1998 Dodge Dakota vs 1998 Ford Ranger
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1998 Dodge Dakota | 1998 Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 545 | 576 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 108 | 289 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 43 | 66 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 29 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 13–20 | 16–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 70,000 mi | 102,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Dodge Dakota | Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 217 | 52 |
| Tires | 18 | 136 |
| Power Train | 74 | 60 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 68 | 54 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 60 | 51 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 71 |
| Steering | 47 | 19 |
| Air Bags | 32 | 32 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Clunking / rattling | 19 | 10 |
| Stalling | 18 | 32 |
| Brake problems | 17 | 8 |
| Rust / corrosion | 15 | 45 |
| Vibration / shaking | 10 | 19 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 10 |
1998 Dodge Dakota
1998 Ford Ranger
Compare all Dodge Dakota vs Ford Ranger years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.