1997 Dodge Dakota reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1997 Dodge Dakota — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 650
- on record
- Top problem area
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
- 82 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 49 reported crashes · 37 injuries · 3 deaths · 11 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#751
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Dodge median
+295
median 355 across 271 Dodge records
Vs 1995-1999
+393
median 257 complaints in 591 records
Top component share
24%
Suspension: 157 complaints
What owners report fails — 1997 Dodge Dakota
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT 82
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT 75
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 23
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 21
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 20
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1997 Dodge Dakota
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1997 Dodge Dakota units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Dodge Dakota reliable?
NHTSA has 650 consumer complaints on record for the 1997 Dodge Dakota. The most-reported problem area is suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint (82 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1997 Dodge Dakota units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Dodge Dakota?
Owners most often report problems with: suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint (82), suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint (75), air bags:frontal (23), power train:automatic transmission (21). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 1997 Dodge Dakota?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.