1996 Dodge Dakota vs 1996 Ford F-150
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Dodge Dakota | 1996 Ford F-150 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 189 | 324 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 58 | 121 |
| Investigations | 1 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 20 | 21 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 75 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 13–20 | 12–15 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 88,750 mi | 110,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Dodge Dakota | Ford F-150 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 19 | 56 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 23 | 32 |
| Power Train | 28 | 26 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 | 42 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 27 | 23 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 36 |
| Air Bags | 12 | 23 |
| Suspension | 12 | 21 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 12 | 8 |
| Rust / corrosion | 7 | 20 |
| Check engine light | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 5 | 7 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 10 |
1996 Dodge Dakota
1996 Ford F-150
Compare all Dodge Dakota vs Ford F-150 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.