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
87,000 miles · May 20, 2003
Tires
WHILE TRAVELING ON I-10 WESTBOUND, JUST WEST OF TALLAHASSEE FL, THE TREAD SUDDENLY SEPARATED FROM MY LEFT REAR TIRE, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL FOR A FEW SECONDS. BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC NEARBY, AND I DIDN'T USE MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO MY LEFT REAR FENDER AND WHEEL WELL. MY SPEED WAS AROUND 75 M…
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WHILE TRAVELING ON I-10 WESTBOUND, JUST WEST OF TALLAHASSEE FL, THE TREAD SUDDENLY SEPARATED FROM MY LEFT REAR TIRE, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL FOR A FEW SECONDS. BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC NEARBY, AND I DIDN'T USE MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO MY LEFT REAR FENDER AND WHEEL WELL. MY SPEED WAS AROUND 75 MPH, THE HIGHWAY WAS STRAIGHT, MY TIRE PRESSURE WAS 32 PSI (COLD). I WASN'T SURE WHAT HAD HAPPENED, BUT WHEN THE THUMPING ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY TRUCK STOPPED, I CHECKED BEHIND ME AND SAW A TIRE TREAD BELT ON THE HIGHWAY. NOT SURE IF IT WAS MY OWN, OR ALREADY ON THE HIGHWAY, USING A LOWER RATE OF SPEED, I PROCEEDED TO THE NEXT REST AREA, (37 MILES), WHERE I VERIFIED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. UNABLE TO BREAK LOOSE THE LUG NUTS, I PROCEEDED TO THE NEAREST EXIT WHERE I COULD HAVE THE TIRE CHANGED, (ABOUT 20 MILES?) DRIVING 50-55 MPH. THIS TIRE IS A FIRESTONE ATX II, SIZE 215/75R/15, ONE OF A PAIR I HAD PURCHASED AS REPLACEMENT TIRES ON 08/19/99. I HAD INQUIRED FOUR TIMES SINCE THE RECALL HAD BEGUN IN 2000 THROUGH 2001, ABOUT HAVING THEM REPLACED BUT WAS TOLD THIS SIZE WAS NOT ON THE LIST. ON THE LAST TRY, THE TIRE DEALER TRIED TO CONVINCE ME THAT FIRESTONE HAD NEVER MADE SUCH A TIRE, UNTIL I ASKED HIM TO CHECK HIS RECORDS FOR AUGUST OF 1999! MY TRUCK: 1996 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT, MILEAGE: 87000. VIN # 1BFL26XOTW700488. TIRES: ATX II SIZE 215/75R15, MILES 38,000, DOT# W2------. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING A FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP OR THE FIRESTONE CO. CONSUMER LINE. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10018995
Mileage unknown · May 13, 2003
Seats
THE FRONT SEATBACK LATCHES DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE DRIVER'S LATCH DOES NOT LOCK ALLOWING THE SEATBACK TO MOVE FORWARD DURING SUDDEN TURNS. THE PASSENGER SEATBACK WAS PERMANENTLY LOCKED NOT ALLOWING FOR SEAT BACK TO BE ADJUSTED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER CAN NOT ADD OR REMOVE PASSENGERS FROM EXTENDED CAB ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. …
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THE FRONT SEATBACK LATCHES DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE DRIVER'S LATCH DOES NOT LOCK ALLOWING THE SEATBACK TO MOVE FORWARD DURING SUDDEN TURNS. THE PASSENGER SEATBACK WAS PERMANENTLY LOCKED NOT ALLOWING FOR SEAT BACK TO BE ADJUSTED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER CAN NOT ADD OR REMOVE PASSENGERS FROM EXTENDED CAB ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10019729
Mileage unknown · May 8, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER IN 1999 STATING THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE EXHAUST OUTER MANIFOLD STUDS, AND AT THAT TIME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE MANIFOLD, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE MANIFOLD STUDS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10019520
69,890 miles · Apr 24, 2003
Seat Belts
PLASTIC COVERS CAME OFF OF DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. THEN SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE BECAUSE ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN. THE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE PRIED APART WITH A SCREWDRIVER SO THAT I COULD GET OUT OF THE SEAT BELT. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10016472
Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE WATER PUMP FAILED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10010478
101,000 miles · Mar 11, 2003
Structure
FRAME CRACKED IN HALF BEHIND THE SUSPENSION ON PASSENGER SIDE.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10010264
150,000 miles · Feb 10, 2003
Suspension
THE BUSHINGS ON THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSE.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10006867
Mileage unknown · Dec 25, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1996 DODGE DAKOTA PU. I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CATALITIC CONVERTER AS THOUGH IT'S CLOGGING UP AND OR FALLING APART INTERNALLY. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AND ALSO WHAT ARE ALL OF THE RECALLS ISSUED ON THE 1996 DODGE DAKOTA, SO THAT I CAN GET ALL OF THEM FIXED, EVEN IF IT IS AT MY EXPENSE.
NHTSA ODI #10000358
Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2002
Seats
SEAT LOCKING LATCH BEHIND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS DOES NOT FUNCTION. SEATS WILL NOT LOCK INTO PLACE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8015765
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHEN BACKING UP THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE ENGINE WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH POWER, AND WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND OTHER PARTS. THIS STOPPED THE SQUEAKING. *AK *SCC
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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