FaultScore

1996 Dodge Dakota body problems

18 of the 250 complaints about the 1996 Dodge Dakota are about the body and structure — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 101,000 miles.

B

18

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Hinge AND Attachments 5 27.8%
Body 4 22.2%
Structure 4 22.2%
Door 3 16.7%
Frame AND Members 1 5.6%
Bumpers 1 5.6%

Body & Structure across every Dodge Dakota year

1992 15 9.7%
1993 11 7.1%
1995 22 14.3%
1996 18 11.7%
1997 14 9.1%
1998 19 12.3%
1999 11 7.1%
2001 12 7.8%
2002 18 11.7%
2006 14 9.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 144,000 miles Chillicothe, OH

STRUCTURE:BODY

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 BRACKET RUSTED OUT. I HAVE TRIED TWICE TO PAINT FRAME WITH OUT ANY SUCCESS. BODY IS NOT RUSTING AT ALL. I AM ALSO A VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTER. CALLED DODGE AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY ARE DOING TO FIX OR RECALL THIS PROBLEMS DONE RESEARCH AND MINE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS IS BEEN HAPPENING TO. INCLUDED A YOUTUBE VIDEO OF ONE THAT THEY TOOK THE BODY OFF OF HTTP://WWW.BING.COM/VIDEOS/SEARCH?Q=96+DODGE+DAKOTA+FRAME+PROBLEMS+YOUTUBE&VIEW=DETAIL&MID=4094674F6964C6F203F74094674F6964C6F203F7&FORM=VIRE

NHTSA complaint #10852801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 235,000 miles Cedar Rapids, IA

STRUCTURE:BODY

AT IDLE/PARK MY 1996 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 V8 5.2L SLT WILL SPUTTER AND SOMETIMES KILL THE ENGINE. NOW I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S A SAFETY FEATURE SO THE ENGINE DOESN'T OVER FLOOD ITSELF, BUT I'VE REPLACED THE IAC VALVE, PCV VALVE, DISTRIBUTOR ROTOR/CAP, AND SPARK PLUGS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. I RECENT HAD A PROBLEM WHERE THE CONDITIONS OUT WE'RE SOMEWHAT ICY AND MID TURN INTO A PARKING LOT I TOOK A BLOW TO A FIRE HYDRANT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE KILLED ITSELF, MEANING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. I WAS FINE, BUT MY VEHICLES BODY TOOK THE DAMAGE. LUCKILY THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DIDN'T DEPLOY BUT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP A LOT WITH THE 1995-1996 DAKOTAS. AND HONESTLY I'M SCARED THAT THE VEHICLE MIGHT DO THIS WHILE ON THE FREE WAY. ALSO, OF 3 O2 SENSORS THAT'S JUST ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, ALL THREE HAVE LEFT THE VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND HAVE TESTED FAULTY. I HAVE YET TO RETURN TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEMS SHOP TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIX IT DUE TO IT BEING UNDER WARRANTY, BUT MY MECHANIC SAID THAT IT MOSTLY BECAUSE THERE'S AN UNNEEDED AMOUNT OF EXTRA POWER GOING TO THE O2 SENSOR WHICH IS CAUSING IT TO FAULT. ANYHOW, I APPRECIATE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE LOOKED AT INTO THIS, BECAUSE I DO LIVE ON A HILLY SUBURB AND I RATHER NOT TAKE THE FAULT OF MY VEHICLE FAILING AND DAMAGING STATE, NEIGHBORS OR EVEN MY OWN PROPERTY, LET ALONE MYSELF GETTING HURT.

NHTSA complaint #10560574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,000 miles Boomer, NC

STRUCTURE

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HINGE BROKE 11/20/ 2010 PAINT OFF HOOD AND TOP . THEY WERE PAINTED THREE TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. 1996 MODEL WITH 69,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10368018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 88,500 miles Fort Hood, TX Crash

STRUCTURE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10068926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nashville, TN

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

PAINT ON HOOD AND TOP OF TRUCK HAVE BEEN PEELING OFF. ALSO, THE HINGE ON THE DRIVERS DOOR HAS BROKEN OFF OF THE METAL. IN HEARING FROM OTHERS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT ON EITHER ISSUE LISTED ABOVE.

NHTSA complaint #10021161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 101,000 miles Lansdowne, PA

STRUCTURE

FRAME CRACKED IN HALF BEHIND THE SUSPENSION ON PASSENGER SIDE.

NHTSA complaint #10010264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manawa, WI

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR MALFUNCTIONED. UNABLE TO CLOSE DOOR.

NHTSA complaint #8012193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Detroit, MI

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

DOOR HINGES SEIZED AND CAUSED THE HINGES TO BE REPLACED ON THE FIRST FAILURE. THE SECOND FAILURE RESULTED IN HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DRIVERS DOOR AND HINGES. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ROTATE TIRES, ALL 6 WHEEL STUDS BROKE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LEFT REAR WHEEL. I COMPLETED THE WHEEL STUD REPLACEMENT MY SELF.

NHTSA complaint #754147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Payson, AZ

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

WELDS ON BOTTOM HINGE OF DRIVERS DOOR HAVE BROKEN. DOOR IS HANGING BY TOP HINGE ONLY.*AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #894398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lakeland, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE CAME OFF BODY OF TRUCK. THERE WAS ONLY ONE HINGE ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #891538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Dorado, AK

STRUCTURE:BODY

BUSHINGS ON FRONT RIGHT OF VEHICLE WERE BECOMING WORN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP, WHO EXAMINED IT AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK LOCATED ON LOWER RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL AREA OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #888192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Damascus, MD

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

WHILE CHANGING THE TIRE JACK BROKE, AND VEHICLE FELL OFF THE AXLE. ALSO, BUMPER WAS DAMAGED WHILE TOWING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #864414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntersville, NC

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DRIVER SIDE DOOR FALLS OFF WHEN OPENED. DEALER SAID METAL FATIGUE. TIMING BELT IS GOING BAD FOR THE THIRD TIME.

NHTSA complaint #707098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, VA

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

FRAME IS CRACKING AT THE BACK OF THE ENGINE WHICH COULD CAUSE TOTAL LOSS OF SUSPENSION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #827712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Warren, MI

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

THE LOWER HINGE THAT HOLDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IN PLACE HAS RUSTED THROUGH INSIDE OF THE DOOR SECTION, AND THE HINGE IS CRACKED WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #824516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Coxsa, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

IMPROPER SEALING OF DOOR CAUSED WIND NOISE AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 65 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #512059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverside, CA

STRUCTURE

WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN 70 MPH AND ABOVE A STRONG WHISTLING NOISE CAN BE HEARD INSIDE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #603198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Covin, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY

WATER LEAKING INTO CAB.

NHTSA complaint #602579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Dodge Dakota problems

← Full 1996 Dodge Dakota report