RecallMyCar

1997 Dodge Dakota Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 1997 Dodge Dakota, and owners have filed 446 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
446
owner complaints to NHTSA
42 / 6
complaints citing a crash / fire
13–20
MPG combined (EPA)

5 safety recalls for the 1997 Dodge Dakota

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Air bags

    NHTSA 01V153000 Reported 216,100 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    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…

    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,…

  2. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 00V193000 Reported 40,000 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    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.

    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…

  3. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 00V198000 Reported 437,000 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Some vehicles may have been built with inadequate clearance between the rear axle vent hose and the brake hose.

    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…

  4. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 00V199000 Reported 91,610 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    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.

    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.

  5. Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive

    NHTSA 97V080000 Reported 125,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    The electrical circuit design allows the potential for an inadvertent air bag deployment upon vehicle ignition shut down.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag electronic control module with a newly designed module.

446 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1997 Dodge Dakota have filed 446 complaints with NHTSA; 42 describe a crash and 6 describe a fire. Reports cite 30 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 78,147 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 77 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Brake line crodded, loss of brakes in motion in driveway”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 23, 2018 · Service brakes

“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 sh”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 2, 2016 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1997 Dodge Dakota Pickup (Dakota Pickup 2WD, Dakota Pickup 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined13–20 mpg
City / Highway12–18 / 16–23
FuelRegular
EPA classStandard Pickup Trucks
Engine4/6/8 cyl, 2.5/3.9/5.2 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Dodge Dakota model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Dodge Dakota model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1985 Dodge Dakota02
1986 Dodge Dakota01
1987 Dodge Dakota220
1988 Dodge Dakota355
1989 Dodge Dakota363
1990 Dodge Dakota363
1991 Dodge Dakota4128
1992 Dodge Dakota1216
1993 Dodge Dakota1134
1994 Dodge Dakota3166
1995 Dodge Dakota0208
1996 Dodge Dakota1189
1997 Dodge Dakota5446
1998 Dodge Dakota5545
1999 Dodge Dakota4641
2000 Dodge Dakota5806
2001 Dodge Dakota7678
2002 Dodge Dakota5678
2003 Dodge Dakota4296
2004 Dodge Dakota1206
2005 Dodge Dakota6470
2006 Dodge Dakota5285
2007 Dodge Dakota4145
2008 Dodge Dakota291
2009 Dodge Dakota518
2010 Dodge Dakota735
2011 Dodge Dakota644

Checking a specific 1997 Dodge Dakota

How do I know if my 1997 Dodge Dakota has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 1997 Dodge Dakota; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Dodge dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V193000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Dodge models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.