Which year to buy
2011GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual
40 serious complaints of 44, the most about air bags (18) and power train (8); per car on the road, 0.9× this model's usual year. 6 recalls. NHTSA investigation EA21002: desiccated air bag inflator rupture.
What owners report
“Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 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 made aware of the issue.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the air bags, Jan 2016
“The contact owns a 2011 dodge dakota. The contact stated that the vehicle emitted an abnormal noise without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the pinion bearing failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the power train, Jun 2018
44 owner complaints · 6 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 15–17 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2011 trims and features
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
Engines: 3.7L 6-cyl; 4.7L 8-cyl · Drive: 4WD, RWD
2011 Dakota trims
| Laramie | ST | SXT/SLT | TRX |
|---|
base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Dodge reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Dodge aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 3.7L 6-cyl 4.7L 8-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 15–17 mpg | Not rated | 6 | 44 | Air bags (18) | — |
| 2010 | 3.7L 6-cyl 4.7L 8-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 15–17 mpg | Not rated | 7 | 35 | Air bags (16) | — |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Dodge Dakota Extended PU/EC 4WD | Not Rated | No | No | 6 | 44 |
| 2011 | Dodge Dakota Crew PU/CC 4WD | Not Rated | No | No | 6 | 44 |
| 2011 | Dodge Dakota Extended PU/EC RWD | Not Rated | No | No | 6 | 44 |
| 2011 | Dodge Dakota Crew PU/CC RWD | Not Rated | No | No | 6 | 44 |
| 2010 | Dodge Dakota Crew 4-DR. | Not Rated | No | No | 7 | 35 |
| 2010 | Dodge Dakota Extended Cab | Not Rated | No | No | 7 | 35 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Dakota Pickup 2WD | Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L Auto 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.7 L |
16–17 |
| 2011 | Dakota Pickup 4WD | Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L Auto 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.7 L |
15 |
| 2010 | Dakota Pickup 2WD | Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L Auto 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.7 L |
15–17 |
| 2010 | Dakota Pickup 4WD | Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L Auto 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.7 L |
15 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.