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#BS-1989-DODDAK-E590

1989 Dodge Dakota

Based on reports from 88 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recalls

TSBs

🟢

Preliminary Verdict

Proceed with Caution

Based on 88 complaints, 3 crashes, 2 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

14 owners reported steering:rack and pinion issues — failures commonly reported around 144K miles.

!Inspect the Engine And Engine Cooling:engineMED

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 (14 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 Pinion14 (16%)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine6 (7%)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip5 (6%)

Structure:frame And Members3 (3%)

Power Train:clutch Assembly3 (3%)

Power Train:manual Transmission3 (3%)

Power Train:automatic Transmission3 (3%)

Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)3 (3%)

1989 Dodge Dakota: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Steering:rack And Pinion Issues

Steering:rack And Pinion complaints account for 16% of all reports filed for the 1989 Dodge Dakota, with 14 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 144,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 144K-mile mark.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 1989 Dodge Dakota, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip Issues

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 1989 Dodge Dakota, with 5 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Structure:frame And Members Issues

Structure:frame And Members complaints account for 3% of all reports filed for the 1989 Dodge Dakota, with 3 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure:frame and members-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 1989 Dodge Dakota. Recent trend: stable.

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)

01V232000Aug 2001

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4X2 PICKUP TRUCK CONVERTIBLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES (BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 1988 - JUNE 1990) AND 4X2 PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE SHELBY PACKAGE (BUILT OCTOBER 1988 - JUNE 1989). THE FRAME CAN CRACK AT THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT AND/OR THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS CAN FRACTURE.

89V237000Feb 1990

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.

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. 88 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 →

1989 Dodge Dakota: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1989 Dodge Dakota?

The most commonly reported issue with the 1989 Dodge Dakota is related to the steering:rack and pinion, with 14 complaints filed with NHTSA.

Is the 1989 Dodge Dakota reliable?

The 1989 Dodge Dakota has 88 complaints, 3 crash reports, and 2 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 1989 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 1989 Dodge Dakota have any recalls?

Yes, the 1989 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 6 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 144,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 90–120K 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.