IllustrationWITHIN ONE MONTH OF EACH OTHER, EACH OF MY TWO FRONT FIRESTONE TIRES WENT FLAT. THE TREADS WERE SHREADED AND COMING LOOSE FROM THE TIRE. ONE OF THESE EVENTS OCCURED WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS AND TIRES HAD BEEN RECENTLY CHECKED FOR TREAD DEPTH, BALANCE AND INFLATION. *JB
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
Tires complaints
8 reportsTHE CONSUMER RAN OVER A SMALL PIECE OF GRAVEL WHICH CAUSED THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE TO BLOW OUT. *JB
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
I LOST CONTROL WITH THE FIRST TIRE SEPARATION AND RAN OVER TWO SIGNS ENDING UP IN A DITCH.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HFAT5287 TIRESIZE: P215/75R15)
THIS TIRE WAS THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE FIRST FIRESTONE TIRE THAT BLEW OUT. TIRE SHOWS SIGNS OF TREAD TO SIDEWALL SEPARATION & DRIVER STATED THAT SIDEWALL OF TIRE "BUBBLED OUT" ALONG THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL OF TIRE APPROXIMATELY 4-5 INCHES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDW81XL TIRE SIZE: 265/75R16 )
WAS GOING 50MP WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO HYDROPLANE, HIT AN 18 WHEELER. TIRE BLEWOUT, AND FRONT END OF TRUCK HIT GROUND. RAN INTO CULBRECHT AT 50MPH. UPON IMPACT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK. AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. INSURANCE INSPECTOR CHECKED VEHICLE. CHRYSLER INSPECTOR INFORMED OWNER NOT …
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WAS GOING 50MP WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO HYDROPLANE, HIT AN 18 WHEELER. TIRE BLEWOUT, AND FRONT END OF TRUCK HIT GROUND. RAN INTO CULBRECHT AT 50MPH. UPON IMPACT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK. AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. INSURANCE INSPECTOR CHECKED VEHICLE. CHRYSLER INSPECTOR INFORMED OWNER NOT ENOUGH FORCE FOR AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED THE FOLLOWING INJURIES, FRACTURED NOSE/DISORIENTATION AND BRUISES.*AK
VEHICLE DELIVERED WITH A WARPED WHEEL.
TWO GOODYEAR TIRES BLEW OUT. *DH
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.