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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.

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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

Seat Belts complaints

25 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2022
Seat Belts

I bought this 1995 Dodge Dakota brand new in 1995 and it only has original 92,110 miles on it. The problem with this Dakota I have replaced the Drivers front seat belt and the replacement again is falling apart again where it will not release for a person to get out of. I don't know if the air bags will not deploy if the seat…

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I bought this 1995 Dodge Dakota brand new in 1995 and it only has original 92,110 miles on it. The problem with this Dakota I have replaced the Drivers front seat belt and the replacement again is falling apart again where it will not release for a person to get out of. I don't know if the air bags will not deploy if the seat belt is not working properly. Again the seat belt needs to be replaced again as it physically is falling apart again.

NHTSA ODI #11493482

128,500 miles · Dec 31, 2016
Seat Belts

MY DAUGHTER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLATCH. SHE COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. SHE HAD TO LEAVE AND DRIVE BACK HOME, WHERE HER DAD WAS ABLE TO GET HER OUT WITH A SCREW DRIVE. OUR MECHANIC SAID DODGE NO LONGER CARRIES THESE SEAT BELTS.

NHTSA ODI #10938909

130,000 miles · Nov 16, 2016
Seat Belts

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NON FUNCTIONAL FAILS TO RETRACT

NHTSA ODI #10926537

163,000 miles · Apr 15, 2016
Seat Belts

MY DAUGHTER, WHO WAS THE DRIVER, WAS UNABLE TO UNLATCH HER SEAT BELT. HER BOYFRIEND HAD TO FORCE IT APART IN ORDER FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR. NOW IT IS BROKEN...SHE WAS AT A STANDSTILL AT HER BOYFRIEND'S HOUSE.

NHTSA ODI #10859826

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2011
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RELEASE AFTER THE RELEASE BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. THE RELEASE BUTTON ALSO DETACHED FROM ITS HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RELEASE AFTER THE RELEASE BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. THE RELEASE BUTTON ALSO DETACHED FROM ITS HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. UPDATED 02/15/12*LJ UPDATED 03/05/12

NHTSA ODI #10440392

78,000 miles · Jul 20, 2005
Seat Belts

FAULTY SEAT BELT IN 1995 DODGE DAKOTA,HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF SEAT BELT.TOLD ITS GOING TO BE 300 TO 400 TO REPLACE.EVEN THOUGH TRUCK IS 10 YEARS OLD I FEEL IT WAS A DEFECT READY TO HAPPEN.NO WARNING JUST PUT ON AS USUAL AND TRIED TO UNLATCH AND WOULDNT.HAD TO DRIVE TO FIRE DEPT AND BE CUT OUT.

NHTSA ODI #10129426

79,673 miles · Dec 9, 2004
Seat Belts

THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED AND WHEN IT HAD COME TIME TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLATCH. THE SEAT BELT EVENTUALLY HAD TO BE CUT OFF IN ORDER TO GET THE PASSENGER OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10099788

125,000 miles · Sep 15, 2003
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SEATBELT LATCH PLASTIC CASE CRACKED, CAUSING SEATBELT TO REMAIN LATCHED. CONTACTED 2 CHRYLSER DEALERSHIPS. ONE WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE OTHER DID A COMPUTER SEARCH FOR ALL DODGE WAREHOUSES. FOUND NO PARTS IN STOCK IN PROPER COLOR. THERE WAS AN ESTIMATED 8 MONTH WAIT FOR PART. PART WAS REPLACED BY USED PART, FOUND AT A …

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DRIVER'S SEATBELT LATCH PLASTIC CASE CRACKED, CAUSING SEATBELT TO REMAIN LATCHED. CONTACTED 2 CHRYLSER DEALERSHIPS. ONE WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE OTHER DID A COMPUTER SEARCH FOR ALL DODGE WAREHOUSES. FOUND NO PARTS IN STOCK IN PROPER COLOR. THERE WAS AN ESTIMATED 8 MONTH WAIT FOR PART. PART WAS REPLACED BY USED PART, FOUND AT A JUNKYARD. SECOND PART FAILED AS WELL, HELD TOGETHER BY TAPE AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10038926

120,000 miles · Feb 13, 2003
Seat Belts

THE PLASTIC ON THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE AND THE CASTING HAD COME OFF WHICH RESULTED IN THE SEAT BELT BEING STUCK IN THE FASTEN POSITION. *JB SCC

NHTSA ODI #10007315

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2002
Seat Belts

LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS WILL NOT UNLOCK. WHEN PRESSING RED PUSH BUTTON THERE IS NO RESPONSE. CONSUMER HAD TO USE SCISSORS TO CUT STRAPS SO PASSENGER COULD GET OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8008557

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.