- The problem
- 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 conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
1997 Dodge Dakota Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 452 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Dakota with NHTSA, most often about the suspension (142) and the brakes (72). Those complaints describe 42 crashes, 6 fires, 32 injuries and 1 death. It is covered by 12 recalls, the latest in May 2009 for the headlights. For comparison, the 1996 has 199 and the 1998 has 557.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Dakota year, for its age
#10 most complained-about 1997 vehicle
- Complaints
- 452
- Recalls
- 12
- Crashes
- 42
- Fires
- 6
- Injuries
- 32
- Deaths
- 1
Most common 1997 Dodge Dakota problems
Share of all 452 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1997 Dodge Dakota recalls 12
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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 conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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 to a specification error, the rotor pilot for the hub unit may be too long. This results in the wheel to not be seated fully against the hub flange face during mounting.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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 requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
- The risk
- Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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 side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
- The risk
- Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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 performance parts brand name (p/nos. P5007069 and p5007070). All kits were manufactured from april 20, 1999, through september 23, 2004. These assemblies were manufactured as replacement equipment for certain dodge pickup trucks and suvs. A small piece of material from the tube wall could be sucked into the engine throttle body, which could cause the throttle to become jammed in the open position.
- The risk
- A jammed open throttle could cause unintended acceleration of the vehicle, possibly resulting in a crash or increased stoping distances when braking.
- The fix
- K&n will provide owners with a free repair kit along with repair instructions. The recall began on april 20, 2006.
- The problem
- 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 brand names of napa, raybestos, aimco, ac delco, carquest, bendix, and wagner. Only products that were manufactured from july 27, 2005 through january 17, 2006 (date codes 0529 through 0602) are subject to this recall. When subject to very cold temperatures, an internal seal in the master cylinder could lose flexibility and may cause brake fluid to leak.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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 risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Some vehicles may have been built with inadequate clearance between the rear axle vent hose and the brake hose.
- The risk
- A puncture in the rear brake hose will result in a loss of braking force at the rear wheels.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- The electrical circuit design allows the potential for an inadvertent air bag deployment upon vehicle ignition shut down.
- The risk
- Unexpected air bag deployment can result in occupant injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the air bag electronic control module with a newly designed module.
What owners say
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452 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Dakota
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 19.
Brake line crodded, loss of brakes in motion in driveway
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
Brake lines rusted through. Burst while driving on expressway. Replaced all brake lines. *Js
REPLACE RUSTED RADIATOR. *JS
REPLACED RUSTED RADIATOR. *JS
Car lost power and locked up while driving. Check engine light came on. Scanner showed code p0740; torque converter problem. Had to overhaul transmission and replace the torque converter. *Js
Premature wear and failure of upper and lower ball joints. Truck was making popping noises when you turned the wheel or went over bumps. Took to local mechanic; mechanic stated that the ball joints were scary bad. Mechanic also stated that if I had not brought the vehicle in the front wheels could have broken off causing the vehicle to wreck. *Js
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 dodge dakota. The contact was driving 30 mph when the heater blower malfunctioned. The contact was unable to heat the vehicle interior or utilize the defroster. The vehicle was taken in for repairs where the heater blower, motor and blower fan were replaced. The technician also added more anti-freeze to the vehicle but none of the repairs remedied the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted to report the failure. The vehicle was not further repaired. The failure mileage was 96,400. Updated 3/1/11 *cn updated 07/01/11
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 dodge dakota. Upon starting the vehicle, the contact noticed a strong fuel odor. The contact shut the vehicle off and discovered fuel leaking under the vehicle. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The current and failure mileages were approximately 120,000. Updated 02/03/11*lj updated 03/17/11
Due to poor choice of materials (i assume) the front hub and spindle assembly wears. Leaving front brake slider pins unattached to caliper mounting plate. When this happens, the front caliper wobbles in it's place, possibly ejecting the slidepins because they "wobble" in the knuckle holes designed to retain them. This causes excess wear on the front hub assembly, increased wear in brakes, and stress on the hub bearings. Having read the "alldata" data base, there is a redesigned knuckle with improved slide pin...
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supports. There also is a repair kit involving the usage of "heli-coil" inserts to secure brake pad carrier to spindle assembly. (Slide pins) I feel totally unsafe with this arrangement. I prefer to have the re-designed spindle assemblies installed for free by dealer with up-dated part numbers. The dealer wants $1000 per side for the redesigned units. I think this is absurd. This is a safety hazard and could cause loss of life due to loss of control. The only thing holding the brake assemblies in place is the wheel, itself!! *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 dodge dakota. The vehicle has continental tires. While driving 65 mph, the tread from one of the tires began to strike the door and front fender of the vehicle before completely separating from the tire. The remainder of the tires remained inflated. The contact did not drive or any potholes or other road hazards to cause the failure. He took the tire back to the store from where it was purchased and was informed that it was defective. The tire was replaced for free. The tire size, tire line, and remaining tread depth were unknown. The failure mileage was 90,408. Updated 03/17/09. *Lj the consumer believed the tire was defective. Updated 03/17/09. *Jb
The ball joints on my 97 dodge dakota are worn out. Apparently this is a very common problem and supposedly there is a recall in effect for newer dakotas as though the problem didn't start until after 1997. This is a faulty part from the manufacturing process and its repair (amongst the many other manufacturing fault repairs on this vehicle) is ruining me financially in this economy. I should not be held financially responsible for a car makers inept manufacturing. *Tr
The front brake caliper bolts to the steering knuckle on a 1997 dodge dakota, 4wd. Due to the nature of the design, the threads that hold the brake caliper mounting studs can strip out, thereby leaving the caliper to float on the knuckle. Under prolonged use, these studs can back out, letting the caliper fall off, which could lead to a crash. On my particular vehicle, this has happened for the third time now, once on the driver's side and twice on the passenger side. The threads strip out, and the mounting boss...
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section is so small that a larger thread cannot be retapped without danger of breaking the hole out. Auto parts suppliers sell slightly oversize, self tapping studs, but these do not last long. The steering knuckle is a very pricey part (on the order of $600 just for the part) and continuing replacement is cost prohibitive. My vehicle is apparently not the only one with this problem, as a search of salvage yards revealed numerous stripped out threads on vehicles where the steering knuckle was actually available. *Tr
My ball joints and tie rods were going bad at 54,000 miles. Dodge would not do anything about the problem. Also, my transmission started to go bad at 74,000 miles. 2Nd gear went out, then it went completely out at 91,000 miles. Obviously dodge wasn't going to do anything about it. I wont buy another dodge again. *Tr
Ball joint failures: truck failed state inspection due to defective upper and lower ball joints or ball joint and lower control arm. Another ball joint had been replaced the previous year. All defects occurred at about 50,000 miles. This is common problem with dodge dakota and chrysler will not pay for repairs. Problem is well documented on dozens of internet sites, blogs, etc and all mechanics and state inspectors all nod knowingly about the dodge pickup. This is safety issue and failure of ball joints is not a...
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problem in almost any car except chrysler products. How do they get away with this safety issue which can cause loss of control and crashes and at under 50,000 miles. It is time nhtsa forces dodge to recall and reimburse all costs to those already having paid for such repairs. This should be applicable for any year vehicle up to at least 100,000. I have owned over a dozen vehicles and most driven over 100,000 and one at 145,000 and one 200,000 and have never replace but one ball joint on a 1970 cutlass. Only one high mileage vehicle with cv joints but maybe no ball joints had to have a cv joint replaced. This does not speak well of chrysler/dodge. *Tr
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. I was lucky and only had to replace all pressure regulating valves for about $670 (funny how they all went bad at the same time but I would not argue the...
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point since the parts were cheap compared to doing it over in a few months). Dealer indicated this was a years old problem which was common to replace these transmissions and that my $600 repair was not guaranteed to prevent total failure. Dodge has not agreed to any recall to fix but should do this. Therefore, I will never own another dodge or chrysler of any sort. Upper and lower ball joints also failed at under 50,000 miles and no repair recall on this long standing problem as well. Subject on another complaint. *Tr
Ball joint failure.........Had to replace upper and lower ball joints in march 2005, and now in december 2007, I am having to replace upper ball joints again. Ball joints in 1997 dodge dakota are a defective design, and wear out too quickly. *Tr
The original head lights are warn, deteriorated, and don't laminate driving at night, high beams are equal to all other cars low beams. The lumiuns don't get out, because of the defective lens cover. I was told that all caravans around the date of 1997 have this problem. I was told that you have to replace them at a cost of around $200.00 Each. They are a safety issue at night, a real hazard, and they are a manufacturing defect. Should be replaced by corp/ dealer. *Tr
Dodge Dakota: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 678 | 14 | F |
| 2000 | 830 | 12 | F |
| 1999 | 688 | 10 | F |
| 1998 | 557 | 12 | F |
| 1997 | 452 | 12 | F |
| 1996 | 199 | 2 | C |
| 1995 | 212 | 1 | C |
| 1994 | 0 | 4 | A |
| 1993 | 137 | 2 | B |
1997 Dodge Dakota vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Dodge Dakota | 452 | 12 | F | |
| 1997 Dodge Caravan | 720 | 15 | F | Compare |
| 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan | 589 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 1997 Dodge Neon | 396 | 6 | D | Compare |
| 1997 Dodge Intrepid | 350 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 1997 Dodge Avenger | 89 | 6 | B | Compare |
| 1997 Dodge Dodge Truck | 18 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1997 Dodge Durango | 4 | 2 | A | Compare |
| 1997 Dodge B250 | 2 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1997 Dodge Dakota
Does the 1997 Dodge Dakota have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 1997 Dodge Dakota: headlights (May 2009); exterior lighting (April 2009); hub (October 2008); exterior lighting (July 2006) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Dodge Dakota?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the suspension (142), brakes (72), engine & cooling (48).
How many complaints has the 1997 Dodge Dakota had?
452 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on November 26, 1996 and the latest on February 23, 2018. Of these, 42 describe a crash and 6 a fire, and together they report 32 injuries and 1 death.
Is the 1997 Dodge Dakota a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 23 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Dodge Dakota year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Dodge Dakota years have the most complaints?
2000 (830), 2002 (689), 1999 (688). See every Dodge Dakota year compared.
What should I do if my 1997 Dodge Dakota has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data