SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
208Owner complaints

Model-year median: 166

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1995 Dodge Dakota

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 208 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Power Train: 27 reports
  • Air Bags: 26 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 26 reports
  • Seat Belts: 25 reports
  • Structure: 20 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    216
    1992    134
    1993    166
    1994    208
    1995    189
    1996    446
    1997    545
    1998
    Compare all Dakota years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Power Train
    27    Air Bags
    26    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    26    Seat Belts
    25    Structure
    20
    All reported categories
    Steering
    19    Engine And Engine Cooling
    18    Suspension
    17    Fuel System, Gasoline
    13    Electrical System
    12    Latches/locks/linkages
    9    Seats
    9    Visibility
    7    Vehicle Speed Control
    6    Equipment
    5    Exterior Lighting
    5    Fuel System, Other
    5    Tires
    5    Unknown Or Other
    4    Wheels
    3    Parking Brake
    2    Service Brakes, Air
    2    Trailer Hitches
    1    Visibility/wiper
    1

    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

    Unknown Or Other complaints

    4 reports
    Clear category filter
    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…

    Read full complaint

    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

    5,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
    Power TrainUnknown Or Other

    WHEN TRYING TO USE HEADLIGHTS HIGH BEAM, THE HEAD LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT ALL TOGETHER. BILL LUKE DODGE REPLACED A COMPONENT AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. A VIBRATION WAS NOTED AT AROUD 27 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK HAD LESS THAT 5,000 MILES. IT TOOK TWO TRIPS TO GET THEM TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AN FIX IT BY REPLACING THE DRIVE SHAFT UNDE…

    Read full complaint

    WHEN TRYING TO USE HEADLIGHTS HIGH BEAM, THE HEAD LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT ALL TOGETHER. BILL LUKE DODGE REPLACED A COMPONENT AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. A VIBRATION WAS NOTED AT AROUD 27 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK HAD LESS THAT 5,000 MILES. IT TOOK TWO TRIPS TO GET THEM TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AN FIX IT BY REPLACING THE DRIVE SHAFT UNDER WARRENTY. YOU ASKED THE QUESTION IF THE TRUCK HAD BEEN IN A CRASH. IT WAS A LESS THAN 10 MPH FENDER BENDER WHEN A VAN PULLED INTO THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK. THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ROOF AND SOME ON THE SIDE OF THE BOX.

    NHTSA ODI #10069759

    Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2000
    Unknown Or Other

    DEALER CANNOT COMPLETE RECALL NOTICE IN A TIMELY FASHION. 2 MONTHS IS NOT TIMELY! NO AFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #727824

    Mileage unknown · May 2, 1998
    Unknown Or Other

    VEHICLE HAS NUMBEROUS PROBLEMS AND OWNER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE HE CAN FILE A COMPLAINT IN HIS LOCAL AREA.

    NHTSA ODI #781635

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect 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.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.