AI Damage1997 Dodge Dakota: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Dodge Dakota filed 446 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 446
- involving a crash
- 42
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 32% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 16% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 11% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 8% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 8 Seats 5% of all complaints
- Suspension: 142 complaints (32% of all).
- Service brakes: 72 complaints (16% of all), 8 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 49 complaints (11% of all).
- Powertrain: 46 complaints (10% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 37 complaints (8% of all), 21 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- 3.9 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- 5.2 L · petrol · 8 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speednamed in 1 complaints
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 446 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 142 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 72 | 8 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 49 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 46 | 4 | 0 |
| Air bags | 37 | 21 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 37 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 34 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 22 | 4 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 11 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Our airbags did not deploy. We notified chrysler about this matter. They sent out a special investigator to go over the truck to see why they did not deploy, we were advised by my husbands insurance company to be present at the time of inspection, we told this to chryslers special investigator.
The left side seat belt came apart. Upon impact, both air bags did not deploy. Driver sustained head and neck, and knee injuries, and was transported by ambulance to a hospital. Vehicle was towed and totaled by insurance company.
While driving approximately 30 mph and trying to avoid a deer consumer swerved and vehicle ending up crashing into a fence. Upon im[pact, air bags did not deploy. The cause was undetermined.
I was involved in an accident where the other vehicle pulled out in front of me. I hit the brakes and also hit the side of the other vehicle. Both air bags deployed, but the driver seat belt broke.
My truck rolled backward approximately 150 yards and crashed into tree. Total damage of $3500, luckily no one seriously injured.
Consumer's son had a rear end accident and seat belt did not hold him. Sustained leg and chest injuries.
Consumer's son had a rear end collision and seat belt did not hold him. Sustained leg and chest injuries.
The difference is only 28 mph and the seat broke, the driver fell straight back and was unconscious, sliding under the seatbelt towards the floor. The part of the seat that broke was defective.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 857 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 2% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Dakota has 237 complaints (28 years in the data). This year has 446, above average.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
- Dakota 198720 sources
- Dakota 198855 sources
- Dakota 198963 sources
- Dakota 199063 sources
- Dakota 1991128 sources
- Dakota 1992216 sources
- Dakota 1993134 sources
- Dakota 1994166 sources
- Dakota 1995208 sources
- Dakota 1996189 sources
- Dakota 1998545 sources
- Dakota 1999641 sources
- Dakota 2000806 sources
- Dakota 2001678 sources
- Dakota 2002678 sources
- Dakota 2003296 sources
- Dakota 2004206 sources
- Dakota 2005470 sources
- Dakota 2006285 sources
- Dakota 2007145 sources
- Dakota 200891 sources
- Dakota 200918 sources
- Dakota 201035 sources
- Dakota 201144 sources
- Dakota 999910 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Dodge Dakota?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, service brakes, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 446. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (6%), rust, corrosion (4%), vibration (3%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Dodge Dakota?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1997 Dodge Dakota from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1997 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.