1997 Dodge Dakota: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 650 complaints
650
Total Complaints
70,000mi
Median Mileage
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
Top Issue
49
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

50,000 25th Percentile
70,000 Median Mileage
98,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

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
SUSPENSION:FRONT
16
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
16
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
15
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
13
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
12

Severity Assessment

49
Crashes
11
Fires
37
Injuries
3
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE. *AK"
"WHEN DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON, CALLED DEALER AND HE SAID TJAT IT WAS NORMAL . *AK"
"INSTUMENT PANEL LIGHT DIMMER OVERRIDE FAILURE."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28