1995 Dodge Dakota

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 208 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags › frontal. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal20
20313
Power Train › Automatic Transmission14
100
Structure › Frame and Members11
000
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly10
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip8
402
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar7
100
Suspension › Front6
000
Seat Belts6
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch6
101
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline5
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting06E049000
Filed May 24, 200627,176 vehiclesCk Motorsport, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Seat Belts
Filed Nov 14, 2022MI

I bought this 1995 Dodge Dakota brand new in 1995 and it only has original 92,110 miles on it. The problem with this Dakota I have replaced the Drivers front seat belt and the replacement again is falling apart again where it will not release for a person to get out of. I don't know if the air bags will not deploy if the seat belt is not working properly. Again the seat belt needs to be replaced again as it physically is falling apart again.

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Jun 8, 2018KS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE DAKOTA EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TIRES, SIZE: 215/75R/15 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED MODERATE TIRE SEPARATION ON THE SIDEWALLS OF THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,263. THE VIN AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

WheelsCrash
Filed Apr 18, 201885,000 milesNJ

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 35 MILES AN HOUR UP TO 45 AND THE TIRE CAME OFF. IT CAUSED A 3 CAR ACCIDENT. LUCKILY INO ONE WAS HURT BUT I GOT A CARELESS DRIVING TICKET. I FEEL THE TIRE SNAPPED OFF THE DRIVE TRAIN. IT HAPPENED IN 2006. IT WAS LIGHTLY RAINING BUT THIS SHOULD NOT AFFECT A TIRE COMING OFF COMPLETELY.. I CAN SEND IN POLICE REPORT LATER I PUT IN A REQUEST FOR A COPY BUT I HAVE NOT RECIEVED IT YET.

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 31, 2016128,500 milesCA

MY DAUGHTER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLATCH. SHE COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. SHE HAD TO LEAVE AND DRIVE BACK HOME, WHERE HER DAD WAS ABLE TO GET HER OUT WITH A SCREW DRIVE. OUR MECHANIC SAID DODGE NO LONGER CARRIES THESE SEAT BELTS.

Seat Belts
Filed Nov 16, 2016130,000 milesFL

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NON FUNCTIONAL FAILS TO RETRACT

Seat Belts
Filed Apr 15, 2016163,000 milesLA

MY DAUGHTER, WHO WAS THE DRIVER, WAS UNABLE TO UNLATCH HER SEAT BELT. HER BOYFRIEND HAD TO FORCE IT APART IN ORDER FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR. NOW IT IS BROKEN...SHE WAS AT A STANDSTILL AT HER BOYFRIEND'S HOUSE.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Dec 27, 2014FL

NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED...JUST A GRADUAL DOWNFALL OF THE GASKET ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT IS NOW COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE UPPER CORNER..CAN SEE THE CURVE OF THE GASKET OUT OF THE WINDOW...ITS AS IF IT SHRUNK FROM ONE WEEK TO THE NEXT. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Sep 17, 2014152,000 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO PASS THE STATE VEHICLE INSPECTION DUE TO THE FRAME BEING CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS BEYOND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 19, 2011KY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RELEASE AFTER THE RELEASE BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. THE RELEASE BUTTON ALSO DETACHED FROM ITS HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. UPDATED 02/15/12*LJ UPDATED 03/05/12

Steering
Filed Feb 19, 2011225,000 milesMI

THERE SEEMED TO BE AN INCREASING AMOUNT OF "PLAY" IN THE STEERING. IT HAS NOW GOTTEN TO THE POINT I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS TRUCK LONG DISTANCES. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END, AND THE STEERING RACK MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 -1". *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jan 6, 2010DC

IS THIS CAMPAIGN #06E049000 STILL IN AFFECT CONSUMER HAS A PROBLEM WITH AFTERMARKET LIGHTS ON 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. *NJ

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jul 30, 2008210,316 milesMO

PICKUP WAS PARKED IN DRIVE WAY ON A THURSDAY EVENING APPROS 1700 HRS, ON SAT APPROS 1730 HRS THE HORN SOUNDED AND THE WINDOWS APPEARED TO BE TINTED, INVESTIGATION SHOWED THE STEERING COLUMN TO BE ABLAZE, FIREDEPT CALLED AND FIRE EXTINGUISHED, STEERING COLUMN TOTAL LOSS. VEHICLE UNUSABLE. TOTAL LOSS. *TR

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › SwitchFire
Filed Mar 14, 2007OH

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICL THE DRIVER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE TURNED OFF. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Head Restraint
Filed Feb 9, 2006WA

MY COMPLAINT IS WITH THE FACT THAT DODGE WAS ALLOWED TO PUT DEFECTIVE SEATS IN THE 1995 DODGE DAKOTA (AS WELL AS OTHER YEARS) WITHOUT HAVING TO MAKE THE NECESSARY FIX TO THOSE VEHICLES. THE SEATS CLEARLY DO NOT PROTECT AGAINST NECK INJURY IN REAR END COLLISIONS. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF ONE OF THESE VEHICLES. *JB

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Jul 20, 200578,000 milesCA

FAULTY SEAT BELT IN 1995 DODGE DAKOTA,HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF SEAT BELT.TOLD ITS GOING TO BE 300 TO 400 TO REPLACE.EVEN THOUGH TRUCK IS 10 YEARS OLD I FEEL IT WAS A DEFECT READY TO HAPPEN.NO WARNING JUST PUT ON AS USUAL AND TRIED TO UNLATCH AND WOULDNT.HAD TO DRIVE TO FIRE DEPT AND BE CUT OUT.

Steering
Filed Dec 11, 2004135,000 milesMD

I AM TRYING TO FIND IF THERE IS ANY RECALL INFORMATION ON MY DODGE DAKOTA, THE REASON I ASK IS THE FRONT ON THIS TRUCK IS GONE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY? I TAKE CARE OF THIS TRUCK, BUT THE BEARINGS ARE GONE AND I NEED A TOTAL FRONT END OVERHAUL. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME I'VE GOT ANOTHER TRUCK CHEVY 1986 3/4 4WD AND THE FRONT END ON THIS TRUCK IS JUST FINE? THEY ARE BOTH 4WD TRUCKS AND I TREAT THEM THE SAME, AND TAKE CARE OF BOTH OF THEM EQUALLY. *JB

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 9, 200479,673 milesPA

THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED AND WHEN IT HAD COME TIME TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLATCH. THE SEAT BELT EVENTUALLY HAD TO BE CUT OFF IN ORDER TO GET THE PASSENGER OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *SC *JB

Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)
Filed Sep 27, 2004NE

4 WHEEL DRIVE WONT WORK, MAKES POUNDING NOISE . *AK

Suspension
Filed Sep 13, 2004CA

VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. *MR WHILE, MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. THE FUEL PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE BAD. AT 25596 THE FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED TO READ ACCURATELY, AT 59209, THE GAS CONNECTOR FAILED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THE BREAK DOWN(S). THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH SPARK PLUG KNOCKING AND ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A LEAK, THERE WERE UNRESOLVED SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, THE REPLACEMENT STEERING COLUMN HAD PLAY IN IT, THERE WAS A BAD BALL JOINT, AND THE AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE. *SC

Suspension
Filed Sep 13, 2004CA

AIR BAG MALFUNCTION ON 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. *MR THE AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE, SINCE NO ONE WAS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THE FACTORY. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED FOR A THIRD TIME, THE STEERING COLUMN DISPLAYED A NOISE WHEN TURNING, THE LEFT FRONT DOOR LOCK DID NOT UNLOCK WITH THE KEY OR THE REMOTE INTERMITTENTLY, AND THERE WAS CLUNKING IN THE FRONT END. ALSO, REFER TO ODI# 10092738 (SAME CONSUMER). *SC *JB

20 of 208 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
201144600Do not drive
201035700Do not drive
200918500Do not drive
200891210Do not drive
2007144420Do not drive
2006285671Do not drive
20054707270Do not drive
2004206561Fatalities reported
20032961150Above average
200267812182Fatalities reported
200167814112Fatalities reported
200080612142Fatalities reported
19996411060Above average
19985451216Fatalities reported
19974461261Fatalities reported
1996189261Fatalities reported
1995 — this page208161Fatalities reported
1994166442Fatalities reported
1993134260Routine
1992216280Above average
1991128550Routine
199063300Routine

Compare every Dakota year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 24, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.