1997 Dodge Dakota problems
The 1997 Dodge Dakota has 650 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (32%) concerns suspension. After that come brakes (13%) and engine (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 650 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Suspension 32% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 49 and 11
- Injuries and deaths
- 37 and 3
- Typical mileage
- 70,000 miles 234 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 3 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 33 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 48 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 57 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 35 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 24 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 21 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 6 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 6 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 234 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 70,000 miles. For suspension specifically, the median reported mileage is about 62,000 miles (139 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 49 complaints mention a crash; 11 complaints mention a fire; 37 injuries reported; 3 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 7th most-complained-about out of 21 model years of the Dodge Dakota with enough data (293 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While vehicle was stopped it was rearended. Had child in extended cab bench seat. The seat collapsed backwards & child's head hit side of cab. The front seats collapsed backwards onto child seated in rear. Child sustained serious injuries from the seat. Both seats fell backwards upon impact. Vehicle was totaled.
While traveling at 50 MPH the consumer's vehicle hit another vehicle that was at a dead stop. The vehicle was totaled, and none of the air bags deployed. *scc
While driving 45 MPH in the rain driver lost control of vehicle and hit a utility pole head on. Frontal air bags did not deploy. Both driver and passenger were wearing seat belts. The drivers nose was bruised. Passenger's head hit the windshield. Passenger's face was bruised and windshield cracked.
The upper and lower ball joints and tie rod ends wore out completely. Consumer was concerned that the wheels will fall off while driving.
Transmission failure at 50,000 miles. Transmission began to bog down while driving about 40 MPH. After about 5 minutes it would only go about 5 MPH while reving about 3500 RPM. Paid for tow to dodge dealer in hampton va for analysis and repair. Tow operator remarked almost all dodge dakotas towed for tranny work ended up costing $2300-$2900 for a replacement.