Most common 1996 Dodge Dakota problems
Share of the 189 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Dakota complaints by model year
Best Dakota years: 2009, 2010, 2011. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001, 2002, 1999, 1998. Compare all years →
1996 Dodge Dakota recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1996 Dodge Dakota:
FRAME CRACKS
Mr. Edward w. Bailey submitted a petition to the national highway traffic safety administration by letter, undated, requesting that an investigation be conducted into the matter of a frame crack in his 1995 Dodge dakota truck.the petitioner alleges that the frame on the passenger side of the vehicle is cracked, through no fault or responsibility of his own, and believes that this deficiency constitutes a safety…
What 1996 Dodge Dakota owners say
Brakes all 28 →
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. …
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.
Transmission & drivetrain all 28 →
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.
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.
Engine & cooling all 27 →
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. …
1996 Dodge Dakota slt, 5.2l, 4dr ( 99,000 mi) failed ca emission test on 7/8/06. Suspected reason for the high emission was failure of the catalytic converter. Daimler Chrysler corp. (dcc) will not replace this converter at their expense even though they have a recall on some 1.5 million 1996 - 2001 vehicles for failed converters. No letter was received from them and when contacted, they say the vehicle is not on the list for recall. I believe this vehicle should be on the list.
1996 Dodge Dakota engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 19 / 23 / 20 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.2L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Dodge Dakota a good car?
Based on 189 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Dakota rates average: 15% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Dakota at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Dodge Dakota?
The brakes — 28 complaints, 15% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (28) and engine & cooling (27).
How many recalls does the 1996 Dodge Dakota have?
There is 1 recall for the 1996 Dodge Dakota, the most recent from October 20, 1995 (power assist). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Dakota?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2010 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 2001, 2002, 1999 and 1998. See the full Dodge Dakota years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Dodge Dakota problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 89,000 miles; 25% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.