Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1999 Dodge Dakota Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint — runs 11.5× the fleet median for that category across the 964 model-years tracked on this site.
641Complaints
10Recalls
49Crashes
6Fires
27Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint (34.9% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint complaints here are 11.5× the median for that category across the 964 model-years tracked on this site.
5 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 1 rests on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint | 224 · 34.9% | Recalled | Recall 08E064000 |
| Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint | 171 · 26.7% | Recalled | Recall 08E064000 |
| Suspension | 35 · 5.5% | Recalled | Recall 08E064000 |
| Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly | 32 · 5% | No official action | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 26 · 4.1% | Recalled | Recall 00V198000 · Recall 00V193000 |
| Suspension:front | 26 · 4.1% | Recalled | Recall 08E064000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 641 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 10 campaigns
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Suspension:front:hub
NHTSA campaign 08E064000 · 2008 · reported 10/20/2008
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.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E065000 · 2006 · reported 07/17/2006
LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Engine And Engine Cooling
NHTSA campaign 06E024000 · 2006 · reported 03/15/2006
A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
NHTSA campaign 00V198000 · 2000 · reported 07/17/2000
A PUNCTURE IN THE REAR BRAKE HOSE WILL RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING FORCE AT THE REAR WHEELS. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
NHTSA campaign 00V193000 · 2000 · reported 07/17/2000
A PUNCTURE OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE TUBE CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING FORCE AT THE FRONT WHEELS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Seat Belts:front:retractor
NHTSA campaign 01V119000 · 2001 · reported 04/11/2001
IF THE RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, IT WILL NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECT OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Air Bags
NHTSA campaign 01V153000 · 2001 · reported 05/08/2001
WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE MATERIAL COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING RIBBON AND CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT. THE DRIVER AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL BECOME DISABLED, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“A TIRE BLEW UP WHICH WAS OEM AT ONLY 14,000 MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEED UNDER NO WEIGHT LOAD IN THE BED. I'M IN A TRUCK…”NHTSA complaint 736278 — filed 11/14/2000 · TIRES
“RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT WERE FALLING OUT. LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT IN DISREPAIR.DEALER NOTIFIED ON 4/10/00.MILEAGE5536 .CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEDAT20445. THERMOSTAT HOUSING REPLACED AT 13478.”NHTSA complaint 736262 — filed 11/14/2000 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
“RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT WERE FALLING OUT. LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT IN DISREPAIR.DEALER NOTIFIED ON 4/10/00.MILEAGE5536 .CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEDAT20445. THERMOSTAT HOUSING REPLACED AT 13478.”NHTSA complaint 736262 — filed 11/14/2000 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Dodge Dakota?
Suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint issues are the most-reported category, cited in 224 of 641 NHTSA complaints (34.9%), followed by suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint (171), suspension (35), steering:linkages:tie rod assembly (32). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1999 Dodge Dakota have?
641 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 49 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, and 27 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 1999 Dodge Dakota have any recalls?
Yes — 10 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E012000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1999 Dodge Dakota's reported problems?
5 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.
