DodgeDakota19933.9L/dodge/dakota/1993/3-9l/
AN platform

1993 Dodge Dakota — 3.9L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Dakota 3.9L.

Body TRUCKEngine 3.9LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1993 Dodge Dakota is a truck built on the AN platform, powered by a 3.9-liter engine paired with a four-speed automatic transmission and EPA-rated at 11/13/12 mpg, with maintenance calling for 4 quarts of 10W-30 or 5W-30 API oil including the filter. Within the model’s 1990–2011 production span, this model year generated 151 owner complaints—far below the 2000 peak of 842 yet well above the 2009 low of 18—with Power Train issues dominating the feedback and two recalls on record. That volume positions the 1993 model well below the Dakota’s highest-complaint years while remaining significantly above its lowest, indicating a moderate reliability profile punctuated by documented Power Train vulnerabilities.

Model year20032002200120001999199819941993

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy11/13/12 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 Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, spark plug and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter04306113 discontinued · alt 05016646AA
Fuel filter52004611 discontinued
Spark plug68305411AA discontinued
Front wiper blades4334667
Serpentine beltQ4040382 discontinued · alt B0013426
Thermostat52028185AC alt 04494470

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length207.9 in
Overall width68.5 in
Overall height65 in
Wheelbase131.1 in
Curb weight3239 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined11 / 13 / 12 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 4 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 Capacity4 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; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 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.

Every 7,500 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 12,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Driveshaft Slip Yoke (lubricate) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · 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) · Spark Plugs (replace)
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 miPCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plug Wires (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.

For the 1993 Dodge Dakota, federal records document 151 complaints, 2 recalls, and 1 investigation, with the primary trouble areas concentrated in the Power Train (23 complaints), Service Brakes Hydraulic (22), Steering (12), and Engine & Engine Cooling (11). Compared to the preceding 1992 model year—which saw a spike of 292 complaints—and the subsequent 1994 model year with 233 complaints, the 1993 Dakota represents a notable, albeit brief, downturn in reported issues. Positioned at the end of the early generation's lifecycle, 1993 sits just before a steady climb in complaints and technical service bulletins that would eventually escalate into the massive defect peaks seen in the late 1990s and early 2000s. While the data does not specify the root causes for the 15 crash and 7 fire complaints recorded for this year, the overall volume of federal interventions remains relatively low compared to later models. Given its favorable position within the generational arc as a low-complaint outlier, the 1993 Dakota is a pragmatically sound used buy, assuming a thorough pre-purchase inspection of its historically problematic powertrain and braking systems.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
31
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
151
Owner complaints
15 involved a crash · 7 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 151 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train23
Service Brakes, Hydraulic22
Steering12
Engine & Engine Cooling11
Structure11
Suspension10
Unknown Or Other9
Seat Belts8

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.

93V082000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipReported 11/05/1993

SOME OF THE ABS EQUIPPED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN UNDERSIZED BRAKE RETURN CHECK VALVE. IN INCIDENTS WHERE HARD BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT IS APPLIED ON LOW FRICTION ROAD SURFACES, LIKE RAIN COVERED STREETS, THE VALVES MAY… Remedy: REPLACE THE RETURN CHECK VALVE WITH THE CORRECT VALVE.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 31 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
R2118796A2016-02-26Engine And Engine CoolingValve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.
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

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 1993 Dakota 3.9L take?

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

Does the 1993 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 3.9L get?

EPA figures are 11 city / 13 highway / 12 combined mpg.