1996 Dodge DAKOTA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
105 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
88,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 105 complaints (7.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 15.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 5.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 5.7% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 3.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 8 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 5 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 4 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 5; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 5; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 81 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | 20 |
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 22 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
1995: 3; 1996: 20; 2000: 15; 2001: 22; 2002: 8; 2003: 11; 2004: 11; 2005: 3; 2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10018995 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)
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 HI…
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018995 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068611 · 2004-05-20 (May 20, 2004)
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGED BY ITSELF WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD A 1995 DAKOTA THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE 1995 DAKOTA WAS TOTALED AFTER WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND INTO THE CONSUMER'S BARN. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068611 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039956 · 2003-12-09 (December 9, 2003)
ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK LATER THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE BATTERY WAS BAD, THE TRANSMISSION WAS BLOWN OUT DUE TO FLAT BEARING ALSO, THE CHECK LIGHT ENGINE KEPT FLASHING. THE CONSUMER MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIND AN ADEQUATE DEALERSHIP TO FIX PROBLEMS. *CB THE VEHICLE WOBBLED BACK AND FORTH, THE CONSUMER LATER DISCOVERED THE WHEELS WERE FLAWED. THE GAS TANK LEVEL WAS NOT OPERATIONAL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039956 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 600444 · 1995-08-28 (August 28, 1995)
TRANSMISSION COOLER LEAKS. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 600444 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067332 · 2004-04-19 (April 19, 2004)
VEHICLE STALLED AND DID NOT RE-START. VEHICLE STALLED AT LEAST 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067332 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064367 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)
HEADLIGHT SWITCH AN WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT. TOOK TO DEALER AN HAD REPAIRED, MECHANIC SAID ALL 1995 AN 1996 DAKATAS AN RAMS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING, DO TO TO TOWING IT PUT TO MUCH OF AN OVER LOAD ON THE WIRING WHICH SHORTED IT OUT THE WIRES AN SWITCH NO WOULDN'T THIS BE A SAFETY HAZARD AN DODGE SHOULD REMEDY THIS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10560574 · 2014-01-19 (January 19, 2014)
AT IDLE/PARK MY 1996 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 V8 5.2L SLT WILL SPUTTER AND SOMETIMES KILL THE ENGINE. NOW I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S A SAFETY FEATURE SO THE ENGINE DOESN'T OVER FLOOD ITSELF, BUT I'VE REPLACED THE IAC VALVE, PCV VALVE, DISTRIBUTOR ROTOR/CAP, AND SPARK PLUGS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. I RECENT HAD A PROBLEM WHERE THE CONDITIONS OUT WE'RE SOMEWHAT ICY AND MID TURN INTO A PARKING LOT I TOOK A BLOW TO A FIRE HYDRANT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE KILLED ITSELF, MEANING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. I WAS FINE, BUT MY VEHICLES BODY TOOK THE DAMAGE. LU…
Owner-reported narrative. 235,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 551515 · 2000-03-23 (March 23, 2000)
SPEED CONTROL CAN NOT BE DISENGAGE MANUALLY AT THE STEERING COLUMN, MUST DEPRESS BRAKE TO DISENGAGE. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 551515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 552554 · 2000-06-09 (June 9, 2000)
THE FUEL TANK GAUGE DOES NOT ACCURATELY READ LEVEL OF GASOLINE AND FLUCTUATES CONTINUALLY. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 552554 at NHTSA ↗