IllustrationTHE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TIRE SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED AND TO GET A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. *AK *NM
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Dakota years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
Suspension complaints
12 reportsTHERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. MECHANIC RFEPLACED SHOCK ABSORBERS. *AK
1996 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP FRONT BALL JOINT FAILURES. BOTH BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED DURING INSPECTIONS. *AK
THE BUSHINGS ON THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSE.*JB
WELD SPLITTING AT RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM. DEALER SAID NOT UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE WELD SHOULD BE THE STRONGEST PART.I WAS ASLO TOLD THEY HAD SEEN ONE OR TWO OTHER TRUCKS WITH THIS PROBLEM.THIS ALSO CAUSED RIGHT FRONT BRAKE PAD/ROTOR TO FREEZE UP AS IN METAL TO METAL WITH NO WARNING REQUIRING ME TO REPLACE ROTOR AND PADS…
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WELD SPLITTING AT RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM. DEALER SAID NOT UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE WELD SHOULD BE THE STRONGEST PART.I WAS ASLO TOLD THEY HAD SEEN ONE OR TWO OTHER TRUCKS WITH THIS PROBLEM.THIS ALSO CAUSED RIGHT FRONT BRAKE PAD/ROTOR TO FREEZE UP AS IN METAL TO METAL WITH NO WARNING REQUIRING ME TO REPLACE ROTOR AND PADS. *AK
BUSHINGS ON FRONT RIGHT OF VEHICLE WERE BECOMING WORN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP, WHO EXAMINED IT AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK LOCATED ON LOWER RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL AREA OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS…
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BUSHINGS ON FRONT RIGHT OF VEHICLE WERE BECOMING WORN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP, WHO EXAMINED IT AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK LOCATED ON LOWER RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL AREA OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN REAR END OF TRUCK STARTED TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN AND SHAKING FOR A BLOCK. THE UNIVERSAL JOINT BROKE, AND SOUNDED LIKE GOING UP AND DOWN. CONSUMER HAD TO COAST THROUGH TRAFFIC, NEARLY CAUSING NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS. CONSUMER WASTOLD BY DEALER THAT DRIVESHAFT FAILED,…
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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN REAR END OF TRUCK STARTED TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN AND SHAKING FOR A BLOCK. THE UNIVERSAL JOINT BROKE, AND SOUNDED LIKE GOING UP AND DOWN. CONSUMER HAD TO COAST THROUGH TRAFFIC, NEARLY CAUSING NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS. CONSUMER WASTOLD BY DEALER THAT DRIVESHAFT FAILED, AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WHOLE DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE AFTER REPLACEMENT OF DRIVESHAFT, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO VIBRATE. AFTER CHRYSLER IN GA. STATED THAT ONE OF THE HUBS ON THE LEFT REAR AXLE WAS NOT STRAIGHT, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TIRE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A BADLY BENT RIM. PUT VEHICLE ON THE BALANCE MACHINE AND THERE WAS A WALP. WENT BACK TO DEALER WHERE EVEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE 36,000 MILE FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED. ALSO, THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECTS. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM
FUEL PUMP FAILED.
FRONT END ALIGNMENT FAILED.
Official recalls
195V199000 · 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
1DP02009 · 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.