1996 Dodge Dakota Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 6%of 189 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 78,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the seat belts of the 1996 Dodge Dakota, 6% of the 189 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10172541, filed 2006-11, 127,554 miles“Plastic covers came off of driver's side seat belt assembly. Then seat belt would not release because assembly had broken. The assembly had to be pried apart with a screwdriver so that I could get out of the seat belt.”
NHTSA complaint #10016472, filed 2003-04, 69,890 miles“The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the seat belt buckle was fractured. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not provided. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10788427, filed 2015-11, 113,000 miles“The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Dakota. He stated that the front seat belts have fallen apart. He also stated that he was unable to release the seat belt and was forced to crawl out. The dealer stated that there were recalls; however, there were no recalls for the seat belts. They offered to replace the seat belts; but he would have to pay for the labor. The seat belts have not been replaced. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 160,000. The VIN appears to be invalid.”
NHTSA complaint #10192903, filed 2007-06Seat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 | 3% |
| 2008 | 4 | 4% |
| 2006 | 5 | 2% |
| 2005 | 8 | 2% |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% |
| 2003 | 3 | 1% |
| 2002 | 3 | 0% |
| 2001 | 4 | 1% |
| 2000 | 9 | 1% |
| 1999 | 6 | 1% |
| 1998 | 20 | 4% |
| 1997 | 10 | 2% |
| 1996 | 12 | 6% |
| 1995 | 25 | 12% |
| 1994 | 11 | 7% |
| 1993 | 8 | 6% |
| 1992 | 3 | 1% |
| 1991 | 2 | 2% |
| 1990 | 1 | 2% |
| 1989 | 3 | 5% |
| 1988 | 2 | 4% |
| 1987 | 3 | 15% |
Other parts of the 1996 Dodge Dakota
28 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
28 complaintsEngine cooling
27 complaintsElectrical system
19 complaintsBody and structure
18 complaintsAir bags
12 complaintsSuspension
12 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsVehicle speed control
10 complaintsSeats
9 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
8 complaintsTires
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Dodge Dakota
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology