1996 DODGE DAKOTA

250 complaints filed with NHTSA.

250
Complaints
24
Crashes
6
Fires
11
Injuries
1
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP15
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION14
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE11
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY8
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE6
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP5
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY4
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS4
TIRES4

Recent Complaints

20050314CrashFatalAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE ON 1996 DODGE DAKOTA. UPON IMPACT THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *BF *SC *JB

20040422CrashSTRUCTURE

THE WELD ON THE LOWER, DRIVER'S SIDE, DOOR HINGE COMPLETELY SEPARATED. IN MY ATTEMPT TO GET IT REPAIRED, THE LOCAL WELDERS AND BODY SHOP GUYS TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE ON THE DAKOTAS AND THEY KNEW EXACTLY HOW TO REPAIR IT. THE FAILURE OF THAT HINGE MAKES IT DIFICULT TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE-I BENT THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL WHERE THE DOOR MEETS IT WHEN IT FAILED.

Mileage: 88,500

20010725CrashTIRES:SIDEWALL

I LOST CONTROL WITH THE FIRST TIRE SEPARATION AND RAN OVER TWO SIGNS ENDING UP IN A DITCH.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HFAT5287 TIRESIZE: P215/75R15)

20010619CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

WAS PULLING INTO INTERSECTION WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME AROUND CORNER AND HIT DAKOTA HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE HAD SPUN AROUND, AND WAS HIT AGAIN BY SAME VEHICLE. DRIVER SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND INTERNAL BLEEDING. WAS HOSPITALIZED. *AK

20000620CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK POSITION ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, UPON EXITING FOR A BRIEF SECOND, VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS, INJURING THE CONSUMER. ALSO, AFTER THE INCIDENT VEHICLE WAS STILL IN THE PARK POSITION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *ML

19991007CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE AT A STOP A VEHICLE COMING FROM THE REAR AND TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO FORWARD AND SLAM INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT CONSUMER IN CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

19990802CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WAS GOING 50MP WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO HYDROPLANE, HIT AN 18 WHEELER. TIRE BLEWOUT, AND FRONT END OF TRUCK HIT GROUND. RAN INTO CULBRECHT AT 50MPH. UPON IMPACT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK. AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. INSURANCE INSPECTOR CHECKED VEHICLE. CHRYSLER INSPECTOR INFORMED OWNER NOT ENOUGH FORCE FOR AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED THE FOLLOWING INJURIES, FRACTURED NOSE/DISORIENTATION AND BRUISES.*AK

19990802CrashTIRES

WAS GOING 50MP WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO HYDROPLANE, HIT AN 18 WHEELER. TIRE BLEWOUT, AND FRONT END OF TRUCK HIT GROUND. RAN INTO CULBRECHT AT 50MPH. UPON IMPACT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK. AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. INSURANCE INSPECTOR CHECKED VEHICLE. CHRYSLER INSPECTOR INFORMED OWNER NOT ENOUGH FORCE FOR AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED THE FOLLOWING INJURIES, FRACTURED NOSE/DISORIENTATION AND BRUISES.*AK

19990427CrashPARKING BRAKE

TWO SERVICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES AT LOCAL DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THEY ALSO HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER MOTORS PRODUCTS.

19990303CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

VEHICLE INDICATED THAT THE TRUCK WAS IN PARK. BUT AFTER OWNER GOT OUT FROM VEHICLE WHILE THE TRUCK WAS STILL RUNNING, IT JUMPED INTO REVERSE AND HIT OWNERS BOAT. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN.

19990217CrashPOWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR AXLE SNAPPED AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF. THE HIGHWAY WAS WET, AND THE TRUCK WAS SPINNING AND FLIPPED OVER AND LANDED ON THE ROOF UPSIDE DOWN. THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS THE AXLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

19981216CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG SENSOR AND T ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES THEY LOCKED UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH OTHE R VEHICLES IN AN INTERSECTION. IN ADDITION, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

19981216CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG SENSOR AND T ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES THEY LOCKED UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH OTHE R VEHICLES IN AN INTERSECTION. IN ADDITION, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

19981201CrashPARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY SUDDENLY WHILE IN PARK POSITION WITH EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ON AND ENGINE TURNED OFF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. DELAER CANNOT DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE DEFECT. *AK

19981118CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

WHILE THIS VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT RAN OVER CONSUMER'S LEGSAND LEFT KNEE. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY RUNNING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

19971206FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN DRIVEWAY. FIRE DEPARTMENT INDICATED FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, NEAR AN ELECTRICAL JUNCTION OR FUSE RECEPTICLE. *AK

19971203FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE HAD FIRE COMING FROM IT AND SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE REST OF CAR. *AK

19971203FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. FIRE DEPARTMENT INDICATED FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, RIGHT FRONT JUST BEHIND THE BATTERY AND NEAR AN ELECTRICAL JUNCTION OR FUSE RECEPTOCLE. *AK

19971029CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT 45 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

19970926FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL: VEHICLE PARKED UNDER CAR PORT, HEARD A NOISE LIKE A GAS EXPLOSION, WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES.SEEM LIKE FIRE STARTED AT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE BED.