1995 Dodge Dakota Problems, Recalls & Reliability

294 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1995 Dodge Dakota, alongside 1 recall campaign and 2 defect investigations. It scores 34/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports.

294Complaints
34/100Trouble index
1Recalls

Typical

Where 1995 sits among all Dakota years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Transmission & drivetrain 33 complaints (11%)
“When i drive 50 + miles, transmission won't up shift unless i take foot off gas, it has done this about 12 times since purchase in feb . Also truck has rolled ahead when in park 6 times since purchase in feb.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1995 Dakota
Brakes & stability 32 complaints (11%)
“The front wheels lock up while braking, vehicle is equipped with rear abs brakes. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1995 Dakota
Seat belts 27 complaints (9%)
“My daughter, who was the driver, was unable to unlatch her seat belt. Her boyfriend had to force it apart in order for her to be able to exit the car. Now it is broken...she was at a standstill at her boyfriend's house.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1995 Dakota
Airbags 26 complaints (9%)
“Air bag did not deploy during a head-on collision that totaled the vehicle and the driver sustained multiple injuries.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1995 Dakota
Body & structure 22 complaints (7%)
Electrical 21 complaints (7%)

Recalls (1)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 06E049000 2006

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO…

Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Federal defect investigations

STEERING COLUMN SEPARATION DP03002 opened 2003, closed 2003
FRAME CRACKS DP02009 opened 2002, closed 2003

Technical service bulletins

45 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 1995 Dodge Dakota. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 1995 Dakota TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

1995peak 63 in 19962022

Questions buyers ask

Is the 1995 Dodge Dakota reliable?

The 1995 Dodge Dakota drew 294 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 34/100, scored against the model's worst year (2000).

What are the most common 1995 Dodge Dakota problems?

The top reported problems for the 1995 Dodge Dakota are transmission & drivetrain (33 complaints), brakes & stability (32), and seat belts (27).

Does the 1995 Dodge Dakota have recalls?

1 recall campaign applies to the 1995 Dodge Dakota. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 1994 Dakota All Dakota years 1996 Dakota →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.