10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
17 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
11 / 0
Average Mileage:
13,659 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Dodge Dakota seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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1997 Dodge Dakota Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #23

Jun 212005

Dakota 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 121,980 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was driving on interstate 485 at charlotte, nc and airbags deployed with absolutely no collsion. Went to dealer and all they wanted to do was charge me $2700 to fix the airbags

- Maiden, NC, USA

problem #22

Apr 052005

Dakota 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving another vehicle veered into consumer's vehicle lane, driver applied the brakes, they did not work and consumer's vehicle crashed into the other vehicle. The left side seat belt came apart. Upon impact, both air bags did not deploy. Driver sustained head and neck, and knee injuries, and was transported by ambulance to a hospital. Vehicle was towed and totaled by insurance company....DaimlerChrysler corporation notified consumer that they could not verify any type of seat belt buckle failure and denied consumer's claim. A police report was on file.

- Edinburg, PA, USA

problem #21

Aug 022003

Dakota

  • 67,182 miles
While driving 45 mph in the rain driver lost control of vehicle and hit a utility pole head on. Frontal air bags did not deploy. Both driver and passenger were wearing seat belts. The drivers nose was bruised. Passenger's head hit the windshield. Passenger's face was bruised and windshield cracked.

- Louisa, KY, USA

problem #20

Mar 152003

Dakota 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While traveling at 50 mph the consumer's vehicle hit another vehicle that was at a dead stop. The vehicle was totaled, and none of the air bags deployed.

- Anaheim, CA, USA

problem #19

Aug 112002

Dakota

  • miles
In a rear end collison none of the air bags deployed on impact. Impact was so severe that it cracked radiator.

- Cicero, IL, USA

problem #18

Jun 252002

Dakota

  • miles
Consumer was traveling about 35mph on highway and withoutout prior warning a deer ran across the street and was hit by consumer's vehicle. Upon impact, dual airbags didn't deploy. Dealership was aware of problem.

- Folkston, GA, USA

problem #17

May 272002

Dakota

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving 65-70 mph both airbags deployed.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #16

Nov 242001

Dakota

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While traveling approximately 65 mph both frontal air bags deployed unexpectedly when vehicle did not hit any object(s). Dealership examined vehicle and could not determine cause of problem. *consumer informed his vehicle was not affected by recall campaign 97V080000.

- Thousand Oaks, CA, USA

problem #15

Aug 222001

Dakota

  • miles
Consumer was at an intersection waiting for light to change and another vehicle ran red light to switch lanes without looking, and ran into consumer's vehicle. Upon impact, airbags didn't deploy. Dealership is aware of problem.

- Raymore, MI, USA

problem #14

Jun 302001

Dakota 4WD

  • miles
Airbag deployed with no cause, injuring passenger with up to 2nd degree burns and cracking windshield. Tempe Dodge, tempe AZ was contacted and technicians ran diagnostic and found no cause for deployment. Dodge however is not accepting responsibility for repair.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #13

Jun 262000

Dakota

  • Manual transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving about 5 mph over a steel plate defective airbag system (driver and passenger ) deployed unexpectedly which may have caused a loss of vehicle control and sustained injuries. Dealer said there was an under carriage impact which caused the air bag to deploy. Consumer indicated there was no undercarriage impact.

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #12

Feb 162000

Dakota

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle was involved in a front end collision at 25 mph, driver's and passenger 's side airbags did not deploy. Consumer received minor chest injuries from hitting the steering wheel after impact.

- Calispell, MT, USA

problem #11

Jan 312000

Dakota

  • miles
Sitting at a stop sign another vehicle made a wide turn and hit consumer's vehicle on driver's side. Upon impact, driver side airbag didn't deploy. Vehicle was towed to body shop for repairs. Didn't contact dealer nor manufacturer.

- Sand Spring, OK, USA

problem #10

Jul 011999

Dakota

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
When traveling 35 mph consumer was involved in a head-on collsion in which neither driver's side nor passenger's side air bags deployed. Consumer has contacted the manufacturer, manufacturer stated this was normal operation.

- Winnaebago, IL, USA

problem #9

Feb 111999

Dakota

  • miles
Vehicle was involved in an accident on an icy road condition, causing the vehicle to impact at a post at approximately 35 mph, and both air bags failed to deploy. Dealer/manufacturer were not notified at this time.

- Palnia, CO, USA

problem #8

Jan 021998

Dakota 4WD

  • miles
Air bags deployed causing driver to slam on brakes. This resulted in the suspension crossmember of the vehicle to bend upon impact with the dirt road from the sudden stop.

- Mission Vi, CA, USA

problem #7

Jan 021998

(reported on)

Dakota

  • miles
Vehicle was in collision at a 1:00 angle at 30mph and airbags did not deploy. Dealer has not seen vehicle.

- Landrum, SC, USA

problem #6

Dec 241997

Dakota

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving on the road the truck hit a bump and the air bags deployed, there is a recall on air bags, 97V-080.

- Worthington, IN, USA

problem #5

Dec 241997

Dakota

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving the truck driver hit a bump and the air bags deployed without any warning. The truck had dual air bags. There is a recall on the air bags, 97V- 080.

- Worthington, IN, USA

problem #4

Aug 141997

Dakota

  • miles
Vehicle was travling about 45mph when it hit another vehicle in the side, the vehicle's airbag didn't deploy.

- Valpariaso, IN, USA

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