Dodge ignition system locked up without warning.*mr
The worst 1990 Dodge Dakota problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Steering27
- Transmission14
- Brakes11
- Body4
- Engine3
- Electrical2
- Suspension2
- Tires2
- Fuel system1
- Seat belts1
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1990 Dodge Dakota
Recalls 3
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: 4x2 pickup truck convertibles equipped with v6 engines (built from november 1988 - june 1990) and 4x2 pickup trucks equipped with the shelby package (built october 1988 - june 1989). The frame can crack at the steering gear attachment and/or the steering gear mounting bolts can fracture.
- Risk
- 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. Owner notification began august 27, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.
Recall number 01V232000 · Recall details
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)
- What is wrong
- The frame can crack at the steering gear attachment and/or the steering gear mounting bolts can fracture.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 96V094000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine
- What is wrong
- The engine valve cover gasket may dislocate and allow an engine oil leak at the gasket.
- Risk
- The leakage of oil in the engine compartment could causea fire.
- Remedy
- Replace gasket cover with revised cover, and rtv sealant will be applied in place of a gasket.
Recall number 89V237000 · Recall details
See all 3 recalls for the 1990 Dodge Dakota
Defect investigations
Steer rck +pinion mnt fail
There is no summary currently available
PE96003
Technical service bulletins for the 1990 Dodge Dakota 16
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Automatic transmission fluid usage ATF+4
- Subject regarding wire splice repairs
- Subject regarding child seat tether anchors
- This bulletin provides a revised wire splice procedure and related parts
- Subject on the child seat tether anchors
- Information on child seat tether anchors
- Information regarding front brake caliper mounting to steering knuckle thread repair
- Information on installation of radio transmitting equipment
- Timing chain noise
- Various car owner's have expressed interest in using engine coolants made with propylene glycol instead of...
1990 Dodge Dakota fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4‑cyl | RWD | 19 | 26 | 21 |
| 3.9L 6‑cyl | RWD | 11-15 | 11-20 | 11-17 |
| 3.9L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 14 | 18 | 15-16 |
What 1990 Dodge Dakota owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
First tire separation discovered by csaa auto service during routine maintenance, on 11/07/01. Second and third tread separation were during vacation, when driving down highway, at 50mph, the tires started producing rough ride. Stopped to check tires, and noticed separation.*ak (tiresize: lt21575r15)
While driving heard a rattle, that sounded like water pump was going bad. Next day, consumer heard a loud crash bang, fan blade broke off, cut radiator hose. Fan blade had to be replaced. Consumer felt like if they would have been under hood some one may have been seriously injured.*ak the customer also noted that one of four blade fan has cracked. Radiator failed.
I want to know what emission control devices my vehicle has when it was manufactured. Need to know this by using my VIN.
I have had trouble finding information on any upgrades, or modification that have been done to the np231d transfer case since date of manufacture on 10-89. I had to replace the range fork and range fork shift hub and am now experiencing difficulties with the replacements. If I can just get some feedback on this it would help me a great deal. Thank you for your time and effort in this situation.
Anti-lock brake module failed. I took vehicle to mechanic. He could not obtain replacement part because dealer would not provide it to him. Dealer stated that vehicle had to be brought into them for rapair. Dealer mechanic advised us that repair was not necessary bacause brakes worked, just anti-lock feature would not work. We waited for several months to save up for the repair. And had the dealer repair the antilock brakes. I feel the dealer is making a hazard on the road by not providing the necessary replacement parts to other repair shops. The dealer also charges higher prices and this dealer always causes somthing else to go wrong in the process of repairing the problem it was brought in for. That is the main reason we use an independent mechanic to repair problems that were under warranty. We paid for the repairs so the dealer couldn't screw up the truck any more.
Vehicle paint chipping since 1993.
This vehicle has had problems with the transmission and drivetrain since it came off the lot. The original dealership was extremely helpful while we still lived in the area. However, when we moved to minnesota the first transmission failure occurred. 1st 2nd and 3rd gears were replaced, there was less than 7,000 mi on the truck. The second failure was less than a year later, again 1st 2nd and 3rd crapped out. This occurred again about 6-8 months later. I had asked the service shop to check the drivetrain several times, the response was that everything was within parameters. The whole system jumps and thumps when shifting gears. It also makes similar noises and jumping when going over small bumps or dips in the road. I have had the clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing replaced at about 40,000 mi. This truck has not been used for towing or hauling any heavy loads. I read in the above list about another.
The fuel tank cracked, causing the fuel to spill over. If it was to become a source of ignition, it could cause a fire. Dealer will replace fuel tank.
While loading equipment into bed, 1/2 inch aluminum rivet that holds tailgate chain bracket onto the body failed/ripped off. (qcaw)
Compare the 1990 Dodge Dakota
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Questions about the 1990 Dodge Dakota
Is the 1990 Dodge Dakota reliable?
Owners have filed 63 complaints about the 1990 Dodge Dakota, fewer than a typical Dakota model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1990 Dodge Dakota?
Steering, with 27 complaints. Next is transmission (14).
How many recalls does the 1990 Dodge Dakota have?
3 recalls, covering steering and engine and engine cooling.
Was there a recall on the 1990 Dodge Dakota steering?
Yes, 2 recalls: 01V232000, 96V094000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Dodge Dakota have bad steering?
The Dodge Dakota model years with the most steering complaints are 2004 (74 complaints), 1999 (72 complaints) and 2000 (68 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1990 Dodge Dakota get?
Official estimates for the 1990 Dodge Dakota range from 11 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.5L 4-cyl, RWD) gets 19 city and 26 highway.
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