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#BS-1988-DODDAK-E590

1988 Dodge Dakota

Based on reports from 65 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recalls

TSBs

🟢

Preliminary Verdict

Proceed with Caution

Based on 65 complaints, 3 crashes, 3 fires, and 3 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Steering:rack And PinionHIGH

22 owners reported steering:rack and pinion issues — failures commonly reported around 118K miles.

!Inspect the Power Train:automatic TransmissionMED

Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure

+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Steering:rack And Pinion (22 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Steering:rack And Pinion22 (34%)

Power Train:automatic Transmission6 (9%)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline3 (5%)

Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar3 (5%)

Steering3 (5%)

Structure:frame And Members3 (5%)

Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly2 (3%)

Power Train:clutch Assembly2 (3%)

1988 Dodge Dakota: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Steering:rack And Pinion Issues

Steering:rack And Pinion complaints account for 34% of all reports filed for the 1988 Dodge Dakota, with 22 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 118,100 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 118K-mile mark.

Power Train:automatic Transmission Issues

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 1988 Dodge Dakota, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to power train:automatic transmission-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 1988 Dodge Dakota, with 3 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar Issues

Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 1988 Dodge Dakota, with 3 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to steering: steering wheel/handle bar-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1988 Dodge Dakota. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (3 recalls)

87V194000Feb 1988

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY CONTAIN A PARK SPRAG ROD ASSEMBLY THAT MAY STICK IN THE TOOTH BUTT UNENGAGED POSITION.

88V074000May 1988

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

MACHINING ERROR IN LOCATING WHEEL STUD HOLES MAY PREVENT FULL SEATING OF BRAKE DRUM TO SHAFT FLANGE.

96V094000Nov 1996

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

THE FRAME CAN CRACK AT THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT AND/OR THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS CAN FRACTURE.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Dodge Dakota is the 2000 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 65 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 3 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Dodge Dakota Model Years

2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985

View all Dodge Dakota years →

1988 Dodge Dakota: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1988 Dodge Dakota?

The most commonly reported issue with the 1988 Dodge Dakota is related to the steering:rack and pinion, with 22 complaints filed with NHTSA.

Is the 1988 Dodge Dakota reliable?

The 1988 Dodge Dakota has 65 complaints, 3 crash reports, and 3 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.

How much does it cost to fix 1988 Dodge Dakota problems?

Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.

Does the 1988 Dodge Dakota have any recalls?

Yes, the 1988 Dodge Dakota has 3 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

What mileage do Dodge Dakota problems start?

Based on 2 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 118,100 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 30–60K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.

What’s in the full report?

10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.

How is this different from free NHTSA data?

NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.

How is this different from Carfax?

Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.

What if the report isn’t useful?

100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.