CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: SELECT DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON TO SEE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER. THE SIDE AIRBAG INFLATABLE CURTAIN (SABIC) ON ABOUT 4200 MY 2005-2007 DODGE DAKOTA VEHICLES MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY SIDE IMPACT TEST. THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER MODULE WILL BE REPROGRAMMED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Dodge Dakota airbags problems
severe 56 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
56
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
5crashes
4injuries
What stands out
Airbags accounts for 39% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 56 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The overwhelming majority of these 56 complaints—roughly 40 of them—center on a single, recurring problem: Takata recall parts being unavailable for months or years after owners received recall notices. Owners received notification letters (campaigns 14V354000, 15V313000, and 16V352000) but when they contacted dealers to schedule repairs, they were told the replacement airbag assemblies or inflators were simply not in stock. Dealers couldn't provide estimated delivery dates, leaving owners stuck with defective airbags they couldn't have fixed. High humidity, extreme heat, and older vehicles made owners more anxious about the risk of inflator rupture and metal fragmentation. Several owners reported being told to not drive the vehicle, yet manufacturers offered no loaner or rental arrangements to mitigate the wait.
A smaller but serious subset—roughly six complaints—reported actual airbag deployment failures during crashes. Owners were in collisions at 40–45 mph, and their airbags did not deploy on impact. Some experienced this after receiving recall notices they couldn't get serviced. One owner also reported an airbag fault sensor illuminating along with a check engine light, with a mechanic suspecting counterfeit or incorrectly installed airbags after dealer service.
Two complaints documented unexpected steering problems after recall service—a steering lock-up and loud snapping from the steering column area—that owners attribute to the airbag recall work."
Same Dodge Dakota airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Takata Airbag Recall Parts Unavailability
Owners received recall notices for defective Takata airbag inflators but replacement parts were not available at dealerships for extended periods—often months to over a year. Dealers could not provide estimated delivery dates, and the parts shortage persisted despite multiple follow-up calls and visits.
When: Recall notices issued 2014–2016; parts still unavailable months later through 2017
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to schedule recall repair despite multiple dealer contacts; Dealer claims no parts in stock and unable to provide ETA; Interim recall notices provided no timeline for repair availability; Owners living in high-humidity or extreme-temperature climates reported heightened anxiety about inflator rupture risk
Codes mentioned: 14V354000, 15V313000, 16V352000
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed due to lack of parts; some owners eventually had repairs done after updates noted in records, but most complaints reflect months-long delays or unresolved status at time of filing
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recalls (14V354000, 15V313000, 16V352000) issued; manufacturer/dealers cited parts distribution disconnect; no loaner or rental vehicles offered during extended waits
Airbag Non-Deployment in Collision
During motor vehicle collisions at moderate speeds (40–45 mph), the driver and/or passenger airbags failed to deploy on impact. Collisions included head-on, rear-end, and T-bone scenarios. Owners sustained injuries from seatbelts or no injuries, and vehicles incurred extensive damage. One crash occurred after owner had received but could not service a recall notice.
When: One reported at 63,000 miles; one at 90,000 miles; one at 135,000 miles (this vehicle had received but not serviced recall 15V313000); specific mileage not provided for all incidents
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not fire despite collision impact at 40–45 mph; Occupants sustained seatbelt-related injuries or narrowly avoided injury; Extensive front-end or side damage to vehicle; In one case, other vehicle's airbags deployed while this vehicle's did not
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle incurred over $10,000 in estimated front-end damage; vehicle towed for repair; other incidents did not specify repair costs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated in one instance that vehicle airbags were not faulty; no manufacturer response documented in other deployment failures
Airbag Warning Light Illumination
Airbag or check-engine warning lights illuminated on the instrument cluster. In one case, a mechanic suspected counterfeit or incorrectly installed airbags after the vehicle had been serviced at a Dodge dealer for a recall repair.
When: One at 58,000 miles; one at 75,000 miles; one at 123,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated while vehicle was operating; Check engine indicator illuminated concurrently in one case; Airbag fault sensor illuminated in one case with suspected counterfeit or incorrect airbag installation
Codes mentioned: Airbag fault code (unspecified), Check engine code related to camshaft sensors in one case
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle required two camshaft sensor replacements per independent mechanic diagnosis; airbags were not repaired due to suspected counterfeits or improper installation; vehicle not serviced
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 16V352000 (airbags) was the recall service location in one case; however, the improper or counterfeit parts went unresolved and manufacturer was not informed
Steering Issues Following Airbag Recall Service
After bringing the vehicle to a dealer for airbag recall repair, steering problems emerged. One owner reported steering lock-up when turning onto a road immediately after leaving the dealer; another reported a snapping sound from the steering column area where the airbag sits.
When: Occurred immediately or very shortly after airbag recall service
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locked up when attempting to turn; required forceful jerking to release; Snapping or popping sound from steering column in the area where the airbag is mounted; Owner reports this issue did not exist before recall service
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed faulty steering shaft couplers; owner states the issue did not exist prior to recall work and is concerned about safety; vehicle was not driven pending resolution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer involvement documented; dealer attributed to pre-existing steering shaft coupler wear
Synthesized from 56 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
No return call from dealer to make an appointment one dealer said they will call back if parts in stock no call back
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Dodge dakota. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v313000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribute…
I'm sill waiting to have my vehicle repaired , when can I expect to have this problem resolved !! Thank you [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Dodge dakota. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v313000 (air bags) however, the part for the recall was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts…
Takata reccall. No remedy since mid 2016. It is now the end of 2016. If something happens with this air bag which is supposed to save lives and it causes damages instead there will be major litigation to follow... We need to be safe in these situations, not killed or maimed.
Seem that 6 month is long enough to come up with a fix. Still no solution?
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Dodge dakota. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v313000 (air bags); however, the part to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Dodge dakota. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v352000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Dodge dakota. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v352000 (air bags). The part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms…
Takata recall: received notice s43 / NHTSA 16v-352 on july 18, 2016. It has been 3 months and parts are still not available for repair. This imposes a significant risk to any front seat passenger that an inflator rupture could result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. I am especially concerned that since I live in an area with high levels of…
Had airbags trouble with your 2007 Dodge Dakota?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2007 Dodge Dakota?
It's a meaningful issue. 56 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 58,000 and 93,981 miles, with the median around 82,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 58,000; a quarter make it past 93,981. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Dodge/Dakota.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.