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2005 Dodge Dakota reliability record

Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2005 Dodge Dakota — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.

Source-verified · 2026NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Official source
NHTSA complaints
598
10 in the last 5 years
Top problem area
AIR BAGS
138 complaints
Recalls on record
4
see below
Reported harm
37 reported crashes · 28 injuries · 35 fires

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Complaint rank

#838

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Dodge median

+243

median 355 across 271 Dodge records

Vs 2003-2007

+318

median 280 complaints in 857 records

Top component share

23%

Air Bags: 138 complaints

What owners report fails — 2005 Dodge Dakota

  • AIR BAGS 138
  • POWER TRAIN 58
  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 33
  • STEERING 33
  • SEATS 30

4 recalls on record for the 2005 Dodge Dakota

  • NHTSA 17V820000 · 2018 · SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER The hot spots and burn holes can injure the seat occupant and can increase the risk of a fire.
  • NHTSA 16V352000 · 2017 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, a
  • NHTSA 14V770000 · 2015 · AIR BAGS In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with met
  • NHTSA 15V313000 · 2015 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal
Look up these campaign numbers at NHTSA.gov →

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2005 Dodge Dakota

A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.

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These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2005 Dodge Dakota units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Dodge Dakota reliable?

NHTSA has 598 consumer complaints on record for the 2005 Dodge Dakota and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is air bags (138 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2005 Dodge Dakota units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Dodge Dakota?

Owners most often report problems with: air bags (138), power train (58), service brakes, hydraulic (33), steering (33). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 2005 Dodge Dakota?

Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.

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