Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1997 Dodge Dakota
NHTSA data on file today
The 1997 Dodge Dakota has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns and 446 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E064000 REPLACEMENT HUB UNITS/ABS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E065000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E024000 REPLACEMENT AIR INTAKE SYSTEMS/DEBRIS CAN ENTER NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E022000 BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDER NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V153000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/CLOCKSPRING MATERIAL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V199000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/FUEL LINE/CAB UNDERBODY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V198000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/REAR AXLE VENT HOSE/BRAKE HOSE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V193000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/BRAKE TUBE/STEERING HOSE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #97V080000 CHRYSLER/AIR BAG NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 139 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 67 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 43 complaints
- Power Train 43 complaints
- Air Bags 36 complaints
- Steering 34 complaints
Of the 446 complaints on file, 42 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 446 complaints, owners report 30 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1997 Dodge Dakota has 446 owner complaints and 12 recall campaigns, indicating reliability concerns. The significant number of complaints about suspension and brakes suggests frequent issues. Limited data on other components means estimations may lack precision.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 60,000-100,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | very common |
| Service brakes | 50,000-90,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| Power train | 70,000-110,000 miles | $800–$2,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Tire rotation and balancing
- Coolant system flush
- Transmission fluid service
- Spark plug replacement
- Belt and hose inspection
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual suspension noise
- Brake pedal feels soft
- Transmission slippage
- Airbag warning light
- Steering wheel vibrations
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1997 Dodge Dakota at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.