Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Dodge Dakota, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension142
- Service brakes, hydraulic68
- Engine and engine cooling49
- Power train46
- Air bags37
- Steering34
- Fuel system, gasoline34
- Seats22
- Electrical system17
- Tires16
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 30 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 22 1997 Dakota vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 11 people died inside them, and 5 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Dodge Dakota failed the safety check 2.93% of the time — 83% more often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 153,560 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 9 variants: combined 11.9–18.0 L/100 km (about 13–20 mpg US), CO₂ 274–414 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 13.2 | 10.4 | 11.9 |
| Dakota · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.6 | 11.5 | 14.3 |
| Dakota · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.6 | 12.3 | 14.7 |
| Dakota 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.9 | 13.7 | 16.0 |
| Dakota · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 19.3 | 12.8 | 16.3 |
| Dakota 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 18.5 | 13.6 | 16.3 |
| Dakota · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 18.8 | 13.8 | 16.6 |
| Dakota 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 19.9 | 15.1 | 17.7 |
| Dakota 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 21.0 | 14.4 | 18.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1997 Dodge Dakota.
| 2000170 28 Aug 2000 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the rear axle vent hose could contact the rear brake hose which eventually could wear a hole in the brake hose. Perforation of the rear br… |
| 2000171 28 Aug 2000 | Fuel System On certain vehicles with 131" wheel base, inadequate clearance between the fuel line and the cab underbody could eventually wear a hole in the fuel line resulti… |
| 1997115 9 Jun 1997 | Emissions NOTE: VEHICLES WITH 3.9 LITRE ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1101 - EMISSION DEVICE. VEHICLES WERE BUILT WIT… |
| 1997102 21 May 1997 | Seats And Restraints THE CIRCUIT DESIGN IN THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE MAY ALLOW THE POTENTIAL FOR INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON VEHICLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN. CORRECT… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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 ASSEMBLY PLANT ("S" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 16, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; ST. LOUIS NORTH ASSEMBLY PLANT ("J" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 19, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; LAGO ALBERTO ASSEMBLY PLANT ("M" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 23, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; AND SALTILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT ("G" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 23, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000. IMPORTANT: VEHICLES THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THE PROPER CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS RECALL. IN ADDITION, 1997-2000 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD A SUSPECT REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS RECALL.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE REAR AXLE VENT HOSE AND THE BRAKE HOSE.
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.
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.
THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT DESIGN ALLOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON VEHICLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Dodge told its dealers about the 1997 Dodge Dakota: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635721 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISION IN DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES AND LABOR OPERATION TIMES FOR RE TRANSMISSIONS. *TT |
| 634272 | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC |
| 634077 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *SLC |
| 633497 | SUBJECT REGARDING THE OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *SLC |
| 625650 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 621898 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ |
| 620066 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERIC SCAN TOOL (GST), PUBLICATION NO. 81-170-00008 PROVIDED WITH THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO PROVIDE REFERENCE INFORMATION WHEN USING GENERIC SCAN TOOL ON OBDII VEHICLES. *TT |
| 620059 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT |
| 618857 | SUBJECT REGARDING UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHING SERVICE. *TT |
| 618049 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB |
| 616727 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 614665 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 614651 | ON SOME VEHICLES THE ENGINE CRANKS BUT DOES NOT START OR STARTS AND STALLS. *TT |
| 612181 | SUBJECT REGARDING VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE WHILE IN BI-LEVEL MODE, AIR FLOW FROM PANEL VENTS IS LESS THAT THAT OF THE FLOOR VENTS. *MJS |
| 612160 | SUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS |
| 610635 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 610617 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT A SQUEAKING / CLICKING NOISE FROM REAR LEAF SPRINGS. *TT |
| 610005 | EXPERIENCING SPARK KNOCK AND ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD PAN GASKET OIL LEAK. *TT |
| 609995 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT |
| 609988 | SUBJECT REGARDING MISDIAGNOSED LEAK DETECTION PUMP SYSTEMS WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P1494, P0442 P0455, OR P0456. *TT |
| 6092304 | SUBJECT REGARDING NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG HANDLING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 6089809 | EXPERIENCING A SQUEAK NOISE COMING FROM REAR LEAF SPRING. *TT |
| 6089800 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION IS NOW OFFERINB AIRBAG ON / OFF SWITCHES FOR SELECTED VEHICLES. *TT |
| 6089773 | SUBJECT REGARDING A SQUEAK HEARD COMING FROM THE WINDOW AREA AS THE WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN. *TT |
| 6089735 | THIS BULLETIN MENTIONS THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING GREASE IS EVIDENT ON THE BEARING SEAL AREA. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation