DodgeDakota19943.9L/dodge/dakota/1994/3-9l/
AN platform

1994 Dodge Dakota — 3.9L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 Dakota 3.9L.

Body TRUCKEngine 3.9LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

As an AN-platform truck, the 1994 Dodge Dakota pairs its 3.9L engine with a 4-speed automatic transmission to deliver EPA fuel economy of 14 city, 17 highway, and 15 combined mpg, requiring 4 quarts of 10W-30 or 5W-30 API oil with a filter. With 233 total owner complaints focused primarily on the hydraulic service brakes and accompanied by four recalls, the vehicle presents a distinct mechanical profile for researchers. When contextualized against the Dakota's 1990–2011 complaint history—where the peak year of 2000 saw 842 complaints and the lowest year of 2009 saw just 18—the 1994 model sits well below the model's worst reliability lows, meaning it avoids the severe pitfalls of the lineup's most problematic era but still demands focused attention to its braking system.

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 economy14/17/15 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 Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter04864849AB discontinued · alt 52004611
Spark plug68308887AA alt 68305411AA
Front wiper blades4334667
Serpentine beltB0013426 discontinued · alt 04668303
Thermostat52028185AC alt 04494470

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length208.3 in
Overall width69.7 in
Overall height65.7 in
Wheelbase131.1 in
Curb weight3516 lb
Track (front / rear)58.7 / 59.4 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined14 / 17 / 15 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 60,000 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 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Driveshaft Slip Yoke (lubricate) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine 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 miPCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (replace)
At 120,000 miFuel Filter (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 1994 Dodge Dakota sits in the early portion of the generation, where complaints and recalls were generally moderate before a sharp escalation in 1997. In 1994, complaints rose to 233 from 151 in 1993, and the model recorded 4 recalls and 4 investigations—the highest investigation count in the 1990–1996 window. While later years (1997–2003) saw far more complaints and recalls, 1994’s 44 crash complaints and 5 fire complaints, along with top issues in service brakes, powertrain, and air bags, indicate notable safety and reliability concerns for its era. The data does not specify root causes, but the elevated investigation activity suggests these problems drew regulatory attention. Given that 1994 has more complaints and investigations than the preceding year and sits on the cusp of the generation’s major trouble spike, it is not a recommended buy compared to the lower-complaint 1993 or the relatively stable 1995–1996 models.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
44
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
233
Owner complaints
44 involved a crash · 5 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 233 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic34
Power Train27
Air Bags23
Electrical System22
Steering21
Seats12
Engine & Engine Cooling12
Seat Belts11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 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.

94V043000Suspension:Front:Control ArmReported 09/03/1994

SOME UPPER CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BOLTS CAN FAIL DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT. THE BOLTS ARE TOO SOFT TO WITHSTAND THE STRESSES IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND CAN BREAK. Remedy: REPLACE THE UPPER CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BOLTS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 44 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
08010012001-05-25Electrical SystemSUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL…

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 1994 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 1994 Dakota have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.9L get?

EPA figures are 14 city / 17 highway / 15 combined mpg.