DodgeDakota19955.2L V8/dodge/dakota/1995/5-2l-v8/
AN platform

1995 Dodge Dakota — 5.2L V8

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 Dakota 5.2L V8. Covers both the standard and High Output 5.2L V8.

Body TRUCKEngine 5.2L V8Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1995 Dodge Dakota stands as a mid-size workhorse built on the AN platform, bridging capability and everyday usability with its available 5.2L V8 engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission—an uncommon pairing in its class that delivered a modest but serviceable 14 mpg combined. With a robust oil capacity of five quarts and a recommended 10W-30 or 5W-30 viscosity, the powertrain was engineered for durability, though its 271 owner complaints, primarily centered on seat belt issues, hint at the fit-and-finish quirks typical of the era. This model year occupies a middle ground in the Dakota’s two-decade complaint history, faring better than the 2000 peak of 842 grievances yet not as refined as the later, more polished iterations. For researchers, it represents a transitional moment where Chrysler’s truck reliability was improving but had yet to fully shed its earlier reputation for inconsistency.

Model year1997199619951992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy12/16/14 mpgEPA · 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 Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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
Front wiper blades4334667
Serpentine belt04668303 discontinued · alt B0013426
Thermostat52028185AC alt 04494470

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

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

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined12 / 16 / 14 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 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 25.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.

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 Capacity5 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt

Engine torques

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings45 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts55-60 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Main Bearings85 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs30 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

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

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerChampion
Spark Plug TypeRC12LC4
Spark Plug Gap0.040 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 Pressure30-80 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000 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

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat new bolts with the specified engine oil.

150.0 ft. lbs.50 ft. lbs
2105.0 ft. lbs.105 ft. lbs
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 30,000 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) · Spark Plugs (replace)
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) · Engine Breather Filter (clean) · 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 registers 271 federal complaints, 1 recall, 2 investigations, and 46 TSBs, placing it within the early-generation cluster (1990–1996) where annual complaints range from 88 to 292. Against its immediate neighbors, 1995 carries more complaints than 1994 (233) and 1996 (216), but its single recall is the lowest figure in the entire dataset and notably below the 4 recalls logged just one year prior in 1994. The generation-wide trend is decisive: after a relatively moderate 1990–1996 stretch, complaints and recalls surge beginning in 1997 (487 complaints, 12 recalls) and climb further, peaking around 2000 (842 complaints, 12 recalls), meaning 1995 sits firmly on the favorable side of that escalation. Within the target year, the leading complaint buckets are Seat Belts (27), Power Train (26), Service Brakes Hydraulic (26), and Air Bags (20), accompanied by 38 crash-related and 7 fire-related complaints, though the underlying root causes are not specified in this data. Taken together, 1995 is a defensible used-buy candidate: it predates the 1997+ spike, carries a low recall count, and posts a complaint volume substantially below the late-generation peak, though a pre-purchase inspection should still focus on the seat belt, powertrain, and brake systems that anchor the year's complaint profile.

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

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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 5.2L V8 take?

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.

What gas mileage does the 5.2L V8 get?

EPA figures are 12 city / 16 highway / 14 combined mpg.