2005 Dodge Dakota: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2005 Dodge Dakota: 6 recalls, 470 owner complaints and up to 17 mpg combined.
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #05V002000 · 2005 · 1,142 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain pickup trucks equipped with the optional side curtain air bag, the curtain fasteners May not have been properly tightened.
Why it matters: This could result in an improper side air bag curtain deployment in certain side crash conditions, which can increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
The fix: Dealers will tighten the side air bag curtain fasteners to the proper specification. The recall began on January 17, 2005.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #05V460000 · 2005 · 256,409 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain pickup trucks, sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with 42rle automatic transmissions, the cup plug that retains the park pawl anchor shaft May be improperly installed. If the shaft moves out of position, the vehicle May not be able to achieve 'park' position.
Why it matters: If this occurs and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle May roll away and cause a crash without warning.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the transmissions and install a bracket to ensure the park pawl anchor shaft is retained in the proper position. The recall began on November 28, 2005.
Airbags Vehicle recall #14V770000 · 2014 · 250,896 vehicles
What's wrong: Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in alabama, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, texas, puerto rico, u.s. Virgin islands, saipan, guam, and american samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure May cause the inflator to rupture.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengerâs frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. For vehicles that were sold, or are currently registered, in florida, puerto rico, hawaii, and the u.s. Virgin islands, owners were notified and the recall began on December 5, 2014. For all…
Airbags Vehicle recall #15V313000 · 2015 · 4,077,169 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for…
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V352000 · 2016 · 4,648,270 vehicles
What's wrong: 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,…
Why it matters: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators May rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and…
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on…
Seats Vehicle recall #17V820000 · 2017 · 16,900 vehicles
What's wrong: These driver and passenger seats May develop hot spots that can result in the seat cushion or seat back having burn holes.
Why it matters: The hot spots and burn holes can injure the seat occupant and can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will update the seat heating system control features, free of charge. The recall began December 27, 2018.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Exterior lights Equipment recall #09E012000 · 2009 · 16,270 vehicles
What's wrong: These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
Why it matters: Decreased lighting visibility May result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 27 mention a fire, 20 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (143): the most common themes are warning light on (24), fails to deploy (10), deploys unexpectedly / inflator (7).
- Transmission & drivetrain (81): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (25), noise or vibration (16).
- Brakes (hydraulic) (67): the most common themes are noise or vibration (23).
- Suspension (51): the most common themes are noise or vibration (26), steering problems (9).
The 2005 Dodge Dakota has 470 owner complaints, ranking #6 of 22 Dakota model years for complaints (1.6× the average Dakota year). Complaints peaked in 2015 (80 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 9 years old, at a median of 58,629 miles. Neighboring years: 2004 (206 complaints, 1 recalls), 2006 (285 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | Regular |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | Regular |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 | 19 | 16 | Regular |
| 4.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 18 | 15 | Regular |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 18 | 15 | Regular |
| 4.7 L 8-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 19 | 15 | Regular |
| 4.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 15 | Regular |
| 4.7 L 8-cyl | Manual 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 15 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2005 Dodge Dakota.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2005 Dodge Dakota have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2005 Dodge Dakota, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2005 Dodge Dakota problems?
Owners have filed 470 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (143), transmission & drivetrain (81), brakes (hydraulic) (67).
What gas mileage does the 2005 Dodge Dakota get?
EPA ratings run up to 17 mpg combined (3.7 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 8 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2005 Dodge Dakota repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.