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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

Structure complaints

20 reports
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152,000 miles · Sep 17, 2014
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO PASS THE STATE VEHICLE INSPECTION DUE TO THE FRAME BEING CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS BEYOND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO PASS THE STATE VEHICLE INSPECTION DUE TO THE FRAME BEING CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS BEYOND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

NHTSA ODI #10637013

100,000 miles · Aug 15, 2004
Structure

ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO, PAINT STARTED TO BLOW OFF MY 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. THIS TRUCK HAS HAD NO BODY WORK DONE AND HAS SUFFERED NO DAMAGE. THE PAINT IS PEELING IN MANY PLACES ALL OVER THE CAB AND IN A COUPLE OF AREAS HAS BEGUN TO RUST. PAINT SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 9 YEARS AND I AM SURPRISED THAT DODGE WOULD ALLOW SUCH A PROBLEM FOR TH…

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ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO, PAINT STARTED TO BLOW OFF MY 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. THIS TRUCK HAS HAD NO BODY WORK DONE AND HAS SUFFERED NO DAMAGE. THE PAINT IS PEELING IN MANY PLACES ALL OVER THE CAB AND IN A COUPLE OF AREAS HAS BEGUN TO RUST. PAINT SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 9 YEARS AND I AM SURPRISED THAT DODGE WOULD ALLOW SUCH A PROBLEM FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. MY VEHICLE IS A 1995 CLUB CAB SHORT BED 4X4 AND IS TWO TONE BLUE AND GREY IN COLOR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10086877

90,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicStructure

THIS IS JUST A RUN DOWN ON REPAIRS I MADE TO MY VEHICLE, BUT THEY ARE PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AT THE FACTORY. FIRST OF ALL, THE BRAKE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT I KNOW OF THAT HAS TO HAVE AIR IN THE FRONT CALIPHERS TO WORK. I HAD TO PUT BEARINGS IN BOTH FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL AS…

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THIS IS JUST A RUN DOWN ON REPAIRS I MADE TO MY VEHICLE, BUT THEY ARE PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AT THE FACTORY. FIRST OF ALL, THE BRAKE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT I KNOW OF THAT HAS TO HAVE AIR IN THE FRONT CALIPHERS TO WORK. I HAD TO PUT BEARINGS IN BOTH FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLIES. THE FRONT ONE CAME FROM THE FACTORY WITHOUT A BEARING IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ODI #10071230

184,259 miles · Jul 3, 2003
Structure

THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME RAIL CRACKED BEHIND THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER. *MR *CB *JB

NHTSA ODI #10026542

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2002
Structure

CONSUMER ADVISED VEHICLE HAS A CRACK IN THE FRAME EXTENDING FROM WELD NEAR FRONT SUSPENSION TO DOWN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. RELATED INVESTIGATION DP02009/FRAME CRACKS. TS

NHTSA ODI #8022991

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingStructureSuspension

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #566817

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2002
Structure

RIGHT FRONT OF FRAME HAS CRACKED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION IN THE STEERING, NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS OR WHILE CURBING. THE BUSHINGS AND FRONT SWAY BAR WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS BEING WORN, DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT AND FRONT …

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RIGHT FRONT OF FRAME HAS CRACKED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION IN THE STEERING, NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS OR WHILE CURBING. THE BUSHINGS AND FRONT SWAY BAR WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS BEING WORN, DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT AND FRONT BUSHINGS, CONSUMER CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS AND WAS HEARING A SCRUNCHING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OVER CURBING, DEALER REPLACED UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND SHOCK ABSORBERS, THE DEALER ALSO LUBRICATED THE SUSPENSION. A LOOSE CONTROL ARM ROD WAS REPLACED DUE TO A POPPING NOISE WHILE TURNING. THE CAUSE OF ALL THE FRONT PROBLEMS WAS DUE TO A CRACK IN THE FRAME LOCATED IN THE PASSENGERS SIDE, INSIDE FRAME, BEHIND THE FRONT WHEEL. THE LEFT SUND VISOR PIN CAME LOOSE, DEALER REPLACED. JLG *SLC

NHTSA ODI #8014190

Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2002
Structure

A CRACK HAS DEVELOPED ON PASSENGER'S SIDE INSIDE FRAME BEHIND FRONT WHEEL. DEALER: CHEVROLET WORK'S ON DODGE VEHICLES, WHERE PURCHASE WAS NOTIFIED. FRAME NEEDS TO REPLACED TO THE POINT WHERE A REPAIR WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8011845

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2002
Structure

TWO WEEKS AGO CONSUMER HEARD A CRUNCHING NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. CONTROL BRACKET THAT HOLDS FRAME WAS BROKEN. IF WHOLE BRAKET WAS BROKEN THEN FRONT WHEELS COULD FALL OFF. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRAME BROKE IN HALF JUST BEFORE THE STEERING CONTROL ARM. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #8008554

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2001
StructureInjury

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #742170

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.