2001 Dodge Dakota: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2001 Dodge Dakota
On the 2001 Dodge Dakota, the failure owners report most often is control arm, ball joint or bushing failure, and the reports cluster around 44,000 miles. The earliest to appear is premature brake pad or rotor wear, reported by a median of 20,000 miles. Overall it scores 71 out of 100, high risk for a 2001.
High risk for a 2001 — 68th riskiest of the 320 2001 vehicles we can rate. 946 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2001 Dodge Dakota
Owners have reported 68 named failure modes on the 2001 Dodge Dakota, and the three most-reported carry 37% of everything filed.
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure leads with 240 reports, about 2.3 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 33k to 60,000 miles.
Premature brake pad or rotor wear follows with 61 reports, usually reported between 15k to 30,000 miles.
Other powertrain problem follows with 52 reports, usually reported between 21k to 85,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into suspension (271), brakes (145) and steering (71).
The mileage the reports cluster at
599 of the reports on the 2001 Dodge Dakota came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 50,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 49% by 50,000 miles, 85% by 100,000 miles and 93% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 11 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 40,000 and 50,000 miles, which alone holds 13% of the dated reports.
32% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: premature brake pad or rotor wear around 21k, other brake problem around 29k, wheel bearing or hub failure around 37k and other suspension problem around 40k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 68. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 11 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 51 mention a crash, 12 a fire, 23 an injury and 2 a fatality. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.33, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: control arm, ball joint or bushing failure at $400–$2,200, premature brake pad or rotor wear at $300–$1,400, other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500 and other engine problem at $300–$4,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
21% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 240 | 176 | 33k | 44k | 60k | 2.3 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 61 | 37 | 15k | 21k | 29k | 0.6 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 52 | 24 | 21k | 46k | 84k | 0.5 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 39 | 20 | 33k | 73k | 96k | 0.4 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 35 | 19 | 22k | 43k | 73k | 0.3 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 35 | 25 | 17k | 29k | 60k | 0.3 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 32 | 13 | 18k | 44k | 71k | 0.3 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 30 | 17 | 24k | 40k | 50k | 0.3 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 27 | 25 | 98k | 125k | 176k | 0.3 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 27 | 19 | 55k | 85k | 148k | 0.3 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 25 | 15 | 41k | 43k | 62k | 0.2 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 24 | 19 | 57k | 58k | 81k | 0.2 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 21 | 5 | — | 29k | — | 0.2 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 19 | 9 | 36k | 60k | 68k | 0.2 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 18 | 10 | 69k | 73k | 73k | 0.2 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 16 | 12 | 55k | 55k | 86k | 0.2 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 16 | 7 | — | 37k | — | 0.2 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 15 | 14 | 63k | 79k | 91k | 0.1 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Wheel bearing or hub failure | drivetrain | 12 | 10 | 36k | 37k | 49k | 0.1 | $350–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Overheating | cooling | 11 | 7 | — | 64k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 10 | 8 | 31k | 51k | 69k | 0.1 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Heater core failure | cooling | 9 | 9 | 44k | 69k | 78k | 0.1 | $700–$2,400 | Moderate |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 9 | 3 | — | 20k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 9 | 6 | — | 101k | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 8 | 8 | 62k | 78k | 99k | 0.1 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 7 | 1 | — | 170k | — | 0.1 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 7 | 1 | — | 78k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 6 | 6 | — | 25k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 6 | 3 | — | 99k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 6 | 2 | — | 69k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 6 | 4 | — | 176k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 6 | 6 | — | 87k | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 5 | 5 | — | 55k | — | 0.0 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 5 | 1 | — | 40k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 5 | 5 | — | 33k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 5 | 5 | — | 3 | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 5 | 3 | — | 5k | — | 0.0 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 4 | 4 | — | 10k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Fuel injector failure | fuel | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Window regulator or power window failure | body | 4 | 2 | — | 85k | — | 0.0 | $250–$900 | Moderate |
| Air conditioning failure | hvac | 4 | 3 | — | 176k | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 119k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Blower motor or climate control failure | hvac | 3 | 3 | — | 8k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 3 | 2 | — | 104k | — | 0.0 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 2 | 1 | — | 46k | — | 0.0 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 63k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Transmission will not engage a gear | transmission | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,500–$6,000 | Critical |
| Torque converter failure | transmission | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,100–$3,200 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 2 | 1 | — | 185k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Power steering pump or fluid leak | steering | 2 | 2 | — | 20k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Wheel, stud or lug nut failure | wheels | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,500 | Critical |
| Electrical fire or melted wiring | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 104k | — | 0.0 | $1,500–$9,000 | Critical |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 49k | — | 0.0 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 99k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Water pump failure | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,200 | High |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 1 | 1 | — | 89k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 1 | 1 | — | 168k | — | 0.0 | $200–$900 | High |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 1 | 1 | — | 45k | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Paint peeling or clear coat failure | body | 1 | 1 | — | 125k | — | 0.0 | $600–$6,000 | Low |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Windshield cracking | glass | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 10k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other seat belt problem | airbag | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$900 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 18 | 9 | 47k | 85k | 150k | 0.2 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2001 Dodge Dakota draws about 9.1 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 86th percentile of complaint rates among 2001 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 104,252 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2001 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure
Excessive ball joint wear. My wife (stephanie ball) filed a complaint back in 1999 for the same problem. I think his name was steve from NHTSA contacted us and keep us informed of the problem. She has had the ball joints replaced five times in her dakota. The last contact from NHTSA was that they was going to make dodge recall these vehicles for this dangerous problem. It has been two years and we have not heard any more on this issue. I help by getting names of other people that was having the same problem. I manage an auto parts store a auto of madison wv and this is not just an isolated problem. I know of 4 dakota that were wrecked and sustained severe damage due to ball joint failure. The adjuster from state farm's mother had a wreck due to ball joint failure. And he said that he had seen several that had wrecked. I could replace these ball joints with aftermarket moog brand and solve the problem. But it shouldn't be up to me to solve it. I would have thought after the firestone episode that issues like this would be taken more seriously. I contacted the dealer today because you have to check the ball joints every couple of…
My balljoints snapped while turning in my sons school one morning , resulting in my front wheel and brake assembly falling off completely from my 2001 dodge dakota 4x4 truck in december 2002. I had 1000 miles passed factory warrenty
Premature brake pad or rotor wear
Transmission continues to shift erratically, despite being seen by two different dealers. The tcm seems to be an issue. Reprogramming it doesn't seem to fix the problem. The factory tsb has been done twice but has failed to remedy the problem. Vehicle will sometimes lurch up into 2nd gear at lower speeds without warning or down to 1st from 2nd without warning despite traveling at a constant speed of approximately 20 MPH. After 22500 miles the vehicle has developed a moderate to severe problem when braking. The vehicle seems to hop in the front end during braking and the brakes seem to loose effectiveness momentarily. Closer investigation revealed both front shocks had failed. The front brake system seems to be in good working order. No leaks, normal pad and rotor wear, no grooves on rotor, the front shocks were replaced but the vehicle continues to have the braking hopping pulsating problem. *jb
Transmission continues to shift erratically, despite being seen by two different dealers. The tcm seems to be an issue. Reprogramming it doesn't seem to fix the problem. The factory tsb has been done twice but has failed to remedy the problem. Vehicle will sometimes lurch up into 2nd gear at lower speeds without warning or down to 1st from 2nd without warning despite traveling at a constant speed of approximately 20 MPH. After 22500 miles the vehicle has developed a moderate to severe problem when braking. The vehicle seems to hop in the front end during braking and the brakes seem to loose effectiveness momentarily. Closer investigation revealed both front shocks had failed. The front brake system seems to be in good working order. No leaks, normal pad and rotor wear, no grooves on rotor, the front shocks were replaced but the vehicle continues to have the braking hopping pulsating problem. *jb
Other powertrain problem
Auto transmission would not shift properly on acceleartion. Required transducer and solenoid governor valve replacement twice within one year. First time it ws covered under warranty, one year and 17,901 miles later, replacement was required and not covered under dodge warranty.
When the vehicle takes off from a dead stop the vehicle does not want to move. The transmission slips and right after that the "check engine light comes on. The vehicle does not shift properly and the vehicle runs at a high RPM until the vehicle is shut off. The problem then corrects itself temporarily. I have had this truck serviced at frederick dodge 4 times. First it was diagnosed as being low on transmission fluid(claimed it was not topped off at delivery) and it was causing rear sensor on trans to shut down transmission. Second time brought in for same problem, told that rear sensor is bad, that was replaced, third time, same problem, told that software for tcm needed to be updated. Fourth time, tcm and transmission being replaced. Truck is still in shop. Totally fed up. Truck has less 9500 miles on it. *ts *jb ***dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12-12-02 cut over to artemis***763038
Recalls on the 2001 model year
NHTSA has issued 14 recall campaigns covering the 2001 Dodge Dakota, affecting an estimated 374,659 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover exterior lighting:headlights, exterior lighting, suspension:front:hub and power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column . Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
42,540 vehicles 2009-05-11- Defect
- Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
- Consequence
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on july 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
16,270 vehicles 2009-04-07- Defect
- Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
- Consequence
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
2,805 vehicles 2008-10-20- Defect
- Skf is recalling 2,805 hub units, part no. Br930361, sold as a service part for 1997-2004 dodge dakota vehicles and 1999-2003 dodge durango vehicles equipped with 2-wheel drive & rear axle ABS. Due to a specification error, the rotor pilot for the hub unit may be too long. This results in the wheel to not be seated fully against the hub flange face during mounting.
- Consequence
- Improper seating of the wheel can result in excessive vibration, brake rotor noise, difficulty removing the wheel after installation and operation of the vehicle, and possibly wheel-end separation during vehicle operation. Should wheel-end separation occur, the driver could loose control of the vehicle, possibly resulting in a crash.
- Remedy
- Skf will notify owners and replace the defective hub units free of charge. The recall began on november 5, 2008. Owners may contact skf vsm north america customer service at 1-800-644-8999.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
576,418 vehicles 2007-12-04- Defect
- On certain van and pickup trucks equipped with automatic transmissions, the ignition/park shift interlock system may become inoperative. This can allow the shifter to be moved out of the "park" position with the ignition key removed (or in the "lock" position). This can also allow the ignition key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the "park" position.
- Consequence
- Either of these conditions could allow the vehicle to roll away causing a crash without warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the gearshift blocker and bracket assembly free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during january 2008. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
3,593 vehicles 2006-07-17- Defect
- Certain aj motorsport combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
- Consequence
- Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Aj motorsport will notify owners and offer reimbursement for the lamps. The recall began on july 31, 2006. Owners may contact aj motorsport at 626-618-2026.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
61,944 vehicles 2006-03-23- Defect
- Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
- Consequence
- Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
- Remedy
- Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on april 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
44,386 vehicles 2006-03-15- Defect
- Certain replacement k&n fuel performance kits, p/nos. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, and 57-1530. Also, a small percentage of these kits were sold under the mopar performance parts brand name (p/nos. P5007069 and p5007070). All kits were manufactured from april 20, 1999, through september 23, 2004. These assemblies were manufactured as replacement equipment for certain dodge pickup trucks and suvs. A small piece of material from the tube wall could be sucked into the engine throttle body, which could cause the throttle to become jammed in the…
- Consequence
- A jammed open throttle could cause unintended acceleration of the vehicle, possibly resulting in a crash or increased stoping distances when braking.
- Remedy
- K&n will provide owners with a free repair kit along with repair instructions. The recall began on april 20, 2006.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
7,291 vehicles 2006-02-01- Defect
- Certain aftermarket airtex electric fuel pumps installed for use as replacement equipment for certain 1997-2004 jeep wrangler; 1997-2001 jeep cherokee; 1997-2004 jeep grand cherokee; and 2000-2003 dodge dakota vehicles. The plastic electrical grommet connectors at the top of the fuel pump module are not compatible with automotive fuels and may degrade causing a potential leak path for fuel.
- Consequence
- In the presence of an ignition source, a fuel leak could result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Airtex will notify its customers and will replace the affected fuel pumps free of charge. The recall began on january 25, 2006. Owners may contact airtex customer service department at 1-800-880-3056.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
592,707 vehicles 2004-12-21- Defect
- On certain sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks equipped with four-wheel drive (4x4), if moisture leaks into the front suspension upper ball joint, evacuation of the lubricant and corrosion of the joint may cause the joint to wear over an extended period of time. This could cause a clunking noise in the front suspension, which may not always be heard by the vehicle occupants.
- Consequence
- Excessive wear in the upper ball joint may allow it to separate, which could result in loss of control of the vehicle.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the front suspension upper ball joints. This safety improvement campaign began on december 21, 2004. Owners can contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
35,692 vehicles 2003-12-10- Defect
- On certain minivans and 4x2 pickup trucks, the vehicle certification label may have gross axle weight ratings (gawr) that exceed the maximum tire load capacity as defined in federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
- Consequence
- Improperly loading your vehicle can cause tire failure and result in a crash.
- Remedy
- Owners will be provided with vehicle certification label overlays containing corrected information relative to vehicle gawr and tire size. Owner notification began march 1, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-992-1997.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
50,082 vehicles 2003-10-10- Defect
- On certain pickup trucks equipped with manual transmissions, the headlamp and dash wiring harness may be chafed by the actuation of the clutch pedal. This could result in abnormal operation of the wipers, turn signals, horn or lighting systems.
- Consequence
- This could affect driver visibility, could prevent a driver from sounding a warning by using the horn, and, when the turn signals are inoperative, the driver cannot use them to signal intent to turn, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reroute the wire harness and repair the harness if necessary. Owner notification began november 3, 2003. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-992-1997.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
104,252 vehicles 2001-07-05- Defect
- Vehicle description: quad cab pickup trucks. The front outboard lower seat belt anchor bolts may not be tightened correctly.
- Consequence
- An improperly tightened seat belt anchor may not provide the anticipated level of occupant restraint in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the driver and passenger side lower seat belt anchor bolts and tighten to specification. Owner notification began july 19, 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 work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2001 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Better and worse years of the same car
High risk for a 2001 — 68th riskiest of the 320 2001 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.
Across the 16 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2008 comes out best at 63 and 2002 worst at 74, with 2001 itself at 71.
If the model year is negotiable, 2008, 2009, 2007, 2004 and 1997 score lower than 2001 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 1996–2004 generation specifically, 2004 is the strongest year at 67 and 2002 the weakest at 74.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 1996-2004 generation, 2004 Dodge Dakota scores best at 67 and 2002 Dodge Dakota worst at 74.
Where to spend the inspection money
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: premature brake pad or rotor wear from about 15k, other brake problem from about 17k, other wheel or tire problem from about 18k and other powertrain problem from about 21k.
On a 2001 Dodge Dakota with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether premature brake pad or rotor wear has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
The limits of complaint data
946 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 946 reports, 599 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 63% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Dodge Dakota?
The most-reported failures are control arm, ball joint or bushing failure (240 reports, median 44,000 miles), premature brake pad or rotor wear (61 reports, median 20,000 miles) and other powertrain problem (52 reports, median 45,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2001 Dodge Dakota problems start?
Premature brake pad or rotor wear is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 20,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 15,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 50,000 miles.
Is the 2001 Dodge Dakota reliable?
It scores 71 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 68th riskiest of the 320 2001 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2001 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Dodge Dakota is best?
Within the 1996–2004 generation, 2004 scores best at 67 out of 100 and 2002 worst at 74. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed