Complaints
945
Crashes
58
Fires
12
Injuries
37
Fatalities
2
Recalls
0
Worst 2001 Dodge Dakota Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#1162 complaints
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint
Avg mileage:48,331 mi
Crash-related:3
#277 complaints
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Avg mileage:46,098 mi
Crash-related:5
#354 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
Avg mileage:24,915 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2001 Dodge Dakota.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint | 162 | 3 | — | 48,331 mi | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 77 | 5 | — | 46,098 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 54 | — | — | 24,915 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 36 | — | 3 | 103,790 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 33 | 3 | — | 48,723 mi | |
| Airbags | 25 | 5 | — | 108,574 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 22 | — | — | 72,054 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 21 | 1 | — | 59,066 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 20 | — | — | 53,601 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 19 | 2 | 1 | 53,112 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 17 | 3 | — | 31,198 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 17 | 1 | — | 115,000 mi | |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 16 | 3 | — | 76,057 mi | |
| Suspension:Front | 16 | — | — | 50,769 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 15 | — | — | 35,317 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 13 | 1 | — | 88,400 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 13 | 1 | — | 127,850 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 12 | — | — | 69,376 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 12 | 1 | 1 | 113,085 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 11 | 8 | — | 37,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 10 | — | — | 18,941 mi | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 8 | 1 | — | 55,864 mi | |
| Manual Transmission | 8 | 1 | — | 66,668 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 7 | 2 | 1 | 54,284 mi | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 7 | 1 | — | 14,373 mi | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 7 | 2 | — | — | |
| Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | 7 | 1 | 1 | 62,229 mi | |
| Brakes | 7 | — | — | 134,903 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 7 | 1 | — | 88,390 mi |
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint
162
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
48,331
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
77
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
46,098
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
54
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
24,915
Electrical Faults
36
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
103,790
Automatic Transmission
33
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
48,723
Airbags
25
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
108,574
Suspension Failures
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
72,054
Tire Defects
21
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
59,066
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
20
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
53,601
Hydraulic Brakes
19
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
53,112
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
17
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
31,198
Unintended Acceleration
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
115,000
Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
16
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
76,057
Suspension:Front
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
50,769
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
35,317
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
88,400
Transmission / Drivetrain
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
127,850
Engine & Cooling
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
69,376
Headlight/Taillight Failures
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
113,085
Air Bags:Frontal
11
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
—
Avg Miles
37,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
18,941
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
55,864
Manual Transmission
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
66,668
Electrical System:Wiring
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
54,284
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
14,373
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
62,229
Brakes
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
134,903
Steering Defects
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
88,390
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2001 Dodge Dakota. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Dodge Dakota Years
2001 Dodge Dakota — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2001 Dodge Dakota reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2001 Dodge Dakota has 945 NHTSA complaints, 58 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint with 162 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2001 Dodge Dakota?
Top reported problems: Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint (162 complaints, avg 48,331 mi); Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint (77 complaints, avg 46,098 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor (54 complaints, avg 24,915 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2001 Dodge Dakota?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 59,213 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2001 Dodge Dakota?
NHTSA complaints for the 2001 Dodge Dakota include 58 crash-related reports, 12 fire reports, 37 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2001 Dodge Dakota have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2001 Dodge Dakota as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2001 Dodge Dakota?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Dodge Dakota reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2001 Dodge Dakota
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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