DodgeDakota19952.5L L4/dodge/dakota/1995/2-5l-l4/
AN platform

1995 Dodge Dakota — 2.5L L4

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 Dakota 2.5L L4.

Body TRUCKEngine 2.5L L4

The 1995 Dodge Dakota is a truck built on the AN platform, powered by a 2.5L inline-four engine and serviced with 4.5 quarts of 10W-30 or 5W-30 API oil with the filter. Within the 1990–2011 Dakota complaint record, the 1995 model logged 271 owner complaints and one recall, with seat belts reported as the top concern. That positions this model year in the middle of the reliability range, well below the 842 complaints recorded for the 2000 Dakota and well above the 18 logged for 2009.

Model year1997199619951992

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24 CANADA · 580 CANADA CCA battery, OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, spark plug and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24 CANADA · 580 CANADA CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeclub cab baseOEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05281090AB
Engine air filter05016646AA discontinued · alt 04306113
Fuel filter04864849AB discontinued · alt 52004611
Spark plug68305411AA discontinued
Front wiper blades4334667
Serpentine belt04668303 discontinued · alt B0013426
Thermostat52028185AC alt 04494470

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length208.3 in
Overall width69.7 in
Overall height65.7 in
Wheelbase131.1 in
Curb weight3479 lb
Track (front / rear)58.7 / 59.4 in

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt w/ filter of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, Front: 80W-; Rear: 7 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 20.0 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilFront: 80W-; Rear: 7
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.5 Pints mvc Front
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt

Engine torques

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug20.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts85-115 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug35.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug35.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Spark Plug Gap0.035 in
Spark Plug Torque30.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.00 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeND 8 oil
Oil Capacity7.75 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24 CANADA
Standard BCI Cranking Performance580 CANADA cca
Optional BCI Group Number51 - U.S.

Service checks

Pressure Test16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature192 °F
Engine Compression100 Minimum psi
Engine Oil Pressure35-75 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM1600 rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH 10 inch DRUM / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket18-26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle95-125 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH 10 inch DRUM / WITH STANDARD
Drum Runout Limit0.008 in
Drum Nominal Diameter10 in / 9 in
Drum Maximum Machining10.06 in / 9.06 in
Drum Discard at-or-over10.09 / 9.09

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
16 ft. lbs. ( 1 ft. lb. at a time.), step 2: bolts: 5-12: 6 ft. lbs., step 3: all to 6 ft. lbs., step 4: all to 12 ft. lbs., step 5: all to 126 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Driveshaft Slip Yoke (lubricate) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 37,500 miBands (adjust) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1995 Dodge Dakota recorded 271 complaints, 1 recall, 2 investigations and 46 technical service bulletins, placing it between the higher complaint years of 1992 (292) and 1994 (233) and the lower complaint year of 1993 (151). Compared with the preceding three years, complaints rose steadily from 1990’s 88 to a local high in 1992 before dipping in 1993 and climbing again through 1995. Recall activity in 1995 was markedly low—just one recall—whereas 1994 and 1996 each had four and two recalls, respectively, indicating a relative dip in recall frequency for the target year. After 1995, complaint numbers fell slightly in 1996 (216) then surged dramatically beginning in 1997, peaking at 842 complaints in 2000 before declining again in the late 2000s. Overall, 1995 sits on an upward trend but still precedes the steep increase in complaints and recalls that characterizes the later generation, suggesting it offers comparatively fewer reported issues. Takeaway: Given its moderate complaint count and the lowest recall figure in the surrounding years, the 1995 model year appears to be a relatively sound choice among the generation’s offerings.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
46
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
271
Owner complaints
38 involved a crash · 7 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 271 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts27
Power Train26
Service Brakes, Hydraulic26
Air Bags20
Structure19
Engine & Engine Cooling17
Electrical System16
Steering13

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E049000Exterior LightingReported 24/05/2006

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… Remedy: 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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 46 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
R2118796A2016-02-26Engine And Engine CoolingValve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.
90028492014-09-03StructurePart Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission…
90028492014-09-03EquipmentPart Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission…
24013052005-08-04EquipmentAIR CONDITIONING (A/C) COOLING COIL ODOR. *TT
13003032003-11-07StructureFRAME CRACKING. *TT

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Dakota. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1995 Dakota 2.5L L4 take?

4.5 qt w/ filter of ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 32 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1995 Dakota have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.