Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Dodge Dakota, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train28
- Engine and engine cooling27
- Service brakes, hydraulic23
- Electrical system19
- Structure18
- Suspension12
- Seat belts12
- Air bags12
- Vehicle speed control10
- Fuel system, gasoline10
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 8 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 18 1996 Dakota vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 13 people died inside them, and 5 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1996 Dodge Dakota failed the safety check 1.22% of the time — 17% less often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 142,471 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 9 variants: combined 11.4–18.0 L/100 km (about 13–21 mpg US), CO₂ 262–414 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 12.6 | 10.1 | 11.4 |
| Dakota · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.1 | 11.8 | 14.7 |
| Dakota · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.7 | 12.6 | 14.8 |
| Dakota 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 18.1 | 13.6 | 16.1 |
| Dakota · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 18.6 | 13.7 | 16.4 |
| Dakota 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 18.4 | 14.5 | 16.7 |
| Dakota · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 19.9 | 13.3 | 16.9 |
| Dakota 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 19.9 | 15.1 | 17.7 |
| Dakota 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 20.5 | 14.9 | 18.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1996 Dodge Dakota.
| 1995196 31 Oct 1995 | Brakes THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE MAY BE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM NIPPLE. A DISCONNECTED VACUUM HOSE CAN CAUSE AN INCREASE IN ENGINE I… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE COULD BE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AND NOT CLAMPED TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM NIPPLE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Dodge told its dealers about the 1996 Dodge Dakota: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635721 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISION IN DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES AND LABOR OPERATION TIMES FOR RE TRANSMISSIONS. *TT |
| 634272 | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC |
| 621898 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ |
| 620066 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERIC SCAN TOOL (GST), PUBLICATION NO. 81-170-00008 PROVIDED WITH THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO PROVIDE REFERENCE INFORMATION WHEN USING GENERIC SCAN TOOL ON OBDII VEHICLES. *TT |
| 620059 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT |
| 619512 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION TO CORRECT A STATEMENT IN THE VEHICLE'S OWNERS MANUAL. THIS STATEMENT INDICATES THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH AN INTERLOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS IS INCORRECT. |
| 618049 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB |
| 612160 | SUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS |
| 610635 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 610005 | EXPERIENCING SPARK KNOCK AND ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD PAN GASKET OIL LEAK. *TT |
| 609995 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT |
| 6092304 | SUBJECT REGARDING NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG HANDLING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 6089800 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION IS NOW OFFERINB AIRBAG ON / OFF SWITCHES FOR SELECTED VEHICLES. *TT |
| 6089311 | CONCERNS WITH A/C EVAPORATOR ODOR. *NLM |
| 6089038 | INFORMATION ON TIRE AND WHEEL RUNOUT. *NLM |
| 6089030 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES REVERSE BUZZ (46RE) *NLM |
| 6089000 | INFORMATION ON TRANSMISSION COOLER REVERSE FLUSHING WITH COOLER BYPASS KIT INSTALLED. *NLM |
| 6088991 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES OVERDRIVE UNAVAILABLE IN EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES, BYPASS KIT INSTALLATION, INHIBITOR PROGRAMMING. *NLM |
| 6088884 | INFORMATION ON POOR DRIVABILITY WITH HIGH DI (DRIVABILITY INDEX) FUEL. *NLM |
| 6088834 | INFORMATION REGARDING NHTSA AUTHORIZED AIRBAG DEACTIVATION FOR MEDICAL NECESSITY. *NLM |
| 6088803 | INFORMATION REGARDING NO START - ENGIN FAILED TO CRANK. *NLM |
| 6088786 | CONCERNS WITH ENGINE COOLANT USAGE. *NLM |
| 607963 | INFORMATION ON CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 607913 | SUBJECT REGARDING SPARK KNOCK AND ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD PAN GASKET OIL LEAK. *TT |
| 604975 | VEHICLES EXHIBITING BUZZ, WHINING, OR MOANING LIKE NOISE FROM COLD TRANSMISSION WHEN REVERSE GEAR IS SELECTED. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FRAME CRACKS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation