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1996 Dodge Dakota

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Dodge Dakota do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 166.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 24 of 189 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 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports6 fire reports8 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

10 reports
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130,000 miles · Mar 7, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A RAPID INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED WHEN HE RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A RAPID INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED WHEN HE RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10450664

127,554 miles · Nov 3, 2006
Electrical SystemSeat BeltsVehicle Speed Control

OCTOBER 27, 2006 I TOOK 2 FRIENDS TO TOWN AND WHEN THE PERSON IN THE MIDDLE SEAT COULD NOT GET THE SEAT BELT TO RELEASE AFTER SEVERAL TRIES I CUT THE SEAT BELT TO GET HIM OUT. NOVEMBER 2, 2006 I WAS PICKING UP MY HUSBAND FROM THE DOCTORS OFFICE AND MY SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE AND AGAIN I HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT, SO I COULD…

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OCTOBER 27, 2006 I TOOK 2 FRIENDS TO TOWN AND WHEN THE PERSON IN THE MIDDLE SEAT COULD NOT GET THE SEAT BELT TO RELEASE AFTER SEVERAL TRIES I CUT THE SEAT BELT TO GET HIM OUT. NOVEMBER 2, 2006 I WAS PICKING UP MY HUSBAND FROM THE DOCTORS OFFICE AND MY SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE AND AGAIN I HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT, SO I COULD GET OUT. ON A RECENT TRIP OF 2400 MILES THE OIL GAUGE WAS PASSED THE MIDDLE OF THE GAUGE WHICH NEAR THE (H) WHEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING THE DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT AND I HAD TO STOP AND LET THE MOTOR COMPLETELY COOL DOWN BEFORE THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK AGAIN IN THE DASH. ON THE WAY HOME FROM MICHIGAN THE ACCELORATOR PEDEL FELL OFF IN THE MOUNTAINS IN GEORGIA AND I HAD TO PUT THE PLASTIC HOLDERS ON VERY CAREFULLY SO I COULD GET TO THE NEXT TOWN AND THERE A AUTO PARTS STORE EMPLOYEE PUT A (C) CLAMP ON THE HOLDER TO SECURE THE PEDAL ENOUGH FOR ME TO MAKE IT HOME. I STILL HAD 400 MILES TO GO AND WAS VERY APPREHENSIVE ALL THE WAY HOME AND NOW WITH THE SEAT BELT FAILURES I AM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE TRUCK . WE ARE RETIRED AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE OR WE WOULD PUT THIS IN THE JUNK YARD. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD TRUCK UP UNTIL NOW AND WE HAVE NEVER ABUSED IT IN ANY WAY AND NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10172541

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2001
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK IT WILL JUMP OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE. ALSO, WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A DOWN HILL INCLINE VEHICLE WILL ROLL FORWARD, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #893451

Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL STICKS WHEN TRYING TO DISENGAGE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #876500

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

SPEED CONTROL CAN NOT BE DISENGAGE MANUALLY AT THE STEERING COLUMN, MUST DEPRESS BRAKE TO DISENGAGE. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #551515

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT DISENGAGE WHEN MANUALLY TRYING TO DISENGAGE. DRIVER HAS TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. CONSUMER SAYS THIS IS UNSAFE. IF SOMEONE WOULD PULL OUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER, IT COULD RESULT IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #857300

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringVehicle Speed Control

THIS TRUCK WAS BOUGHT NEW. STEERING SECTOR WAS LOOSE, AND TIGHTENED. TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT. NOW FRONT BRAKES ARE SHOT. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE (INTERMITTENTLY) WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS IN FULL DOWN TILT POSITION. SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER SINCE NEW WHEN USED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NOW IT …

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THIS TRUCK WAS BOUGHT NEW. STEERING SECTOR WAS LOOSE, AND TIGHTENED. TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT. NOW FRONT BRAKES ARE SHOT. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE (INTERMITTENTLY) WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS IN FULL DOWN TILT POSITION. SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER SINCE NEW WHEN USED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NOW IT HAS SEVERE GROOVING ON INSIDE OF BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. BRAKE INSPECTION AT 31,044 MILES, ALL OKAY. AT 44,388 PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED. BACK DRUM BRAKES ARE 25% USED. DOCUMENTED WITH SERVICE RECORDS.

NHTSA ODI #540684

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 1998
Vehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT DISENGAGE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES OR SWITCHING IT OFF. AFTER APPLYING BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN FOR A CURVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD ENGAGE ITSELF AS SOON AS THE BRAKES WERE RELEASED.

NHTSA ODI #540115

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 1997
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN DRIVING SOMETIMES VEHICLE SURGES AND LOSES POWER AT ALL SPEEDS AT VARIOUS TIMES. *AK *AK

NHTSA ODI #803440

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 1996
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE IDLES HIGH, LUNGES. TT

NHTSA ODI #500967

Official recalls

1

95V199000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist

Oct 20, 1995

THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE COULD BE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AND NOT CLAMPED TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM NIPPLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A DISCONNECTED VACUUM HOSE CAN CAUSE AN INCREASE IN ENGINE IDLE SPEED AND LOSS OF BRAKE POWER ASSIST DURING BRAKE APPLICATION WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES TO INSURE THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE CONNECTION IS FULLY SEATED AND CLAMPED TO THE VACUUM CHECK VALVE NIPPLE AT THE BRAKE BOOSTER.

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

1

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.