DodgeDakota19925.2L V8/dodge/dakota/1992/5-2l-v8/
AN platform

1992 Dodge Dakota — 5.2L V8

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Dakota 5.2L V8. Covers both the standard and High Output 5.2L V8.

Body TRUCKEngine 5.2L V8Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1992 Dodge Dakota is a midsize pickup built on the AN chassis and powered by a 5.2‑liter V8 mated to a four‑speed automatic transmission, a combination that demands 5 qt of oil with filter and runs on 10W‑30 or 5W‑30 API‑rated fluid. Its fuel economy—rated at 11 mpg city, 15 mpg highway and a combined 13 mpg—reflects the V8’s torque‑focused design rather than efficiency, while the power‑train area accounts for the bulk of the 292 owner complaints recorded for the model year and prompted two manufacturer recalls. Within the Dakota’s 1990‑2011 production span, complaint levels peaked in 2000 (842 reports) and fell to a low of 18 in 2009, placing the 1992 truck in the lower‑middle range of reliability for the line, indicating a vehicle that is generally serviceable but warrants attention to its drivetrain durability.

Model year1997199619951992

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy11/15/13 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, spark plug and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05281090AB
Engine air filter05016646AA discontinued · alt 04306113
Fuel filter52004611 discontinued
Spark plug68305411AA discontinued
Front wiper blades4334667
Serpentine beltB0013426 discontinued · alt B0015481AB
Thermostat52028185AC alt 04494470

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length205.1 in
Overall width69.7 in
Overall height64.2 in
Wheelbase131.1 in
Curb weight3243 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined11 / 15 / 13 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt w/ filter of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, Front: 80W-; Rear: 7 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilFront: 80W-; Rear: 7
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.5 Pints mvc Front
Differential Gear OilFront: 80W-; Rear: 7
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt w/ filter

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Parking Brake Linkage (lubricate) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 37,500 miBands (adjust) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miAir Cleaner Manifold Heat Control Actuator (inspect) · Battery (replace) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · EGR Valve (replace) · Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 82,500 miOxygen Sensor (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1992 Dodge Dakota stands out with 292 complaints, a sharp increase from 148 in 1991 and 88 in 1990, and notably higher than the 151 complaints recorded for 1993. This spike is driven primarily by power train issues, which account for 121 of the 292 complaints, a concentration not matched in the surrounding model years. While recalls for 1992 are relatively low at 2, compared to 5 in 1991, the number of investigations remains elevated at 3, and TSBs continue an upward trend to 27. The data does not specify root causes, but the combination of high complaint volume, 21 crash-related complaints, and 8 fire complaints suggests potential reliability concerns. Given this pattern, the 1992 model year appears to be a riskier choice within the early generation, and a 1993 model with significantly fewer complaints may be a more prudent option.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
27
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
292
Owner complaints
21 involved a crash · 8 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 292 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train121
Service Brakes, Hydraulic50
Electrical System19
Engine & Engine Cooling17
Structure13
Fuel System, Gasoline10
Vehicle Speed Control9
Suspension8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E049000Exterior LightingReported 24/05/2006

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH… Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

00V106000Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)Reported 11/04/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A500 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. INADVERTENT PLACEMENT OF THE SHIFT LEVER IN REVERSE CAN OCCUR WHEN THE DRIVER BELIEVES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN PLACED IN… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEEL MANUAL VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION WITH AN ALUMINUM VERSION.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 27 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
90028492014-09-03StructurePart Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission…
90028492014-09-03EquipmentPart Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission…
13003032003-11-07StructureFRAME CRACKING. *TT
21006012001-03-16Power TrainAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ
0800600REV2000-12-29Electrical SystemSUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Dakota. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1992 Dakota 5.2L V8 take?

5 qt w/ filter of ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 32 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Dakota have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 5.2L V8 get?

EPA figures are 11 city / 15 highway / 13 combined mpg.