VehicleVerdict

1996 Dodge Dakota engine problems

The 1996 Dodge Dakota has 28 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 11% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

28

Engine complaints

11%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Dakota engine complaints by model year77 complaints1986: 1 complaints1987: 3 complaints1988: 4 complaints1989: 10 complaints1990: 6 complaints1991: 7 complaints1992: 24 complaints1993: 15 complaints1994: 17 complaints1995: 21 complaints1996: 28 complaints1997: 56 complaints1998: 66 complaints1999: 77 complaints2000: 61 complaints2001: 59 complaints2002: 38 complaints2003: 36 complaints2004: 12 complaints2005: 23 complaints2006: 15 complaints2007: 7 complaints2008: 4 complaints2009: 2 complaints2010: 2 complaints2011: 3 complaints
Dakota engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“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. *AK CONSUMER FOUND THAT…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · May 23, 2002

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1996 Dodge Dakota have?

NHTSA has 28 complaints about the 1996 Dodge Dakota engine — 11% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.