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 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
What owners actually said
189 reports
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 …
Read full complaint
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 · Jul 22, 1998
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train
LESS THAN 30 DAYS AFTER PRUCHASE, ATTEMPTED TO PUT VEHICLE IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND IT WOULD NOT GO ENGAGE. THE NEXT DAY VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART.
NHTSA ODI #538692
Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 1998
Power TrainCrash
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR AXLE SNAPPED AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF. THE HIGHWAY WAS WET, AND THE TRUCK WAS SPINNING AND FLIPPED OVER AND LANDED ON THE ROOF UPSIDE DOWN. THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS THE AXLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #824792
Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 1998
Wheels
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH 6 LUGS: NUTS ON WHEEL ON REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SNAPPED IN HALF, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #824614
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 1998
Structure
THE LOWER HINGE THAT HOLDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IN PLACE HAS RUSTED THROUGH INSIDE OF THE DOOR SECTION, AND THE HINGE IS CRACKED WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #824516
Mileage unknown · May 27, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE STALLS CONTINUOUSLY.
NHTSA ODI #535943
Mileage unknown · May 22, 1998
Visibility
WHEN SWITCH FAILED, THE SMELL OF MELTED PLASTIC FILLED THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. WHEN I REMOVED THE COMPONET THE BACK OF THE SWITCH HAD MELTED. I HAVE YET TO REPLACE THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR, BECAUSE I CAN'T FIND IT. THE FUSE IN THE FUSES AND THE RELAY DIDN'T BLOW.
NHTSA ODI #536177
Mileage unknown · May 18, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE PEDAL CONTINUES TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE TAKES AWHILE TO STOP. DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, INTERMITTENT. HAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK
NHTSA ODI #823437
Mileage unknown · May 18, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. BRAKE LOSS OCCURS WHEN ON A DECLINE. DEALER REPLACED THE HUBS ON REAR WHEEL PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
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.
1996 Dodge Dakota Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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