MYRModel Year Report

1997 Dodge Dakota

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1997 Dodge Dakota
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
446
Recalls
12

Campaigns on file for 1997

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Suspension

46% of complaints

Complaints per year

1985: 2 complaints 1985 1986: 1 complaint 1987: 20 complaints 1988: 55 complaints 1989: 64 complaints 1989 1990: 65 complaints 1991: 128 complaints 1992: 219 complaints 1993: 134 complaints 1993 1994: 184 complaints 1995: 208 complaints 1996: 189 complaints 1997: 446 complaints 1997 446 1998: 545 complaints 1999: 641 complaints 2000: 806 complaints 2001: 678 complaints 2001 2002: 678 complaints 2003: 296 complaints 2004: 206 complaints 2005: 470 complaints 2005 2006: 285 complaints 2007: 145 complaints 2008: 91 complaints 2009: 18 complaints 2009 2010: 35 complaints 2011: 44 complaints
1985: 2 complaints 1985 1986: 1 complaint 1987: 20 complaints 1987 1988: 55 complaints 1989: 64 complaints 1989 1990: 65 complaints 1991: 128 complaints 1991 1992: 219 complaints 1993: 134 complaints 1993 1994: 184 complaints 1995: 208 complaints 1995 1996: 189 complaints 1997: 446 complaints 1997 446 1998: 545 complaints 1999: 641 complaints 1999 2000: 806 complaints 2001: 678 complaints 2001 2002: 678 complaints 2003: 296 complaints 2003 2004: 206 complaints 2005: 470 complaints 2005 2006: 285 complaints 2007: 145 complaints 2007 2008: 91 complaints 2009: 18 complaints 2009 2010: 35 complaints 2011: 44 complaints 2011
1985: 2 complaints 1985 1986: 1 complaint 1987: 20 complaints 1987 1988: 55 complaints 1989: 64 complaints 1989 1990: 65 complaints 1991: 128 complaints 1991 1992: 219 complaints 1993: 134 complaints 1993 1994: 184 complaints 1995: 208 complaints 1995 1996: 189 complaints 1997: 446 complaints 1997 446 1998: 545 complaints 1999: 641 complaints 1999 2000: 806 complaints 2001: 678 complaints 2001 2002: 678 complaints 2003: 296 complaints 2003 2004: 206 complaints 2005: 470 complaints 2005 2006: 285 complaints 2007: 145 complaints 2007 2008: 91 complaints 2009: 18 complaints 2009 2010: 35 complaints 2011: 44 complaints 2011

1997: 446 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19852
19861
198720
198855
198964
199065
1991128
1992219
1993134
1994184
1995208
1996189
1997446
1998545
1999641
2000806
2001678
2002678
2003296
2004206
2005470
2006285
2007145
200891
200918
201035
201144

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Suspension

46% · 207 reports

Most commonly citing upper ball joint and lower ball joint.

Service brakes

17% · 78 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Locked vehicle in four wheel drive high, started going through flat pasture, either brakes locked up or front pumkin turned up and locked front wheels up, lost control and rolled onto driver side.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-11-18

Also filed under Steering and structure

Brake line crodded, loss of brakes in motion in driveway

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-02-23

Engine and engine cooling

12% · 52 reports

Most commonly citing engine and gasoline.

FIRE

Power train

11% · 50 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and differential unit.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Air bags

9% · 38 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

During frontal impact at speeds of 30MPH, the driver's and passenger's side air bags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 1997-06-09

Consumer was involved in a 50 MPH frontal collision in which the driver's or passenger's air bags did not deploy. Please give further details.

NHTSA ODI report, 1997-03-14

Safety timeline

12 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    1997Complaint volume 446 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    1997-07-15Air bags97V080000 The electrical circuit design allows the potential for an inadvertent air bag deployment upon vehicle ignition shut down.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag electronic control module with a newly designed module.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2000-08-21Service brakes, hydraulic00V198000 Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Some vehicles may have been built with inadequate clearance between the rear axle vent hose and the brake hose.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear brake hose for evidence of wear. Worn brake hoses will be replaced. The rear vent hose will be shortened by 3 inches and a clip will be installed to assure clearance…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2000-09-11Service brakes, hydraulic00V193000 Vehicle description: pickup trucks built with 2.5L engines. Some vehicles may have been built with inadequate clearance between the left front brake tube and the power steering hose.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake tube and power steering hose for wear. If wear is evident, the brake tube and/or power steering hose will be replaced. A power steering standoff bracket will be…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2000-09-25Fuel system, gasoline00V199000 Vehicle description: pickup trucks with a 131 inch wheelbase. Some of these vehicles may have been built with inadequate clearance between the fuel line and the cab underbody.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles for proper clearance. Fuel lines that exhibit inadequate clearance will be replaced with a redesigned fuel line that will assure proper clearance.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2001-06-18Air bags01V153000 Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the Ram pickup trucks were built at the warren…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly. Owner notification began June 18, 2001. Also some 1997-200 model year vehicles that, according to warranty records, have had a suspect replacement…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. I
    2003-11-19Engineering analysisClosed 2005-02-11 Upper ball joint separation
  8. R
    2006-03-20Service brakes, hydraulic06E022000 Certain aftermarket brake hydraulic master cylinders sold as replacement brake cylinders for certain Ford, daimlerchrysler, and Jeep passenger vehicles. These brake cylinders were sold under the…

    Remedy: Affinia (Brake parts, inc.) will replace the subject brake hydraulic master cylinders free of charge. The recall began on March 20, 2006. Owners can contact affina group customer service at…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber…

    Remedy: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2006-04-20Engine and engine cooling06E024000 Certain replacement k&n fuel performance kits, p/nos. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, and 57-1530. Also, a small percentage of these kits were sold under the mopar…

    Remedy: K&n will provide owners with a free repair kit along with repair instructions. The recall began on April 20, 2006.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2006-07-31Exterior lighting06E065000 Certain aj motorsport combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the…

    Remedy: Aj motorsport will notify owners and offer reimbursement for the lamps. The recall began on July 31, 2006. Owners may contact aj motorsport at 626-618-2026.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2008-11-05Suspension08E064000 Skf is recalling 2,805 hub units, part no. Br930361, sold as a service part for 1997-2004 Dodge Dakota vehicles and 1999-2003 Dodge durango vehicles equipped with 2-wheel drive & rear axle ABS. Due…

    Remedy: Skf will notify owners and replace the defective hub units free of charge. The recall began on November 5, 2008. Owners may contact skf vsm north america customer service at 1-800-644-8999.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1997 Dodge Dakota — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Suspension: 207 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 78 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine and engine cooling: 52 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 97V080000 · Air bags
  • Recall 00V198000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 00V193000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 00V199000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 01V153000 · Air bags
  • Recall 06E022000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E024000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 06E065000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 08E064000 · Suspension
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1997 Dodge Dakota reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1997 Dodge Dakota is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Dodge Dakota?
The most-reported component is suspension, accounting for 46% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1997 Dodge Dakota have?
12 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.