DODGE DAKOTA · model year

1995 DODGE DAKOTA

294 NHTSA complaints, 42 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1995DODGEDAKOTA carries 294 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 42 crashes, 6 fires, 25 injuries, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1995 DAKOTA is air bags:frontal with 22 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (16) and structure:frame and members (12). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1995 DAKOTA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

294
Complaints
42
Crashes
6
Fires
25
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

294 filings

Crashes Reported

42 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL22
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION16
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS12
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY11
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE9
SUSPENSION:FRONT7
STEERING7
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH7
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS6
SEAT BELTS6

Recent Complaints

20221114SEAT BELTS

I bought this 1995 Dodge Dakota brand new in 1995 and it only has original 92,110 miles on it. The problem with this Dakota I have replaced the Drivers front seat belt and the replacement again is falling apart again where it will not release for a person to get out of. I don't know if the air bags will not deploy if the seat belt is not working properly. Again the seat belt needs to be replaced again as it physically is falling apart again.

20180608TIRES:SIDEWALL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE DAKOTA EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TIRES, SIZE: 215/75R/15 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED MODERATE TIRE SEPARATION ON THE SIDEWALLS OF THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,263. THE VIN AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

20180418CrashWHEELS

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 35 MILES AN HOUR UP TO 45 AND THE TIRE CAME OFF. IT CAUSED A 3 CAR ACCIDENT. LUCKILY INO ONE WAS HURT BUT I GOT A CARELESS DRIVING TICKET. I FEEL THE TIRE SNAPPED OFF THE DRIVE TRAIN. IT HAPPENED IN 2006. IT WAS LIGHTLY RAINING BUT THIS SHOULD NOT AFFECT A TIRE COMING OFF COMPLETELY.. I CAN SEND IN POLICE REPORT LATER I PUT IN A REQUEST FOR A COPY BUT I HAVE NOT RECIEVED IT YET.

Mileage: 85,000

20161231SEAT BELTS

MY DAUGHTER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLATCH. SHE COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. SHE HAD TO LEAVE AND DRIVE BACK HOME, WHERE HER DAD WAS ABLE TO GET HER OUT WITH A SCREW DRIVE. OUR MECHANIC SAID DODGE NO LONGER CARRIES THESE SEAT BELTS.

Mileage: 128,500

20161116SEAT BELTS

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NON FUNCTIONAL FAILS TO RETRACT

Mileage: 130,000

20160415SEAT BELTS

MY DAUGHTER, WHO WAS THE DRIVER, WAS UNABLE TO UNLATCH HER SEAT BELT. HER BOYFRIEND HAD TO FORCE IT APART IN ORDER FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR. NOW IT IS BROKEN...SHE WAS AT A STANDSTILL AT HER BOYFRIEND'S HOUSE.

Mileage: 163,000

20141227VISIBILITY/WIPER

NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED...JUST A GRADUAL DOWNFALL OF THE GASKET ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT IS NOW COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE UPPER CORNER..CAN SEE THE CURVE OF THE GASKET OUT OF THE WINDOW...ITS AS IF IT SHRUNK FROM ONE WEEK TO THE NEXT. *TR

20140917STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO PASS THE STATE VEHICLE INSPECTION DUE TO THE FRAME BEING CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS BEYOND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

Mileage: 152,000

20111219SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RELEASE AFTER THE RELEASE BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. THE RELEASE BUTTON ALSO DETACHED FROM ITS HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. UPDATED 02/15/12*LJ UPDATED 03/05/12

20110219STEERING

THERE SEEMED TO BE AN INCREASING AMOUNT OF "PLAY" IN THE STEERING. IT HAS NOW GOTTEN TO THE POINT I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS TRUCK LONG DISTANCES. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END, AND THE STEERING RACK MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 -1". *TR

Mileage: 225,000

20100106EXTERIOR LIGHTING

IS THIS CAMPAIGN #06E049000 STILL IN AFFECT CONSUMER HAS A PROBLEM WITH AFTERMARKET LIGHTS ON 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. *NJ

20080730FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PICKUP WAS PARKED IN DRIVE WAY ON A THURSDAY EVENING APPROS 1700 HRS, ON SAT APPROS 1730 HRS THE HORN SOUNDED AND THE WINDOWS APPEARED TO BE TINTED, INVESTIGATION SHOWED THE STEERING COLUMN TO BE ABLAZE, FIREDEPT CALLED AND FIRE EXTINGUISHED, STEERING COLUMN TOTAL LOSS. VEHICLE UNUSABLE. TOTAL LOSS. *TR

Mileage: 210,316

20070314FireEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICL THE DRIVER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE TURNED OFF. *AK

20060209SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

MY COMPLAINT IS WITH THE FACT THAT DODGE WAS ALLOWED TO PUT DEFECTIVE SEATS IN THE 1995 DODGE DAKOTA (AS WELL AS OTHER YEARS) WITHOUT HAVING TO MAKE THE NECESSARY FIX TO THOSE VEHICLES. THE SEATS CLEARLY DO NOT PROTECT AGAINST NECK INJURY IN REAR END COLLISIONS. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF ONE OF THESE VEHICLES. *JB

20050720SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

FAULTY SEAT BELT IN 1995 DODGE DAKOTA,HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF SEAT BELT.TOLD ITS GOING TO BE 300 TO 400 TO REPLACE.EVEN THOUGH TRUCK IS 10 YEARS OLD I FEEL IT WAS A DEFECT READY TO HAPPEN.NO WARNING JUST PUT ON AS USUAL AND TRIED TO UNLATCH AND WOULDNT.HAD TO DRIVE TO FIRE DEPT AND BE CUT OUT.

Mileage: 78,000

20041211STEERING

I AM TRYING TO FIND IF THERE IS ANY RECALL INFORMATION ON MY DODGE DAKOTA, THE REASON I ASK IS THE FRONT ON THIS TRUCK IS GONE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY? I TAKE CARE OF THIS TRUCK, BUT THE BEARINGS ARE GONE AND I NEED A TOTAL FRONT END OVERHAUL. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME I'VE GOT ANOTHER TRUCK CHEVY 1986 3/4 4WD AND THE FRONT END ON THIS TRUCK IS JUST FINE? THEY ARE BOTH 4WD TRUCKS AND I TREAT THEM THE SAME, AND TAKE CARE OF BOTH OF THEM EQUALLY. *JB

Mileage: 135,000

20041110SEAT BELTS

THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED AND WHEN IT HAD COME TIME TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLATCH. THE SEAT BELT EVENTUALLY HAD TO BE CUT OFF IN ORDER TO GET THE PASSENGER OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *SC *JB

Mileage: 79,673

20041004SUSPENSION

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 *JB

20041004STEERING:COLUMN

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 *JB

20041004AIR BAGS

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 *JB

Compare 1995DODGEDAKOTA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1995 DODGE DAKOTA have?
The 1995 DODGE DAKOTA has 294 NHTSA complaints, 42 crashes, 6 fires, 25 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 DODGE DAKOTA?
The most-complained component for the 1995 DODGE DAKOTA is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 22 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS.
Is the 1995 DODGE DAKOTA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.