My husband was driving his 08 Dodge dakota less than 2 miles from our home. We live in a very rural area. He was not going more than 35-40 MPH. He lost control of the vehicle due to an incredible amount of shaking in the front end of the truck. Luckily, he was close to a rarely used road and pulled over. It was unusable and had to be towed to the mechanic's shop. Both tie rods had broken…
2008 Dodge Dakota steering problems
moderate 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 17 steering complaints filed for the 2008 Dodge Dakota, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Steering accounts for 19% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 8 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2008 Dodge Dakota has a documented pattern of steering failures across multiple systems. Owners report tie rod ends breaking or detaching without warning at mileages as low as 23,000 miles, with catastrophic loss of steering control that forced vehicles off the road or nearly caused highway accidents. One mechanic told an owner the tie rod ends were designed for cars, not trucks, and the same undersized parts are reinstalled rather than upgraded. Multiple owners experienced both tie rods failing within months of each other, and mechanics indicated this was abnormal and suggested a systemic problem.
Power steering lockup occurs intermittently and then suddenly, with one owner replacing the rack and pinion twice without resolving repeated steering seizure at highway speeds. Rack and pinion failures also involve fluid leakage that ruptures the steering boot. Owners report Chrysler offered only parts reimbursement, not full repair coverage, and some vehicles were deemed out of warranty despite critical safety failures at 48,000–66,000 miles. One owner with a newer family member in the truck at the time of tie rod failure stated the crash risk was extreme. Owners mention dealership records of repeated suspension complaints being ignored and believe this is a known manufacturer defect.
Same Dodge Dakota steering reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Tie Rod End Failure
Outer tie rod ends breaking or detaching without warning, resulting in complete loss of steering control. Owners report both sudden breaks and detachments. Mechanics have noted that replacement parts are car-grade components not upgraded for truck duty, yet the same undersized parts are reinstalled.
When: Between 23,000 and 66,000 miles; one case occurred at 51,000 miles within 3 years of ownership with regular maintenance
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of front-wheel steering control; Severe shaking and jerking in front end; Tie rod visibly broken or detached from suspension; No audible warning before failure; Front suspension makes suspicious noises before catastrophic failure
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement tie rod ends supplied by dealer; one owner reported the mechanic stated tie rod ends were designed for cars, not trucks, and are not upgraded when replaced. Both tie rod ends and sway bar mounts were found defective in at least one case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler offered to pay for parts only in one case. Dealer stated vehicle was out of warranty in at least two cases. No recall issued as of complaint dates. One owner references a pending recall for rack and pinion that should include 2008 Dakotas.
Power Steering System Failure (Intermittent Lockup)
Power steering fluid pressure loss or complete steering lockup occurring intermittently and then suddenly while driving. One case involved repeated rack and pinion replacements that did not resolve the issue; steering still locked up at highway speed.
When: Intermittent over 3+ months; one catastrophic lockup at 70 mph; another case at approximately 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering suddenly stops working; Steering wheel becomes extremely hard to steer; Steering jerks suddenly to one side; Steering wheel seizes and locks completely without warning; Wheels lock straight, unable to turn; Recurs numerous times even after repairs
Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion replaced twice in one case without resolving lockup issue. Steering pump also replaced once. Vehicle at 100,000 miles was taken to independent mechanic but not diagnosed or repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware in one case but offered no assistance. In another case, manufacturer was not made aware. One owner mentioned pending recall for rack and pinion.
Rack and Pinion Fluid Leakage
Power steering fluid leaks from the rack and pinion assembly, with at least one case where leaked fluid saturated the steering boot causing it to rupture.
When: At 48,000 miles in one documented case; another case at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering fluid leaking from rack and pinion; Fluid saturation of steering boot; Steering boot rupture
Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion replacement required. One replacement occurred at 62,000 miles, noted by owner as too early for such a critical component.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware in at least one case but offered no assistance. Vehicle was not repaired in the documented case. Owners cited warranty did not cover the failure or that vehicle was out of warranty.
Steering Linkage Ball Joint Failure
Ball joint in steering linkage broke at very low mileage, creating a safety risk.
When: 23,153 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering linkage ball joint broke
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Repair shop said I needed new front brake pads & rotors, tie rods were about to fall off, said it was danger to drive. Chrysler dealer said it was out warranty. *tr
While driving the outer tie rod failed and the vehicle was unusable, the dealer stated there was no warranty. The vehicle would have crashed if I had not been lucky and brought it to the side of the road quickly. Both tie rod ends were found to be defective as well as the sway bar mounts. In addition this vehicle has routinely had a turn signal problem, when you turn on the left signal the right…
Had steering trouble with your 2008 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 steering problem on the 2008 Dodge Dakota?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 30,000 and 66,000 miles, with the median around 51,243. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 66,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/2008/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.