Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1988 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 ↗CHRYSLER/STEERING RACK AND PINION MOUNT
- Summary
- THE FRAME CAN CRACK AT THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT AND/OR THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS CAN FRACTURE.
- Consequence
- THE STEERING GEAR CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL ADD REINFORCEMENTS TO THE FRAME AND REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS. IF THE FRAME IS ALREADY CRACKED, THE STEERING GEAR WELD NUTS WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.
WHEELS:LUGS:NUTS:BOLTS
- Summary
- MACHINING ERROR IN LOCATING WHEEL STUD HOLES MAY PREVENT FULL SEATING OF BRAKE DRUM TO SHAFT FLANGE.
- Consequence
- WHEEL STUDS COULD LOOSEN, ALLOWING WHEEL TO SEPARATEFROM THE TRUCK.
- Remedy
- REPLACE AXLE SHAFTS AS NECESSARY.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC:INDICATOR:LEVER
- Summary
- AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY CONTAIN A PARK SPRAG ROD ASSEMBLY THAT MAY STICK IN THE TOOTH BUTT UNENGAGED POSITION.
- Consequence
- THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL WITH THEGEAR SHIFT LEVER IN PARK POSITION.
- Remedy
- ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES WILL HAVE THE PARK SPRAG ROD ASSEMBLIES REPLACED.
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 (55)
55 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 55 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 26 | 47.3% |
| Power train | 10 | 18.2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 7.3% |
| Structure | 3 | 5.5% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 3.6% |
| Equipment | 2 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 3.6% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 3.6% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 3.6% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 3.6% |
How 1988 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 1988 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
1988 Dodge Dakota FAQ
How many recalls does the 1988 Dodge Dakota have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 96V094000 (steering), 88V074000 (wheel), 87V194000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1988 Dodge Dakota problems?
Owners filed 55 complaints with NHTSA. Steering (26), Power train (10), Engine and engine cooling (4) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1988 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 1988 drew 55. 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.