS PARKED ON AN INCLINE AND THE PARKING BRAKE SET, IT MAY ROLL BACK CAUSING DAMAGE OR AN ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- REPLACE BOTH REAR PARKING BRAKE CABLES.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (20)
20 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The steering is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 20 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 5 | 25% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 15% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 15% |
| Structure | 3 | 15% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 10% |
| Equipment | 1 | 5% |
| Power train | 1 | 5% |
| Seats | 1 | 5% |
How 1987 compares with other Dakota years
Best and worst Dakota years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 20 | 2 |
| 1988 | 55 | 3 |
| 1989 | 63 | 3 |
| 1990 | 63 | 3 |
| 1991 | 128 | 4 |
| 1992 | 216 | 1 |
| 1993 | 134 | 1 |
| 1994 | 166 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1987 Dakota for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1987 Dodge Dakota FAQ
How many recalls does the 1987 Dodge Dakota have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 87V050000 (vehicle speed control), 86V115000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1987 Dodge Dakota problems?
Owners filed 20 complaints with NHTSA. Steering (5), Engine and engine cooling (3), Seat belts (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1987 Dakota compare with other years?
Among the 1985–1994 Dodge Dakota model years at least five years old, the 1986 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1992 the most (216). The 1987 drew 20. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.