The 1999 Dodge Dakota, like its predecessor, kept the four trim models -- base, Sport, SLT, and R/T. The R/T, the "sports truck," broadcast its performance image by sporting race-car striping and body-colored bumpers. All models came in regular or extended Club Cab, with a standard 2.5-liter, 120-hp engine, with options for a 3.9-liter V6 that put out 175 horsepower, a 5.2-liter V8 that put out 225 hp, or the burly 250-hp, 5.9-liter V8. The R/T model came standard with the 5.9-liter engine.

All trims except the R/T received 15-inch wheels (the R/T had 17-inch) and improved brakes for 1999. AWD models came with a redesigned rack and pinion system. The Dodge Dakota was the first pickup truck to feature rack and pinion when it was introduced in 1987.

Most changes to the 1999 Dodge Dakota were in its option package, including a redesigned overhead console, an express driver's side power window, and a second set of radio controls on the steering wheel.

The Dakota remained popular as both a truck and a second family car, since it combined the comfort and easy drivability of a compact truck with the power and hauling capacity of a full-size. Although the back seat can really only fit children, animals, or additional cargo, the front of the cab is spacious, with a well-laid-out dash featuring large controls. Drivers love the power of the 5.9-liter V8 engine, though not the gas mileage, and there have been reports of numerous repairs, particularly with the ball joints. That said, many drivers keep their Dakotas for a long time.