The 2009 Dodge Dakota, a mid-size pickup truck that was part of the Dakota’s second generation (2005-2011), has been evaluated for safety performance by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This detailed analysis delves into the 2009 Dodge Dakota crash test results, providing a comprehensive overview for potential buyers and those interested in vehicle safety. Understanding these ratings is crucial when considering the safety aspects of this model year.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Good Rating for 2009 Dodge Dakota
The IIHS moderate overlap front test simulates a frontal collision between a vehicle traveling at 40 mph and a barrier. This test is critical for assessing how well a vehicle protects occupants in a common type of accident. The 2009 Dodge Dakota, as part of the 2005-2011 model range, received a “Good” overall rating in this demanding test.
This “Good” rating signifies robust structural integrity and effective occupant protection. Specifically, the 2009 Dodge Dakota demonstrated a “Good” rating for both structure and safety cage integrity, meaning the vehicle’s frame effectively resisted deformation, maintaining crucial survival space for the driver. In terms of driver injury measures, the Dakota also scored “Good” across the board for head/neck, chest, and leg/foot protection (both left and right sides). Furthermore, the driver restraints and dummy kinematics were also rated “Good”, indicating the seatbelts and airbags performed effectively in controlling the dummy’s movement during the crash.
The technical measurements from the moderate overlap front test of a 2008 Dodge Dakota (representative of the 2009 model) further illustrate the vehicle’s performance. Intrusion into the driver’s footwell was minimal, with measurements ranging from 6 to 8 cm across different footwell areas. Instrument panel and steering column movement were also minimal, indicating good preservation of the driver’s space. Driver injury measures were low, with a Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) of 184 and negligible peak acceleration at hard contact, indicating a low risk of head injury. Neck tension and bending moment were also well within acceptable limits. Chest compression was measured at 36mm, and femur forces and tibia indices for both legs were low, all contributing to the “Good” rating for driver injury measures in a frontal crash scenario for the 2009 Dodge Dakota.
Side Impact Crash Test: Marginal Rating for 2009 Dodge Dakota
The side impact test evaluates vehicle safety in side collisions, a particularly dangerous type of accident. For the 2009 Dodge Dakota (specifically 2005-2010 models without standard side airbags, which were optional until 2011), the IIHS side impact test resulted in a “Marginal” overall evaluation.
While the 2009 Dodge Dakota’s structure and safety cage received an “Acceptable” rating, indicating a reasonable level of structural performance in side impacts, the driver injury measures and head protection were areas of concern. Driver head/neck and pelvis/leg injury measures were rated “Good”, but the torso protection was rated “Poor”. Critically, driver head protection was deemed “Marginal”. This marginal head protection rating stems from tests on both a 2008 Dakota without side airbags and a 2010 Dakota with optional side airbags (which malfunctioned during testing). In both scenarios, the dummy’s head either approached the window sill or made contact, indicating inadequate head protection in a side impact, even though head injury measures weren’t critically high.
Rear passenger injury measures were generally better, with “Good” ratings for head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg. However, rear passenger head protection was also rated “Marginal” due to the dummy’s head hitting the rear window frame and pillar in both test vehicles, again highlighting a potential vulnerability in side impact scenarios for the 2009 Dodge Dakota.
Technical measurements from the side impact tests on both 2008 and 2010 Dodge Dakota models reveal B-pillar intrusion ranging from 4 to 6 cm. Driver head HIC-15 measurements were around 170-180, and neck tension forces were about 1.6-1.7 kN. Torso deflection measurements were significant, reaching maximum deflections of around 56-60mm and maximum viscous criterion values exceeding 1.3 m/s, contributing to the “Poor” torso protection rating.
Roof Strength Test: Marginal Rating for 2009 Dodge Dakota
Roof strength is another important safety aspect, particularly in rollover accidents. The 2009 Dodge Dakota received a “Marginal” overall evaluation in the IIHS roof strength test, applicable to 2005-2011 models.
In this test, the Dodge Dakota demonstrated a strength-to-weight ratio of 3.23. The peak force the roof could withstand before significant crush was 13,938 lbs, while the vehicle’s curb weight was 4,321 lbs. While a strength-to-weight ratio above 4.0 is generally considered “Good,” the 2009 Dodge Dakota’s “Marginal” rating indicates that the roof provides only a moderate level of protection in rollover scenarios compared to vehicles with better roof strength.
Head Restraints and Seats: Mixed Ratings for 2009 Dodge Dakota
Head restraints and seats play a crucial role in preventing whiplash and other neck injuries in rear-end collisions. The 2009 Dodge Dakota received mixed ratings in this category, depending on the seat type.
For models equipped with seats without adjustable lumbar support, the overall evaluation was “Acceptable”. The dynamic rating was also “Acceptable”, and the seat/head restraint geometry was rated “Good”. Technical measurements for these seats showed a backset of 40mm and a distance below the top of the head of 50mm.
However, for 2009 Dodge Dakota models with seats with adjustable lumbar support, the overall evaluation was “Poor”. While the seat/head restraint geometry remained “Good”, the dynamic rating was “Poor”. These seats failed the dynamic test parameters, with higher neck forces measured compared to the seats without adjustable lumbar. Technical measurements showed a backset of 32mm and a distance below the top of the head of 55mm for seats with adjustable lumbar.
Conclusion: 2009 Dodge Dakota Safety Summary
The 2009 Dodge Dakota presents a mixed safety profile based on IIHS crash tests. It achieved a “Good” rating in the moderate overlap front test, indicating solid frontal crash protection. However, it received “Marginal” ratings in both side impact and roof strength tests, suggesting vulnerabilities in these areas. Head restraint and seat ratings varied depending on seat type, with “Acceptable” ratings for standard seats and “Poor” ratings for seats with adjustable lumbar.
Prospective buyers of a 2009 Dodge Dakota should carefully consider these safety ratings, particularly the marginal performance in side impact and roof strength tests. While frontal crash protection is commendable, the side impact vulnerabilities, especially for driver head and torso, and the moderate roof strength are important factors to weigh when evaluating the overall safety of a 2009 Dodge Dakota. It’s also worth noting that side airbags were optional for this model year and became standard in later models, which could improve side impact safety in equipped vehicles.
