10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
80,800 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 steering problems

steering problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1997 Dodge Dakota:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

1997 Dodge Dakota Owner Comments

problem #5

Jun 282013

Dakota 4WD 8-cyl

  • 190,000 miles

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

Locked vehicle in four wheel drive high, started going through flat pasture, either brakes locked up or front pumkin turned up and locked front wheels up, lost control and rolled onto driver side.

- Sheridan, AR, USA

problem #4

Apr 302009

Dakota

  • 180,000 miles
Due to poor choice of materials (I assume) the front hub and spindle assembly wears. Leaving front brake slider pins unattached to caliper mounting plate. When this happens, the front caliper wobbles in it's place, possibly ejecting the slidepins because they "wobble" in the knuckle holes designed to retain them. This causes excess wear on the front hub assembly, increased wear in brakes, and stress on the hub bearings. Having read the "alldata" data base, there is a redesigned knuckle with improved slide pin supports. There also is a repair kit involving the usage of "heli-coil" inserts to secure brake pad carrier to spindle assembly. (slide pins) I feel totally unsafe with this arrangement. I prefer to have the re-designed spindle assemblies installed for free by dealer with up-dated part numbers. The dealer wants $1000 per side for the redesigned units. I think this is absurd. This is a safety hazard and could cause loss of life due to loss of control. The only thing holding the brake assemblies in place is the wheel, itself!!

- Waterford, MI, USA

problem #3

Oct 152002

Dakota

  • 34,000 miles
While driving the vehicles steering wheel shakes. Consumer states' when applying the brakes it fill like the brake pedal is kicking back. Cause is unknown.

- Sedalia, MO, USA

problem #2

Nov 012002

Dakota

  • miles
NHTSA# 13411-01-V-153-000: Clock spring material, could interfere with the clockspring ribbon and cause an open circuit the driver air bag system will become disabled and the air bag warning light will be on. Consumer states has the same problem his vehicle.

- Bridgeport, OH, USA

problem #1

Sep 151997

Dakota

  • miles
While driving steering wheel locked/bound-up, resulting in a accident.

- Platteville, WI, USA

Not what you are looking for?