RoadVitals

1996 Dodge Dakota Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest Mar 31, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 189 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Dodge Dakota submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structure
Filed Mar 31, 2016

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 ID
10852801
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Mileage
144,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesEngine
Filed Jan 19, 2014

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10560574
Incident
Sep 10, 2013
Mileage
235,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 28, 2010

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10368018
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
Mileage
1,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 15, 2004
Crash reported

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 ID
10068926
Incident
Jun 15, 2003
Mileage
88,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 6, 2003

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
10021161
Incident
Jun 1, 2003
Body & structure
Filed Mar 11, 2003

FRAME CRACKED IN HALF BEHIND THE SUSPENSION ON PASSENGER SIDE.*JB

NHTSA ID
10010264
Incident
Sep 23, 2001
Mileage
101,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 19, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
8012193
Incident
Jun 16, 2002
Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed Nov 6, 2001

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.*AK

NHTSA ID
754147
Body & structure
Filed Aug 15, 2001

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

NHTSA ID
894398
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Jun 28, 2001

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.*AK

NHTSA ID
891538
Incident
Jun 27, 2001
Body & structureSuspension
Filed May 14, 2001

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.*AK

NHTSA ID
888192
Incident
May 1, 2001
Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed Jun 28, 2000

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
864414
Body & structureEngine
Filed Jun 1, 1999

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

NHTSA ID
707098
Body & structure
Filed Sep 9, 1998

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

NHTSA ID
827712
Body & structure
Filed Jun 22, 1998

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
824516
Incident
Jun 19, 1998
Body & structure
Filed Apr 10, 1997

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

NHTSA ID
603198
Incident
Dec 1, 1995
Body & structure
Filed Feb 21, 1997

WATER LEAKING INTO CAB.

NHTSA ID
602579
Body & structure
Filed Feb 1, 1997

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

NHTSA ID
512059

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Brakes28Engine27Transmission21Interior & seats20Electrical18Suspension12Seat belts12Airbags12Fuel system10Driver assistance10Other / unspecified9Tires & wheels9

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .