1996 Dodge Dakota Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Engine
  11
• Engine › Gasoline
  6
• Exhaust system › Emission control
  2
• Cooling system
  2
• Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor
  2
• Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
  1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Dodge Dakota owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

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.

I have a 1996 Dodge Dakota pickuup truck that experienced engine failure at less than 60,000 miles. The cause for this engine failure was inadequate oiling because of sludge in the bottom of the oil pan. I bought the vehicle used from a car dealer with approximately 33,000 miles on it and have maintined it properly since that time. I and the mechanic I took it to believe that part of the reason for sludge accumulation in the oil pan is poor oil pan design. The way the drain plub is situated it doesn't allow for complete drainage of the oil during an oil change. This problem is probably aggravated by the fact that this vehicle is 4-wheel drive and the sludge gets resuspended with off-road use on steep terrain or rough roads. …

Timing chain has stretched 3 times. I first changed the timing chain on 24 March 2000, on the advice of 2 different Dodge dealers. Chain stretched again and was changed on 20 sept. 2000. And has stretched and needs replacing again. Dodge did not tell the owners about TSB 09-07-97 stating that a tensioner for the timing chain needs to be installed the date of the TSB is 27 June 1997. If the timing chain brakes while you are driving the engine will stall and could cause internal damage to the engine. When I contacted Chrysler they told mr if I needed the work done aaai had to pay for the cost of repairs. This is wrong because they knowingly build defective engines and failed to notify the owners and they knew that ther were parts missing that would cause this problem.

5 times within the last 5 year vehicle will sputter and will die, check engine light will also come on at the same time and 4 times vehicle was towed to dealer who keeps telling consumer battery needs to be replaced. The 5th time dealer claims throttle housing needed to be cleaned but 2 months later defect has reoccured. Consumer states tireshave been rebalanced on numerouse occassions, during installation of the last set of tires, mechanic found that all four wheels/rims were bent, consumer was informed by dealership that numerous wheels had been replaced due to a manufacturer's defect, consumer also experienced transmission problems, also the id plate that is suppose to be located on the door jam has been missing since the date of purchase.

Engine stalls while driving at highway speeds. Dealer cannot determine the cause of the problem. Later the consumer was told the battery was bad, the transmission was blown out due to flat bearing also, the check light engine kept flashing. The consumer made several attempts to find an adequate dealership to fix problems. The vehicle wobbled back and forth, the consumer later discovered the wheels were flawed. The gas tank level was not operational.

Consumer experienced engine failure due to inadequate oiling because of sludge in the bottom of the oil pan, consumer was informed by mechanic that part of the reason for the sludge accumulating in the oil pan was due to a poor oil pan design, the way the drain plug is situated it does not allow for complete drainage of the oil during an oil change, which ultimately clogged the oil pump and caused the engine to fail.

While driving, noticed oil indication light flashed on, consumer pulled vehicle over to check oil and to add more oil. Soon after, vehicle shutdown. Consumer added more oil. As a result of this, the engine needed to be replaced. Dealer and manufacturer have been contacted. Consumer found that oil pump failed to send oil to engine.

Recently purchased a 1996 Dodge Dakota pu. I'm having problems with the catalitic converter as though it's clogging up and or falling apart internally. Has there been a recall on this vehicle and also what are all of the recalls issued on the 1996 Dodge Dakota, so that I can get all of them fixed, even if it is at my expense.

A timing chain broke while driving, causing vehicle to be inoperative; believed this condition was due to manufacturer's defect. Vehicle only has 69,000 miles of wear and should be fixed at manufacturer's expense, not consumer's. Asking NHTSA to look into this matter .

Engine complaints in other Dakota years