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
What owners actually said
208 reports
228,750 miles · Jul 24, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages
THE SHEET METAL ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS TEARING IN TWO PLACES: AT THE DOOR LATCH AND AT THE LOWER HINGE. THE PROBLEM STARTED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WHEN IT WAS NOTED THAT THE DRIVER'S DOOR BECAME NOTICEABLY MORE DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. IT FELT AS IF HINGE WAS STICKING. I TRIED LUBRICATING IT. IT DIDN'T HELP. I ALSO NOTED THAT THE LAT…
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THE SHEET METAL ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS TEARING IN TWO PLACES: AT THE DOOR LATCH AND AT THE LOWER HINGE. THE PROBLEM STARTED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WHEN IT WAS NOTED THAT THE DRIVER'S DOOR BECAME NOTICEABLY MORE DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. IT FELT AS IF HINGE WAS STICKING. I TRIED LUBRICATING IT. IT DIDN'T HELP. I ALSO NOTED THAT THE LATCH WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SOMETIMES WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR, THE LATCH WOULD CLOSE WITHOUT LATCHING THE DOOR SHUT. I INSPECTED THE LATCH AND SAW THAT THE PLASTIC COVERING THE HOOKING MECHANISM WAS CHEWED UP. (THE LATCH POST ON THE DOORFRAME WAS NOT LOOSE OR OUT OF ALIGNMENT, IT WAS ALSO CHEWED UP.) I OBSERVED THAT THERE IS A ONE-INCH TEAR IN THE SHEET METAL BELOW THE INBOARD SCREW THAT ATTACHES THE LATCH TO THE DOOR. A SIMILAR TEAR IS NOTED AT THE LOWER EDGE OF THE LOWER HINGE. I HAVE REPLACED THE LATCH LAST WEEK. THE NEW LATCH IS SHOWING PREMATURE WEAR. THE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IT HAS OPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10029059
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 · Jun 9, 2003
SteeringSuspension
LETTER FROM EDWARD BAILEY (LA)THE SUSPENSION MADE EXCESSIVE NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, THE BUSHINGS, FRONT SWAY BAR, UPPER CONTROL ARM, SHOCK ABSORBERS WERE ALL REPLACED. ALSO THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING. *TS *JB
NHTSA ODI #567140
75,000 miles · Mar 27, 2003
Electrical System
WHEN THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE ON, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ACTED ERRATIC. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10014625
120,000 miles · Feb 13, 2003
Seat Belts
THE PLASTIC ON THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE AND THE CASTING HAD COME OFF WHICH RESULTED IN THE SEAT BELT BEING STUCK IN THE FASTEN POSITION. *JB SCC
NHTSA ODI #10007315
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 · Oct 16, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATES THAT THERES KNOCKING IN ENGINE AT ANY SPEED OR SITTING STILL, CHAIN IS HITTING THE SIDE OF MOUNTS. CONSUMER STATES IF CHAIN BREAKS AT HIGH SPEED VEHICLE WILL COME TO A STOP, AND CONSUMER COULD BE REAR ENDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE CABLES HAD TO BE REPLACED IN JULY. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT FOUR HOURS, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED FROM THE HANDLE DOWN ABOUT 12 INCHES, WHICH MADE THE BATTERY FAIL. CONSUEMR CALLED SEARS, WHO DID THE BRAKE JOB, AND THEY ARE …
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THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE CABLES HAD TO BE REPLACED IN JULY. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT FOUR HOURS, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED FROM THE HANDLE DOWN ABOUT 12 INCHES, WHICH MADE THE BATTERY FAIL. CONSUEMR CALLED SEARS, WHO DID THE BRAKE JOB, AND THEY ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CABLE FIRE. THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING ONTO CONSUMERS DRIVEWAY AND THE VEHICLE WAS PUT BACK IN THE SHOP FOR REPLACEMENT OF ALL THE BRAKE CABLES. *JG
NHTSA ODI #567749
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2002
Latches/locks/linkages
DOOR LATCHES DO NOT LATCH. BOTH LATCHES WERE REPLACED ON 12/18/2000. CURRENTLY, PASSENGER'S DOOR DOES NOT LATCH AT ALL. DRIVER'S DOOR LATCH WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND THE DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED. *AK *SCC
NHTSA ODI #8017666
Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingStructureSuspension
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #566817
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.
1995 Dodge Dakota Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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