2008 Dodge Dakota Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Dodge Dakota.

20072009
Complaints
131
Crashes
10
Fires
1
Injuries
15
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2008 Dodge Dakota Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#129 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:174,500 mi
Crash-related:3
#217 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:58,553 mi
#311 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:76,118 mi
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Dodge Dakota.

Airbags
29
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
174,500
Steering Defects
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
58,553
Electrical Faults
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
76,118
Transmission / Drivetrain
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
78,000
Brakes
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
160,277
Headlight/Taillight Failures
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
87,604
Suspension Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
67,836
Seat Belt Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Driveline
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering:Linkages
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Door
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tires:Valve
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Dodge Dakota. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2008 Dodge Dakota

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~8,725,439 vehicles.

16V352000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~4,648,270 affected

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-2012 Dodge Charger, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Chrysler is also recalling 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2009 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2009 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2009 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2009 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2009 Chrysler 300, 2006-2009 Dodge Charger, 2005-2009 Dodge Dakota and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AZ, AR, DE, Washington D.C., IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Chrysler is recalling certain 2005-2008 RAM 2500, 2006-2008 RAM 3500, 2007-2008 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2008 Dodge Durango, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2008 Jeep Wrangler, 2008 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2008 Chrysler 300, 2006-2008 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2008 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or registered, in AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY.

15V313000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~4,077,169 affected

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Other Dodge Dakota Years

2008 Dodge Dakota — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2008 Dodge Dakota reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2008 Dodge Dakota has 131 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 29 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2008 Dodge Dakota?
Top reported problems: Airbags (29 complaints, avg 174,500 mi); Steering Defects (17 complaints, avg 58,553 mi); Electrical Faults (11 complaints, avg 76,118 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 2008 Dodge Dakota?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 114,505 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2008 Dodge Dakota?
NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Dodge Dakota include 10 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 15 injuries, and 0 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 2008 Dodge Dakota have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 8,725,439 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2008 Dodge Dakota?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

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 2008 Dodge Dakota

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