Complaints
250
Crashes
24
Fires
6
Injuries
11
Fatalities
1
Recalls
0
Worst 1996 Dodge Dakota Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#115 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Crash-related:2
#214 complaints
Automatic Transmission
#312 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Crash-related:12
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1996 Dodge Dakota.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 15 | 2 | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 14 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 12 | 12 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 8 | — | — | 76,361 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 8 | — | — | 130,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 6 | — | 4 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 | — | 1 | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 6 | — | — | 92,000 mi | |
| Fuel Pump | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 2 | — | — | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
15
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
12
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
76,361
Unintended Acceleration
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
130,000
Electrical System:Wiring
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
92,000
Fuel Pump
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Parking-Brake Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1996 Dodge Dakota. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Dodge Dakota Years
1996 Dodge Dakota — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1996 Dodge Dakota reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 1996 Dodge Dakota has 250 NHTSA complaints, 24 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 15 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1996 Dodge Dakota?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (15 complaints); Automatic Transmission (14 complaints); Air Bags:Frontal (12 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1996 Dodge Dakota?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 100,131 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1996 Dodge Dakota?
NHTSA complaints for the 1996 Dodge Dakota include 24 crash-related reports, 6 fire reports, 11 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1996 Dodge Dakota have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1996 Dodge Dakota as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1996 Dodge Dakota?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Dodge Dakota reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1996 Dodge Dakota
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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