DodgeDakota19923.9L V6/dodge/dakota/1992/3-9l-v6/
AN platform

1992 Dodge Dakota — 3.9L V6

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Dakota 3.9L V6.

Body TRUCKEngine 3.9L V6Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1992 Dodge Dakota arrived as a truck built on Chrysler's AN platform, pairing a 3.9L V6 with a four-speed automatic in what defined the model year's standard powertrain offering. With EPA fuel economy of 11/13/12 mpg, the V6 automatic was a notably thirsty pairing even by truck standards of the day, and that powertrain focus carries directly into the reliability record: 292 total owner complaints concentrated in the power train, with just two recalls on file. Across the Dakota's 1990–2011 production span, the 292-complaint figure places 1992 on the quieter side of the model's history—well below the 2000 peak of 842—and helps frame the year as one of the platform's calmer chapters before later production years generated far more owner feedback.

Model year1997199619951992

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 Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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
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 / 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 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 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine 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) · 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 miBattery (replace) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · EGR Valve (replace) · Emission Control System (inspect) · Engine Breather Filter (clean)
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.

In 1992 the Dakota saw a sharp spike in consumer complaints (292) — more than double the 148 reported in 1991 and far above the 88 in 1990 — while recalls were low (2) and investigations held steady at three, indicating that most issues were being reported but not yet triggering formal corrective actions. The top complaint categories that year were Power Train (121 reports), Service Brakes/Hydraulic (50), Electrical System (19) and Engine & Engine Cooling (17), with 21 crash‑related and 8 fire‑related complaints, suggesting drivetrain and brake reliability were the most pressing concerns. Compared with the broader trend, complaints climb dramatically through the late‑1990s, peak in 2000 (842), then gradually decline; 1992 sits at the early upward inflection point of that arc, meaning the model was beginning to exhibit the reliability challenges that would intensify in later years. Because the complaint volume is already high and the most common problems involve core systems that later generations struggled to resolve, a 1992 Dakota carries a higher risk of drivetrain and brake issues and is therefore a less attractive year to purchase.

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 3.9L V6 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 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 3.9L V6 get?

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