Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1996 Dodge Dakota
NHTSA data on file today
The 1996 Dodge Dakota has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 189 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #06E049000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #95V199000 Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Power Assist NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 28 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 27 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 21 complaints
- Electrical System 18 complaints
- Structure 18 complaints
- Air Bags 12 complaints
Of the 189 complaints on file, 20 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 189 complaints, owners report 8 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1996 Dodge Dakota's reliability is average based on limited evidence from 189 complaints and 2 recalls. Key issues center around the power train, engine, and brake system, though no single problem overwhelms the record. The recall campaigns target non-compliance in lighting and brake components.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| power train | 100,000–150,000 miles | $800–$3,000 | common |
| engine and cooling | 90,000–140,000 miles | $500–$2,500 | occasional |
| service brakes | 80,000–120,000 miles | $300–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake system inspection
- Suspension lubrication
- Fluid level checks
- Cooling system flush
- Air filter changes
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Noisy brakes
- Transmission slipping
- Engine overheating
- Unresponsive steering
- Electrical issues
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1996 Dodge Dakota at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.