Dodge Dakota · Engine family · 5 offered

Dodge Dakota 5.2L V8

This is the 5.2L V8 as the VIN decodes it on the Dakota — one mechanical family, every trim it was fitted to. Rated at 170 hp. We decode it on 3,792 VINs across 27 factory builds, and 17 listings are reported active. The configuration price reference is $6,995.

Cylinders
8
Power
170 hp
Induction
Naturally aspirated
Fuel
Gasoline
Fitted
1989–1999

◷ Updated September 14, 2026 ▤ National asking prices, refreshed nightly

$6,995
Configuration price reference
17
On sale today with the 5.2L 8-cyl
1989–1999
Model years it was fitted
27
Factory configurations
3,792
Dakota VINs decoded with it

The price reference is the median of configuration medians, not the median of all active cars. Each configuration has equal weight. Configurations with at least 3 priced listings are used when available; otherwise the reference uses the configurations with a recorded price. Model years, mileage and condition vary. Open a model-year report below for its asking prices across all engines.

Where the 5.2L 8-cyl sits in the Dakota engine lineup

Every engine family this model was sold with, ordered by size. The bar spans the model years recorded for it; the price is a reference across priced configurations, with each configuration weighted equally. Older engines look cheaper because the cars are older — overlapping years alone do not match the vehicles by age, trim, mileage or condition.

3.7L 6-cyl
2004–2011
$7,998
170 on sale
3.9L 6-cyl
1987–2003
$5,999
125 hp · 100 on sale
4.7L 8-cyl
2000–2011
$7,900
272 on sale
5.2L 8-cyl this page
1989–1999
$6,995
170 hp · 17 on sale
5.9L 8-cyl
1998–2003
$13,999
14 on sale

5 engine families, one nameplate. Open the Dodge Dakota price hub to compare them side by side, or to jump into any of the others.

Which Dakota years got a 5.2L 8-cyl engine

Every model year this engine was fitted to, newest first. The bar is how much of the family's VIN volume sits in that year — long bars are the years this engine was everywhere.

Year Share of VINs VINs On sale Builds
1999 1,112 4 4 1998 854 2 4 1997 742 5 4
1996 158 2
1995 256 1 2
1994 215 3 2
1993 193 3
1992 163 1 2
1991 78 3
1989 21 1 1

VIN counts come from our decode of the model's build patterns, not from live listings. A year link opens the full Dakota report for that year — every engine of the model, not just this one.

27 factory configurations with this engine

Each one is a distinct build as the VIN decodes it — trim, body, gearbox and equipment. Open a build sheet for its full spec and the VINs recorded on it.

1999

3 builds

1998

4 builds

1997

4 builds

1996

2 builds

1995

2 builds

1994

1 build

1993

3 builds

1992

2 builds

1991

3 builds

Showing the 24 most-built configurations of 27. Every 1999 Dakota build →

The 5.2L 8-cyl Dakota: common questions

Which Dakota years have the 5.2L 8-cyl?

1989–1999 — 10 model years in our VIN decode, across 27 factory configurations and 3,792 VINs.

What does a 5.2L 8-cyl Dakota cost?

$6,995 is a configuration price reference: the median of configuration medians, with each priced configuration weighted equally. It is not a listing-level median or a valuation of an individual car. The year-by-year ladder shows VIN and inventory counts; its links open model-year price reports covering all engines.

5.2L 8-cyl Dakota on the market

Individual vehicles carrying this engine, each with its own listing-history page. The sample is pinned to fixed VIN buckets, so it does not reshuffle day to day.