FaultScore

1995 Dodge Dakota suspension problems

18 of the 294 complaints about the 1995 Dodge Dakota are about the suspension — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 21,794 miles.

B

18

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Front 7 38.9%
Suspension 5 27.8%
Shock Absorber 2 11.1%
Upper ARM 1 5.6%
Lower Ball Joint 1 5.6%
Multiple Axle 1 5.6%
Upper Ball Joint 1 5.6%

Suspension across every Dodge Dakota year

1994 11 0.5%
1995 18 0.8%
1996 13 0.6%
1997 209 9.0%
1998 318 13.7%
1999 503 21.7%
2000 372 16.0%
2001 307 13.2%
2002 300 12.9%
2003 121 5.2%
2004 53 2.3%
2005 54 2.3%
2006 27 1.2%
2007 13 0.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Hayward, CA

SUSPENSION

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

NHTSA complaint #10092599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hayward, CA

SUSPENSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10092738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Polk City, FL 1 injured

SUSPENSION

I OWNED A 1995 DODGE DAKOTA 4 X 4 THAT LOST THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL ON THE INTERSTATE (AT 65 MPH) IN DECEMBER 1996. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN INTO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP SHOP THE WEEK BEFORE BECAUSE, THE FRONT END WAS MAKING A NOISE AND, PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE SHOP TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ONE WEEK LATER I HAD THIS ACCIDENT .I NOW HAVE A PERMANENT NECK AND, BACK INJURY WHICH REQUIRE ME TO BE ON PAIN MANAGEMENT,HAVE EPIDURALS EVERY 3 MONTHS FOR THE CHRONIC CERVICAL AND,LUMBAR PAIN. I ALSO MISS WORK DUE TO THIS CONDITION. I BELIEVE CHRYSLER DODGE KNEW THERE WAS A DEFECT AT THIS TIME. I CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT, WAS NOT ABLE TO PURSUE THIS DUE TO THE FACT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO A DODGE DEALERSHIP BY THE WRECKER, WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AND, WE WERE NEVER ABLE TO OBTAIN THE PARTS OR, WHEEL FROM MY VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT A EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE DONE TO AVOID ANYONE ELSE BEING PERMANENTLY HURT OR, KILLED FOR CORPORATE GREED. PS..... I HAVE THE VIN # [XXX].. YOUR FORM DID NOT ACCEPT THIS VIN #. ALSO, THIS WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE POLICE AS THIS WAS THE ONLY VEHICLE INVOLVED. BUT, ALLSTATE INSURANCE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS AND, MY MEDICAL COSTS. *NM UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #10062396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 23,588 miles Colts Neck, NJ

SUSPENSION:FRONT

I AM SUBMITTING THIS REPORT AS A RESULT OF THE REPORTED ONGOING INVESTIGATION REGARDING A DAKOTA/DURANGO WHEEL PROBLEM. ON 21 MAY 97 THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY OF MY 1995 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK COLLAPSED JUST AFTER I HAD PARKED THE VEHICLE IN MY DRIVEWAY. VIN NUMBER: [XXX]. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED (INVOICE STATES SEIZED AND BROKEN STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY). I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN NOV 94. I PREVIOUSLY HAD REPORTED A PROBLEM REGARDING A NOISE FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO THE DEALER IN MARCH 95 (BUSHINGS REPLACED); APRIL 95 (REPLACED UPPER SPRING INSULATORS) AND AGAIN IN MAY 96 (FRONT END LUBRICATED). I HAVE THE DEALER REPAIR INVOICES DOCUMENTING THESE PROBLEMS AND THE CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN. *JB UPDATED 08/03/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #10060487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Metairie, LA

SUSPENSION

LETTER FROM EDWARD BAILEY (LA)THE SUSPENSION MADE EXCESSIVE NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, THE BUSHINGS, FRONT SWAY BAR, UPPER CONTROL ARM, SHOCK ABSORBERS WERE ALL REPLACED. ALSO THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING. *TS

NHTSA complaint #567140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Honeoye Falls, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

THE SHOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #567749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Metairie, LA

SUSPENSION

THE SUSPENSION WAS MAKING EXCESSIVE NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR CURBING. THE SWAY BARS WERE WORN OUT AND THE BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED, RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT. THERE IS A SCRUNCHING NOISE HEARD IN THE FRONT END OVER CURBING. THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED. THERE IS ALSO A POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT, RIGHT AND BACKING UP. THE FRONT SHOCKS WERE REPLACED AND THE SUSPENSION WAS LUBRICATED. THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAD TO BE ALIGNED AND THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM WAS RETORQUED. *JG CONSUMER FINALLY WAS INFORMED THE PROBLEMS WERE DUE TO A CRACK IN THE FRAM LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, INSIDE FRAME, BEHIND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #566817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Detroit, MI

SUSPENSION:FRONT

THE VEHICLE HAS A CRACK IN FRAME NEAR THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WHICH CAUSES FRONT END TO SWERVE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #844194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ridott, IL

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

NOTICED TIRES FEATHERING ON OUTSIDE EXCESSIVELY. TIRES WOULD VIBRATE IN FRONT END. TOOK TO MECHANIC & INFORMED TIRES & ALIGNMENT CANNOT BE DONE DUE TO LOWER BALL JOINTS BEING WORN OUT. ALSO, STEERING HAS TOO MUCH PLAY IN IT.

NHTSA complaint #828391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Somerset, NJ

SUSPENSION:FRONT

THE FRONT END PULLS BECAUSE OF UNEVEN TIRE WEAR.

NHTSA complaint #517297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Palm BAY, FL

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

DRIVER'S SIDE TOP BALL JOINT SQUEAKS.

NHTSA complaint #507762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Schellsburg, PA

SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE

RIGHT REAR AXLE BENT.

NHTSA complaint #507916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shedoytan, WI

SUSPENSION:FRONT

FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURE, WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WANDERS FROM LEFT TO THE RIGHT, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #802317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North King, RI

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

LEFT FRONT SHOCK FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #501520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manassass, VA

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHEN TRYING TO STOP VEERS TO THE RIGHT AND SKIDS. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #968679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Smithtown, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT

STEERING KNUCKLE/UPPER ARM/LOWER ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING. TT

NHTSA complaint #964349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Smithtown, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM

KNUCKLE AND UPPER ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING. TT

NHTSA complaint #964349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Staten Islan, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT

THE STEERING AND THE SUSPENSION SHAKE WHEN HITING A BUMP. TT

NHTSA complaint #963489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1995 Dodge Dakota problems

← Full 1995 Dodge Dakota report