The Dodge Dakota, marketed as the Ram Dakota for the final two years of production, is a mid-size pickup truck manufactured by Chrysler and marketed by its Dodge Truck division (model years 1987–2009) and later its Ram Truck division (2010–2011) — across three generations.
It used body-on-frame construction and a leaf spring/live axle rear end and was the first mid-size pickup with an optional V8 engine. For its entire production, the Dakota was manufactured at Chrysler's Warren Truck Assembly in Michigan.
The Dakota was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year award for 2000. The new 2027 Ram Dakota for South American market was unveiled in August 2025.
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First generation (1987–1996)
The Dodge Dakota was developed by Chrysler as a mid-sized pickup. To keep investment low, many components were shared with existing Chrysler products and the manufacturing plant was shared with the full-size Dodge D/W series. The N-body platform was the result of operational efforts by Harold K. Sperlich, who was in charge of Chrysler's product planning in the early 1980s.
The first generation of the Dakota was produced from 1986 through 1996 (for the 1987–1996 model years). The Dakota was the first pickup truck with rack-and-pinion steering (2WD only, and early years were available without power steering). Inline-four, V6, and eventually V8 engines were offered along with either a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive was available only with the V6. Both 6.5- and 8-foot beds were offered.
The sport package was added as a mid-year release. Exterior colors came in black, bright white, and graphic red. Available only with the 3.9-liter V6 engine in both 2WD and 4WD, the Sport option included black grille and bumpers with side stripes and 15-inch aluminum wheels, as well as a front air dam with Bosch fog lamps and a light-bar with Bosch off-road lamps (4WD only). It also received the sliding rear window which had hitherto been reserved for the LE. At the interior, Sport buyers received a full gauge package, floor carpet, an upgraded stereo cassette player and radio, carpeted logo floor mats, a charcoal/silver "deluxe" cloth interior with bench seat with center armrest, a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel, and remote controlled outside mirrors.
Fuel injection replaced the carburettors on the 3.9 L V6 for 1988, but the rated output remained the same. Power windows and locks were now made optional.
For 1989, the Dakota convertible was introduced. It featured a fixed roll bar and a simple manual top. The idea came from Jerry York and they were manufactured by ASC (American Sunroof Company). About 2,482 were sold during the first year.
Another addition that year was Carroll Shelby's V8-powered Shelby Dakota, his first rear-wheel drive vehicle in two decades.
An extended Club Cab model was added for 1990, still with two doors. This model offered six-passenger seating, though the rear seat was best suited for cargo, children, and shorter adults.
The 1991 model year featured a new grille and hood for better access with optional 5.2 L V8, which was included with the previous Shelby Dakota V8 option. By the end of 1991, the standard square sealed-beam glass headlamps were phased out for the aerodynamic-style molded plastic headlamps attached to the grille components. It was equipped with halogen lights, making 1991 the only model year for a unique front-end for the Dakota. Also debuting on 1991 models were six-bolt road wheels (replacing the earlier five-bolt versions).
This was the last year for the Dakota convertible. To fulfill the Dodge division's commitment to the American Sunroof Company, production of the convertible version was extended into the 1991 model year. A total of eight were built. Unlike the previous years, colors and options varied more than before. This version was not advertised and did not appear in sales literature.
The 3.9 L V6 and 5.2 L V8 engines were updated to Magnum specifications for 1992, increasing rated power to , respectively. The engines now had multiport electronic fuel injection (EFI) with Chrysler's powertrain control module which was partially responsible for the improved performance.
The 1994 model year had a few minor changes, with the most notable being the addition of a standard driver's-side airbag, located in a new, two-spoke steering wheel (also found in the Ram). Other changes included the discontinuation of the "SE" and "LE" trims. In following with the all-new Ram full-sized pickups, the top-end trim was renamed to "SLT," with these models (along with select others) including new chrome-finished, styled six-bolt steel wheels styled similar to the five-bolt type found on the larger Ram. Other changes included revisions to color and overall trim options. SRS airbags were also added for 1994. A CD player became optional, as did a combination cassette player and CD player unit. Leather seats were also available on LE models. New alloy wheels were available.
The 1996 model was the final year of the first-generation. The base K-based 2.5-liter SOHC I4 engine was discontinued; it had been considered vastly underpowered compared to the competition. It was replaced by the 2.5 L AMC straight-4 engine, with an OHV valvetrain and rated at . This was the only major change for 1996, and the AMC 2.5 L engine continued as the standard engine in the new, larger 1997 model.
Li'l Red Express Dakota and Dakota Warrior
Two special editions of the first were constructed with step-side beds. Both were constructed by L.E.R. Industries of Edwardsburg, Michigan. The step-side beds were constructed out of fiberglass and galvanneal. Wooden bed rails were also available.
The Li'l Red Express Dakota was made to resemble the original 1978–1979 Express models that were based on the Dodge D series. It featured the step-side bed and dual vertical exhaust stacks behind the cab that were non-functional. The Dakota Warrior was made to resemble the Warlock trim from the late 1970s. Warriors included the bed as the Express, but lacked the vertical exhaust stacks. Both the Express and Warrior Dakotas had a graphics package made to resemble those of the original models.
Production numbers for the Expresses and Warriors were in the hundreds. A few were made with the 5.2 L Magnum V8 engine, which was only an option during 1992, the final model year of Express and Warrior.
Models The first generation Dodge Dakota came in three basic models:
The Dakota S was the base trim level. It included the following standard features: base vinyl seating surfaces, radio delete package, and audio system delete package (later, an AM/FM stereo with a two-speaker audio system became standard equipment on the Dakota model with a two-speaker audio system), a heater with fan control, vinyl flooring, a black front grille and front bumper, full-faced steel wheels, all-season tires, and manual "roll-up" windows and door locks. A black painted back step bumper, air conditioning, AM/FM or AM/FM/cassette radio, and power steering were extra-cost options. This model was not typically seen as a Club Cab model, and also was not available with a V8 engine option like the other Dakota models were.
The Sport was the mid-range trim level. It added features such as vinyl-and-cloth-trimmed seating surfaces, an AM/FM stereo with a two-speaker audio system, sport-styled steel wheels, bodyside cladding delete, a tilt-adjustable steering column and wheel, and interior accents to the base Dakota model. Later, it also added chrome-clad steel wheels, as well as a color-keyed front fascia and front grille, and "Sport" decals that adorned the doors and pickup bed sides of the Dakota. V6 and V8 engines were available on the Sport model.
The Sport convertible was the only convertible Dakota available, and only from 1989 until 1991, when it was discontinued. It added the following features to the mid-range Sport trim level: sport-styled alloy wheels, cloth seating surfaces with vinyl inserts and accents, an AM/FM stereo with cassette player and a four-speaker audio system, air conditioning, a manual-folding vinyl convertible roof, and "Sport" decals on the doors of the Dakota. The V6 engine and two-door regular cab was the only available configuration of the Sport convertible.
The LE, later renamed SLT, was the top-of-the-line trim level. It added features such as cloth seating surfaces, air conditioning, an AM/FM stereo with cassette player and a four-speaker audio system, alloy wheels, bodyside cladding, carpeted flooring, and power windows and door locks to the mid-range Sport model. V6 and V8 engines were available on LE or SLT models.
Engines 1987–1988: K I4, SOHC, 1987–1991: LA V6, 1989–1995: K I4, 1991: LA V8, 1992–1993: Magnum V6, 1992–1993: Magnum V8, 1994–1996: Magnum V6, 1994–1996: Magnum V8, 1996: AMC I4,
Second generation (1997–2004)
The second-generation Dakota began development in 1991, with an exterior design proposal by Dennis Myles under design director John R. Starr approved in mid-1993 and frozen for production in January 1994, 30 months ahead of Job 1. Design patents were filed on May 20, 1994, under D373,979 at the USPTO. The 1997 model year Dakota was presented by press release in the summer of 1996 and manufactured from July 1996 through July 2004. The Dakota inherited the semi truck styling of the larger Ram, and used mostly the same mechanicals as its predecessor – with the exception of its steering, which was updated to rack-and-pinion.
In the spring of 1998, a limited-edition R/T package was available as an option on the Dakota Sport model from 1998 to 2003. Available in 2WD, it included a 5.9-liter Magnum V8 which produced at 4,400 rpm and of torque at 3,200 rpm, mated to a 46RE four-speed automatic. Notable features included special 17×9" cast aluminum wheels mounted on P255/55R17 tires, monotone paint, bucket seats (with optional center console), thicker front and rear stabilizer bars, a rear axle with limited-slip differential, and suspension, braking, exhaust, and steering systems that were tuned for performance (the steering system from the R/T is the same as that from the standard Dakota), giving the R/T a ride height that was one inch lower than the standard Dakota. Chrome wheels were available on 2002 and 2003 models. Some of the last models made in 2003 came with the new stampede lower body cladding package and a chromed version of the original cast 17×9" aluminum wheels at no extra charge. This version of the R/T Dakota was produced through 2003, with the newer 2003 R/T trucks designated as their own trim line, and no longer as part of an option package on the Dakota Sport trim. The Dakota R/T could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 6.9 seconds and complete a quarter-mile sprint in just over 15 seconds. It had a maximum towing capacity of and a maximum payload capacity of .
Also in 1998, the Dakota R1 was released for production in Brazil through the efforts of a small team known as Truck Special Programs and featured a base four-cylinder engine and offered a 2.5 L VMI turbodiesel along with a V8, all designed around a reinforced four-wheel-drive chassis used on both two- and four-wheel-drive models. Altogether, 28 roll-in-chassis R1 configurations were designed for the Brazilian market to be built at the Curitiba assembly facility as CKDs. This program was cancelled when Chrysler was purchased by Daimler.
Gone for 2000 was the 8-foot bed on the regular cab, but new for that year was the Quad Cab. Four-door Quad Cab models had a slightly shorter bed, , but riding on the Club Cab's wheelbase. The Quad Cab featured a full-sized flip-up rear seat to provide room for three passengers in the back or room for cargo. The 5.2 L Magnum V8 was replaced by the 4.7 L SOHC PowerTech V8 that year, and the new 45RFE automatic transmission was introduced.