SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1995 Dodge Dakota

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1995 Dodge Dakota do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 166.

About this comparison →
208Owner complaints

Model-year median: 166

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
216
1992134
1993166
1994208
1995189
1996446
1997545
1998
Compare all Dakota years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
27Air Bags
26Service Brakes, Hydraulic
26Seat Belts
25Structure
20
All reported categories
Steering
19Engine And Engine Cooling
18Suspension
17Fuel System, Gasoline
13Electrical System
12Latches/locks/linkages
9Seats
9Visibility
7Vehicle Speed Control
6Equipment
5Exterior Lighting
5Fuel System, Other
5Tires
5Unknown Or Other
4Wheels
3Parking Brake
2Service Brakes, Air
2Trailer Hitches
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 24 of 208 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

38 crash reports6 fire reports22 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

18 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2004
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. *MR WHILE, MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. THE FUEL PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE BAD. AT 25596 THE FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED TO READ ACCURATELY, AT 59209, THE GAS CONNECTOR FAILED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THE BREAK DOWN(S). THE VEHICLE ALSO H…

Read full complaint

VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. *MR WHILE, MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. THE FUEL PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE BAD. AT 25596 THE FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED TO READ ACCURATELY, AT 59209, THE GAS CONNECTOR FAILED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THE BREAK DOWN(S). THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH SPARK PLUG KNOCKING AND ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A LEAK, THERE WERE UNRESOLVED SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, THE REPLACEMENT STEERING COLUMN HAD PLAY IN IT, THERE WAS A BAD BALL JOINT, AND THE AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10092738

13,000 miles · Aug 13, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL JERK AND THEN STALL WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10033866

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES THAT THERES KNOCKING IN ENGINE AT ANY SPEED OR SITTING STILL, CHAIN IS HITTING THE SIDE OF MOUNTS. CONSUMER STATES IF CHAIN BREAKS AT HIGH SPEED VEHICLE WILL COME TO A STOP, AND CONSUMER COULD BE REAR ENDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ODI #8020900

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingStructureSuspension

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #566817

Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, OtherTrailer Hitches

THE TWO LIFTERS FAIL. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS A SHORT CIRCUIT CAUSING THE GAS INDICATOR TO MALFUNCTION. THE ENGINE IS EXPERIENCING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THE TIMING CHAIN WAS CAUSING THE ENGINE PROBLEM. *YC

NHTSA ODI #852414

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

TIMING BELT WAS HITTING AGAINST THE HOUSING CAUSING NOISE. MJS

NHTSA ODI #548910

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

FUEL EMISSION CONTROL VALVE IS NOT WORKING, FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS CAUSING GAUGE FAILURE.. *YC

NHTSA ODI #842653

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ,THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #843923

Mileage unknown · May 7, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE HAD AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT OPERATES THE FUEL INJECTION ON MY VEHICLE. AT TIMES, THE ENGINE JUST REVS UP TO SEVERAL THOUSAND RPMS WHILE I'M DRIVING AT 35 OR 45 MPH. AT OTHER TIMES. IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE ENGINE IS ABOUT TO DIE ON ME. I WAS TOLD AT A DODGE DEALERSHIP THAT IT MIGHT BE THE COMPUT…

Read full complaint

I HAVE HAD AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT OPERATES THE FUEL INJECTION ON MY VEHICLE. AT TIMES, THE ENGINE JUST REVS UP TO SEVERAL THOUSAND RPMS WHILE I'M DRIVING AT 35 OR 45 MPH. AT OTHER TIMES. IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE ENGINE IS ABOUT TO DIE ON ME. I WAS TOLD AT A DODGE DEALERSHIP THAT IT MIGHT BE THE COMPUTER THAT OPERATES THE FUEL SYSTEM. IT IS INCREASING IN BOTH FREQUENCY AND INTENSITY. IT IS GETTING TO BE A REAL PROBLEM AND I'M TOLD THAT IT MAY COST AS MUCH AS $500.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I KNOW TWO OTHER PEOPLE WHO ALSO HAVE DODGE TRUCKS AND THEY BOTH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS COULD BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE ME ON MY OPTIONS, IF YOU KNOW OF ANY. THANK YOU, STEVEN HICKS

NHTSA ODI #706308

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. EVERY 50,00 TO 60,000 MILES TIMING CHAIN GOES OUT. IN ADDITION, THE CONSUMER HEARS A RATTLING NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #833671

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

DP03002 · Steering Column Separation

Opened May 7, 2003 · Closed Jul 22, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:column

MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.

DP02009 · Frame Cracks

Opened Sep 30, 2002 · Closed Jan 8, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

MR. EDWARD W. BAILEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION BY LETTER, UNDATED, REQUESTING THAT AN INVESTIGATION BE CONDUCTED INTO THE MATTER OF A FRAME CRACK IN HIS 1995 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK.THE PETITIONER ALLEGES THAT THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS CRACKED, THROUGH NO FAULT OR RESPONSIBILITY OF HIS OWN, AND BELIEVES THAT THIS DEFICIENCY CONSTITUTES A SAFETY DEFECT, WHICH HE ALLEGES MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND/OR A CRASH.FOR THE 1993 THROUGH 2003 MODEL YEAR DAKOTA TRUCKS, THEONLY COMPLAINTS OF FRAME CRACKING WERE ON THE 1995 AND 1996 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. A REVIEW OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF FRAME CRACKING ON THE DAKOTA, AND PEER VEHICLES, DID NOT REVEAL ANY LOSS OF CONTROL, CRASHES, INJURIES OR FATALITIES.FRAME CRACKING ON THE DAKOTA TRUCKS OCCURED AT AN AVERAGE MILEAGE OF93,000. FOR THE REASONS STATED IN THEFEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE (VOL. 68, NO. 3, MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2003) THE PETITION IS DENIED.