1996 Dodge Dakota: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 250 complaints
250
Total Complaints
89,397mi
Median Mileage
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Top Issue
24
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

69,890 25th Percentile
89,397 Median Mileage
127,554 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
15
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
14
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
11
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
8
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
6
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
6

Severity Assessment

24
Crashes
6
Fires
11
Injuries
1
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"PURCHASE THE TRUCK NEW THERE IS NO ABS SENSOR LIGHT INSTALL . TT"
"GAS COMES BACK OUT OF THE FILLER NECK, WHEN A PUMPING PROCESS IS ATTEMPTED. TT"
"DRIVER SEATBELT STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR WILL NOT PULL OUT, DEALER REFUSED TO FIX IT. TT"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28