RoadVitals

1996 Dodge Dakota Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance 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.
10
Latest Mar 7, 2012
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.
5%
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.
0
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 forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. 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. 10 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 driver-assistance

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

Driver assistance
Filed Mar 7, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A RAPID INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED WHEN HE RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
10450664
Incident
Mar 4, 2012
Mileage
130,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSeat belts
Filed Nov 3, 2006

OCTOBER 27, 2006 I TOOK 2 FRIENDS TO TOWN AND WHEN THE PERSON IN THE MIDDLE SEAT COULD NOT GET THE SEAT BELT TO RELEASE AFTER SEVERAL TRIES I CUT THE SEAT BELT TO GET HIM OUT. NOVEMBER 2, 2006 I WAS PICKING UP MY HUSBAND FROM THE DOCTORS OFFICE AND MY SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE AND AGAIN I HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT, SO I COULD GET OUT. ON A RECENT TRIP OF 2400 MILES THE OIL GAUGE WAS PASSED THE MIDDLE OF THE GAUGE WHICH NEAR THE (H) WHEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING THE DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT AND I HAD TO STOP AND LET THE MOTOR COMPLETELY COOL DOWN BEFORE THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK AGAIN IN THE DASH. ON THE WAY HOME FROM MICHIGAN THE ACCELORATOR PEDEL FELL OFF IN THE MOUNTAINS IN GEORGIA AND I HAD TO PUT THE PLASTIC HOLDERS ON VERY CAREFULLY SO I COULD GET TO THE NEXT TOWN AND THERE A AUTO PARTS STORE EMPLOYEE PUT A (C) CLAMP ON THE HOLDER TO SECURE THE PEDAL ENOUGH FOR ME TO MAKE IT HOME. I STILL HAD 400 MILES TO GO AND WAS VERY APPREHENSIVE ALL THE WAY HOME AND NOW WITH THE SEAT BELT FAILURES I AM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE TRUCK . WE ARE RETIRED AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE OR WE WOULD PUT THIS IN THE JUNK YARD. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD TRUCK UP UNTIL NOW AND WE HAVE NEVER ABUSED IT IN ANY WAY AND NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
10172541
Incident
Oct 27, 2006
Mileage
127,554 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Aug 6, 2001

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK IT WILL JUMP OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE. ALSO, WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A DOWN HILL INCLINE VEHICLE WILL ROLL FORWARD, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
893451
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 14, 2000

CRUISE CONTROL STICKS WHEN TRYING TO DISENGAGE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID
876500
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 23, 2000

SPEED CONTROL CAN NOT BE DISENGAGE MANUALLY AT THE STEERING COLUMN, MUST DEPRESS BRAKE TO DISENGAGE. *MJS

NHTSA ID
551515
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 22, 2000

CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT DISENGAGE WHEN MANUALLY TRYING TO DISENGAGE. DRIVER HAS TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. CONSUMER SAYS THIS IS UNSAFE. IF SOMEONE WOULD PULL OUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER, IT COULD RESULT IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
857300
Incident
Aug 21, 1996
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Sep 9, 1998

THIS TRUCK WAS BOUGHT NEW. STEERING SECTOR WAS LOOSE, AND TIGHTENED. TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT. NOW FRONT BRAKES ARE SHOT. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE (INTERMITTENTLY) WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS IN FULL DOWN TILT POSITION. SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER SINCE NEW WHEN USED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NOW IT HAS SEVERE GROOVING ON INSIDE OF BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. BRAKE INSPECTION AT 31,044 MILES, ALL OKAY. AT 44,388 PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED. BACK DRUM BRAKES ARE 25% USED. DOCUMENTED WITH SERVICE RECORDS.

NHTSA ID
540684
Incident
Sep 8, 1998
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 18, 1998

CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT DISENGAGE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES OR SWITCHING IT OFF. AFTER APPLYING BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN FOR A CURVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD ENGAGE ITSELF AS SOON AS THE BRAKES WERE RELEASED.

NHTSA ID
540115
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 23, 1997

WHEN DRIVING SOMETIMES VEHICLE SURGES AND LOSES POWER AT ALL SPEEDS AT VARIOUS TIMES. *AK *AK

NHTSA ID
803440
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 23, 1996

VEHICLE IDLES HIGH, LUNGES. TT

NHTSA ID
500967
Incident
Jan 23, 1996

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .