1997 Dodge Dakota Problems and Recalls (433 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1997 Dodge Dakota is Suspension (27% of 433 owner reports). There are 12 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Suspension — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 433 complaints · 12 recalls

What problems show up on the 1997 Dodge Dakota?

115 of 433 filings named Suspension (27% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Brakes (63 reports).

There are 12 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Brakes, Fuel system, Suspension, Lights, and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 1996 has 185 reports on file; this year has 433. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 1997 Dodge Dakota

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 12 campaigns on file below.
  2. Suspension. Listen for clunks over bumps and look at tire wear for alignment issues.
  3. Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
  4. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Suspension. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Suspension 115 complaints · 26.6% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 40
  • Fires 7
  • Injuries 29
  • Deaths 0
All Dodge Dakota years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Suspension (SUSPENSION) appears in 115 of 433 owner complaints (26.6%) in this vehicle snapshot. Suspension (SUSPENSION): 115 complaints, 26.6% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 115 · 26.6% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 63 complaints, 14.6% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 6 crash reports 63 · 14.6% Engine (ENGINE): 38 complaints, 8.8% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 2 fire reports 38 · 8.8% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 34 complaints, 7.9% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 4 crash reports 2 fire reports 34 · 7.9% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 32 complaints, 7.4% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 19 crash reports 32 · 7.4% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 30 complaints, 6.9% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 fire reports 30 · 6.9% Steering (STEERING): 23 complaints, 5.3% of reports Steering (STEERING) 1 crash reports 23 · 5.3% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 13 complaints, 3.0% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 13 · 3.0% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 10 complaints, 2.3% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 10 · 2.3% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 370 complaints, 85.5% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 34 crash reports 6 fire reports 370 · 85.5% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 115 26.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 63 14.6% 6 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 38 8.8% 0 crashes · 2 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 34 7.9% 4 crashes · 2 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 32 7.4% 19 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 30 6.9% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Steering (STEERING) 23 5.3% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 13 3.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 10 2.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 370 85.5% 34 crashes · 6 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 1996; the first recall shown was reported in May 1997. 1996-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 1997-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 1997-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 1997-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 1998-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 1998-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 1998-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 1998-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 1999-Q1: 21 owner reports 21 1999-Q2: 18 owner reports 18 1999-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 1999-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2000-Q1: 20 owner reports 20 2000-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2000-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2000-Q4: 22 owner reports 22 2001-Q1: 11 owner reports 11 2001-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2001-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2001-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2002-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2002-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2002-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2002-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2003-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2003-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2003-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2003-Q4: 15 owner reports 15 2004-Q1: 29 owner reports 29 2004-Q2: 19 owner reports 19 2004-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2004-Q4: 18 owner reports 18 2005-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2005-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2005-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2005-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2006-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2006-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2007-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2007-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2008-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2013-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 1996 Jan 2018 Recall campaign 97V080000 ◆ Recall campaign 97V080000 Recall campaign 00V193000 ◆ Recall campaign 00V193000 Recall campaign 00V198000 ◆ Recall campaign 00V198000 Recall campaign 00V199000 ◆ Recall campaign 00V199000 Recall campaign 01V153000 ◆ Recall campaign 01V153000 Recall campaign 06E022000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E022000 Recall campaign 06E024000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E024000 Recall campaign 06E026000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E026000 Recall campaign 06E065000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E065000 Recall campaign 08E064000 ◆ Recall campaign 08E064000 Recall campaign 09E012000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E012000 Recall campaign 09E025000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E025000 Investigation EA03023 ● Investigation EA03023
  • Campaign 97V080000 was reported 119 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 00V193000 was reported 1,147 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 00V198000 was reported 1,147 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 00V199000 was reported 618 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 08E064000 was reported 3,850 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 09E025000 was reported 2,665 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1996-Q4 Owner reports 1
1997-Q1 Owner reports 6
1997-Q2 Owner reports 8
1997-Q3 Owner reports 5
1997-Q4 Owner reports 11
1998-Q1 Owner reports 12
1998-Q2 Owner reports 5
1998-Q3 Owner reports 10
1998-Q4 Owner reports 12
1999-Q1 Owner reports 21
1999-Q2 Owner reports 18
1999-Q3 Owner reports 11
1999-Q4 Owner reports 13
2000-Q1 Owner reports 20
2000-Q2 Owner reports 10
2000-Q3 Owner reports 9
2000-Q4 Owner reports 22
2001-Q1 Owner reports 11
2001-Q2 Owner reports 11
2001-Q3 Owner reports 8
2001-Q4 Owner reports 6
2002-Q1 Owner reports 7
2002-Q2 Owner reports 5
2002-Q3 Owner reports 5
2002-Q4 Owner reports 6
2003-Q1 Owner reports 5
2003-Q2 Owner reports 3
2003-Q3 Owner reports 12
2003-Q4 Owner reports 15
2004-Q1 Owner reports 29
2004-Q2 Owner reports 19
2004-Q3 Owner reports 10
2004-Q4 Owner reports 18
2005-Q1 Owner reports 15
2005-Q2 Owner reports 6
2005-Q3 Owner reports 6
2005-Q4 Owner reports 4
2006-Q1 Owner reports 2
2006-Q2 Owner reports 7
2006-Q3 Owner reports 1
2006-Q4 Owner reports 2
2007-Q1 Owner reports 2
2007-Q2 Owner reports 1
2008-Q1 Owner reports 4
2008-Q4 Owner reports 1
2009-Q1 Owner reports 1
2009-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q4 Owner reports 1
2011-Q1 Owner reports 1
2012-Q1 Owner reports 2
2012-Q2 Owner reports 3
2013-Q4 Owner reports 1
2014-Q2 Owner reports 1
2014-Q3 Owner reports 1
2014-Q4 Owner reports 1
2015-Q2 Owner reports 2
2016-Q2 Owner reports 1
2016-Q4 Owner reports 1
2018-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 97V080000
Recall campaign 1 00V193000
Recall campaign 1 00V198000
Recall campaign 1 00V199000
Recall campaign 1 01V153000
Recall campaign 1 06E022000
Recall campaign 1 06E024000
Recall campaign 1 06E026000
Recall campaign 1 06E065000
Recall campaign 1 08E064000
Recall campaign 1 09E012000
Recall campaign 1 09E025000
Defect investigation 1 EA03023
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (12)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Brakes, Fuel system, Suspension, Lights, and Airbags.

  1. Recall campaign 00V193000

    Brakes

    Report date
    Component:
    Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
    Consequence:
    A PUNCTURE OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE TUBE CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING FORCE AT THE FRONT WHEELS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    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 INSTALLED ON ALL VEHICLES TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE TUBE AND POWER STEERING HOSE IS MAINTAINED.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 00V198000

    Brakes

    Report date
    Component:
    Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
    Consequence:
    A PUNCTURE IN THE REAR BRAKE HOSE WILL RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING FORCE AT THE REAR WHEELS.
    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 BETWEEN THE AXLE VENT LINE AND BRAKE HOSE IS MAINTAINED.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 00V199000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    THIS CONTACT CAN RESULT IN WEAR, AND AFTER EXTENDED CONTACT, COULD CAUSE A PERFORATION IN THE FUEL LINE, RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 01V153000

    Safety recall 01V153000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE MATERIAL COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING RIBBON AND CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT. THE DRIVER AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL BECOME DISABLED, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
    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 CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 06E022000

    Safety recall 06E022000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    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 1-800-323-0354.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 06E024000

    Safety recall 06E024000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.
    Remedy:
    K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Recall campaign 06E026000

    Safety recall 06E026000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Recall campaign 06E065000

    Safety recall 06E065000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Recall campaign 08E064000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    IMPROPER SEATING OF THE WHEEL CAN RESULT IN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION, BRAKE ROTOR NOISE, DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE WHEEL AFTER INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, AND POSSIBLY WHEEL-END SEPARATION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. SHOULD WHEEL-END SEPARATION OCCUR, THE DRIVER COULD LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Recall campaign 09E012000

    Safety recall 09E012000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Recall campaign 09E025000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  12. Recall campaign 97V080000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED MODULE.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 433 complaints · page 1 of 18
2018-02-23Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11074563
CrashFireInjuryDeath
BRAKE LINE CRODDED, LOSS OF BRAKES IN MOTION IN DRIVEWAY
2016-10-02EXTERIOR LIGHTING
NHTSA ODI 10911071
CrashFireInjuryDeath
HEADLIGHTS KEEP FAILING. HAVE CHANGED HEADLIGHT SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES, BUT FAILS AGAIN. TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. CRUISE CONTROL IS DIFFICULT TO ACTIVATE. SOMETIMES TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR
2016-05-06Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 10863588
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.
2015-05-29Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 10722378
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TOOK VEHICLE TO DODGE DEALER (BRYDEN MOTORS BELOIT) FOR INSPECTION OF FUEL LINE AND BRAKES (FUEL LINE IS NOT RIGHT AND REAR BRAKE LINE IS LEAKING AFFECTING BRAKING) FUEL LINE PART WAS ORDERED NUT BRAKES WERE NOT INSPECTED AND IGNORED. I AM SUPPOSED TO RETURN WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON TO HAVE ORDERED FUEL LINE PART(S) INSTALLED.
2015-04-19Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 10706503
CrashFireInjuryDeath
3 DAYS AFTER WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE THE FUEL SYSTEM WENT DOWN. REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND STILL WANTS TO STALL AND ACT LIKE ITS CLOGGED IN THE FUEL LINES. ITS BEEN FLUSHED. WHEN DRIVING IT BOGS DOWN AND CHUGS. IT WANTS TO DIE AND SHUT OFF WHILE YOUR DRIVING THE TRUCK. THE BRAKES ONLY WORK HALF THE TIME. MOST OF THE TIME I CAN'T EVEN STOP UNTIL I'M HALFWAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. REPLACED ALL THE SENSORS AND STILL DOESN'T WANT TO START AND STAY RUNNING. FUEL PUMP KICKS ON, BUT HAS TO RUN EXTRA HARD TO TRY AND KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING. *TR
2014-12-02Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10661594
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR EMITTING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V199000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
2014-09-10Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10632232
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 00V199000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
2014-05-01Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10586050
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER FRONT SEAT WAS UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
2013-11-18Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 10552659
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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. *TR
2012-04-20Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10455932
CrashFireInjuryDeath
BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH. BURST WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY. REPLACED ALL BRAKE LINES. *JS

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1997 Dodge Dakota?

Owners named Suspension most often — 115 of 433 reports (27%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 1997 Dodge Dakota?

NHTSA lists 12 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Brakes, Fuel system, Suspension, Lights, and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 1997 Dodge Dakota?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Listen for clunks over bumps and look at tire wear for alignment issues. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources