Sell your 2008 Dodge Dakota for cash

The 2008 Dodge Dakota is a pickup truck that came with a choice of 3.7L 6-cyl and 4.7L 8-cyl engines. At 18 years old, many are reaching the point where repairs cost more than the car is worth. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.

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2008 Dodge Dakota at a glance

Body styleStandard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engines3.7L 6-cyl, 4.7L 8-cyl
TransmissionsAutomatic 4-spd, Manual 6-spd, Automatic 5-spd
DriveRear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
FuelRegular Gasoline
Fuel economy14–16 city / 18–20 highway / 15–18 combined MPG
EPA annual fuel cost$3,700–$4,450 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles)
Tailpipe CO₂494–592 grams per mile
Versions tested by EPA8 configurations: Dakota Pickup 2WD, Dakota Pickup 4WD
Age18 years

Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data. Your car's exact equipment may differ.

What affects its junk value

  • Age: at 18 years old, most of a 2008 Dakota's value comes from reusable parts and scrap metal, not resale.
  • Weight: as a pickup truck, it's heavier than a typical car, and scrap weight is a big part of any junk offer. See how scrap prices by weight work.
  • Catalytic converter: like all gas and diesel cars, it has a catalytic converter containing precious metals, one of the most valuable parts on a junk car. An offer assumes it's still in place. More on catalytic converters.
  • Recalls: NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2008 Dakota. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking it.
  • Known problems: owners reported the most issues with the air bags, typically around 40,000 miles. If that's what failed on yours, it can still be sold as-is.

How junk car offers are calculated

2008 Dodge Dakota recalls

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls covering the 2008 Dodge Dakota. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.

Air BagsMay 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V352000Park outside / do not drive

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab…

Risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurr

Air BagsMay 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V313000Park outside / do not drive

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009…

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Common 2008 Dakota problems

Owners have filed 91 complaints about the 2008 Dodge Dakota with NHTSA. 5 reports involved a crash and 1 report involved a fire. Owners reported 7 injuries.

Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.

Most-reported components

  • Air Bags29
  • Steering17
  • Electrical System11
  • Power Train8
  • Service Brakes7
  • Unknown or Other7

Typical mileage when problems were reported

  • Air Bags40,000 mi
  • Steering51,000 mi
  • Electrical System63,000 mi
  • Power Train68,000 mi
  • Service Brakes65,000 mi
  • Unknown or Other68,000 mi

2008 Dodge Dakota crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2008 Dodge Dakota, by version tested.

VersionOverallFrontal crashSide crashRolloverRollover risk
4 Dr, RWD/AWDNot rated——★★★★☆17.9%
2 Dr, RWD/AWDNot rated——★★★★☆17.9%

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP). Ratings from different model years or rating systems aren't directly comparable.

2008 Dodge Dakota service bulletins

Manufacturers have filed 53 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 2008 Dodge Dakota. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.

Most common bulletin topics

  • Equipment11
  • Engine and Engine Cooling8
  • Electrical System5
  • Power Train5
  • Structure5
  • Engine and Engine Cooling2

Recent bulletins

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsOct 2024 · 101232

    Plate - Planetary

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsSep 2023 · 9100226

    Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability. There is

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsSep 2023 · 9100226

    Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability. There is

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsApr 2021 · 9004009

    Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles. If the transmission bracket to the transmission case fasteners are removed durin

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA opened 1 defect investigation covering the 2008 Dodge Dakota.

Air BagsEA21002 · opened Sep 2021, open

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to

Other Dodge Dakota years

‹ Sell a 2007 Dakota · Sell a 2009 Dakota › · All Dodge Dakota years

Other 2008 Dodge models

Selling a 2008 Dakota: questions

How much is a 2008 Dodge Dakota worth for junk?

It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. As a heavier vehicle, its scrap weight adds to the offer. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.

Can I junk a 2008 Dakota that doesn't run?

Yes. We buy 2008 Dakotas that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.

Can I sell a 2008 Dakota with open recalls?

Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2008 Dodge Dakota; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What paperwork do I need to sell my 2008 Dakota?

Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.

Before you sell

Sources

Data retrieved October 2026.

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