IllustrationTHERE SEEMED TO BE AN INCREASING AMOUNT OF "PLAY" IN THE STEERING. IT HAS NOW GOTTEN TO THE POINT I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS TRUCK LONG DISTANCES. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END, AND THE STEERING RACK MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 -1". *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Dakota years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
Steering complaints
19 reportsI AM TRYING TO FIND IF THERE IS ANY RECALL INFORMATION ON MY DODGE DAKOTA, THE REASON I ASK IS THE FRONT ON THIS TRUCK IS GONE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY? I TAKE CARE OF THIS TRUCK, BUT THE BEARINGS ARE GONE AND I NEED A TOTAL FRONT END OVERHAUL. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME I'VE GOT ANOTHER TRUCK CHEVY 1986 3/4 4WD AND THE …
Read full complaint
I AM TRYING TO FIND IF THERE IS ANY RECALL INFORMATION ON MY DODGE DAKOTA, THE REASON I ASK IS THE FRONT ON THIS TRUCK IS GONE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY? I TAKE CARE OF THIS TRUCK, BUT THE BEARINGS ARE GONE AND I NEED A TOTAL FRONT END OVERHAUL. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME I'VE GOT ANOTHER TRUCK CHEVY 1986 3/4 4WD AND THE FRONT END ON THIS TRUCK IS JUST FINE? THEY ARE BOTH 4WD TRUCKS AND I TREAT THEM THE SAME, AND TAKE CARE OF BOTH OF THEM EQUALLY. *JB
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
AIR BAG MALFUNCTION ON 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. *MR THE AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE, SINCE NO ONE WAS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THE FACTORY. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED FOR A THIRD TIME, THE STEERING COLUMN DISPLAYED A NOISE WHEN TURNING, THE LEFT FRONT DOOR LOCK DID NOT UNLOCK WI…
Read full complaint
AIR BAG MALFUNCTION ON 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. *MR THE AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE, SINCE NO ONE WAS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THE FACTORY. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED FOR A THIRD TIME, THE STEERING COLUMN DISPLAYED A NOISE WHEN TURNING, THE LEFT FRONT DOOR LOCK DID NOT UNLOCK WITH THE KEY OR THE REMOTE INTERMITTENTLY, AND THERE WAS CLUNKING IN THE FRONT END. ALSO, REFER TO ODI# 10092738 (SAME CONSUMER). *SC *JB
I AM SUBMITTING THIS REPORT AS A RESULT OF THE REPORTED ONGOING INVESTIGATION REGARDING A DAKOTA/DURANGO WHEEL PROBLEM. ON 21 MAY 97 THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY OF MY 1995 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK COLLAPSED JUST AFTER I HAD PARKED THE VEHICLE IN MY DRIVEWAY. VIN NUMBER: [XXX]. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAI…
Read full complaint
I AM SUBMITTING THIS REPORT AS A RESULT OF THE REPORTED ONGOING INVESTIGATION REGARDING A DAKOTA/DURANGO WHEEL PROBLEM. ON 21 MAY 97 THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY OF MY 1995 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK COLLAPSED JUST AFTER I HAD PARKED THE VEHICLE IN MY DRIVEWAY. VIN NUMBER: [XXX]. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED (INVOICE STATES SEIZED AND BROKEN STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY). I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN NOV 94. I PREVIOUSLY HAD REPORTED A PROBLEM REGARDING A NOISE FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO THE DEALER IN MARCH 95 (BUSHINGS REPLACED); APRIL 95 (REPLACED UPPER SPRING INSULATORS) AND AGAIN IN MAY 96 (FRONT END LUBRICATED). I HAVE THE DEALER REPAIR INVOICES DOCUMENTING THESE PROBLEMS AND THE CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN. *JB UPDATED 08/03/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
LETTER FROM EDWARD BAILEY (LA)THE SUSPENSION MADE EXCESSIVE NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, THE BUSHINGS, FRONT SWAY BAR, UPPER CONTROL ARM, SHOCK ABSORBERS WERE ALL REPLACED. ALSO THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING. *TS *JB
SEEKING INFORMATION REGARDING PAST OR PRESENT (RECALLS) ON SAID REQUEST
STEERING RACK BROKE. NLM
NOTICED TIRES FEATHERING ON OUTSIDE EXCESSIVELY. TIRES WOULD VIBRATE IN FRONT END. TOOK TO MECHANIC & INFORMED TIRES & ALIGNMENT CANNOT BE DONE DUE TO LOWER BALL JOINTS BEING WORN OUT. ALSO, STEERING HAS TOO MUCH PLAY IN IT. *AK
STEERING WHEEL LOOSE/NOISY. ALSO REPLACED LOOSE/RATTLING EXHAUST SYSTEM.
Official recalls
0No 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
2DP03002 · 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.