Dodge Dakota vs Dodge Ram 1500
Owner complaints, worst years and recall history side by side, from official NHTSA data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
Dodge Dakota
- Total complaints
- 6,607
- Avg per model year
- 265
- Recall campaigns (all years)
- 32
- Most complained year
- 2000 (806)
Top problems: Suspension, Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Power Train
Dodge Ram 1500
- Total complaints
- 12,397
- Avg per model year
- 591
- Recall campaigns (all years)
- 28
- Most complained year
- 2003 (1,170)
Top problems: Power Train, Air Bags, Structure
Complaints by model year
| Year | Dodge Dakota | Dodge Ram 1500 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 44 | 688 | ||
| 2010 | 35 | 486 | ||
| 2009 | 18 | 670 | ||
| 2008 | 91 | 554 | ||
| 2007 | 144 | 517 | ||
| 2006 | 285 | 792 | ||
| 2005 | 470 | 1,168 | ||
| 2004 | 206 | 1,097 | ||
| 2003 | 296 | 1,170 | ||
| 2002 | 678 | 815 | ||
| 2001 | 678 | 1,112 | ||
| 2000 | 806 | 513 | ||
| 1999 | 641 | 610 | ||
| 1998 | 545 | 520 | ||
| 1997 | 446 | 361 | ||
| 1996 | 189 | 298 | ||
| 1995 | 208 | 213 | ||
| 1994 | 166 | 116 | ||
| 1993 | 134 | 6 | ||
| 1991 | 128 | 7 |
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports per model year. A model that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — compare the shape across years, not just the raw totals, and read the year pages for what actually fails.