1996 Dodge Dakota Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1996 Dodge Dakota, and owners have filed 189 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
1 safety recall for the 1996 Dodge Dakota
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Power assist (service brakes)
The power brake booster vacuum hose could be improperly installed and not clamped to the brake booster vacuum nipple.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles to insure that the brake booster vacuum hose connection is fully seated and clamped to the vacuum check valve nipple at the brake booster.
189 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Dodge Dakota have filed 189 complaints with NHTSA; 20 describe a crash and 6 describe a fire. Reports cite 8 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 88,774 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 30 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I have a 96 dodge dakota that frame is rusting out. It has rusted out where the emergency brake cable hooks up so now no emergency brakes. Tubular frame is rusted out in about 3 places, a bumper brack”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 31, 2016 · Structure
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 dodge dakota. The contact stated that the seat belt buckle was fractured. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer w”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 4, 2015 · Seat belts
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Dodge Dakota Pickup (Dakota Pickup 2WD, Dakota Pickup 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 13–20 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 12–19 / 16–23 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Standard Pickup Trucks |
| Engine | 4/6/8 cyl, 2.5/3.9/5.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Dodge Dakota model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Dodge Dakota model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 Dodge Dakota | 0 | 2 |
| 1986 Dodge Dakota | 0 | 1 |
| 1987 Dodge Dakota | 2 | 20 |
| 1988 Dodge Dakota | 3 | 55 |
| 1989 Dodge Dakota | 3 | 63 |
| 1990 Dodge Dakota | 3 | 63 |
| 1991 Dodge Dakota | 4 | 128 |
| 1992 Dodge Dakota | 1 | 216 |
| 1993 Dodge Dakota | 1 | 134 |
| 1994 Dodge Dakota | 3 | 166 |
| 1995 Dodge Dakota | 0 | 208 |
| 1996 Dodge Dakota | 1 | 189 |
| 1997 Dodge Dakota | 5 | 446 |
| 1998 Dodge Dakota | 5 | 545 |
| 1999 Dodge Dakota | 4 | 641 |
| 2000 Dodge Dakota | 5 | 806 |
| 2001 Dodge Dakota | 7 | 678 |
| 2002 Dodge Dakota | 5 | 678 |
| 2003 Dodge Dakota | 4 | 296 |
| 2004 Dodge Dakota | 1 | 206 |
| 2005 Dodge Dakota | 6 | 470 |
| 2006 Dodge Dakota | 5 | 285 |
| 2007 Dodge Dakota | 4 | 145 |
| 2008 Dodge Dakota | 2 | 91 |
| 2009 Dodge Dakota | 5 | 18 |
| 2010 Dodge Dakota | 7 | 35 |
| 2011 Dodge Dakota | 6 | 44 |
Checking a specific 1996 Dodge Dakota
How do I know if my 1996 Dodge Dakota has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1996 Dodge Dakota; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Dodge dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 95V199000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Dodge models
- Durango13,770 complaints
- Grand Caravan13,508 complaints
- RAM 150012,416 complaints
- Caravan10,526 complaints
- RAM 25006,443 complaints
- Intrepid6,228 complaints
- Charger5,741 complaints
- Journey5,290 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.