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.
1997 Dodge Dakota body problems
13 complaints (3% of all complaints for this car). 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 13
- of this car's complaints
- 3%
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Body5
- Body: bumpers3
- Frame and members2
- Body: door1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Dodge Dakota body problems in other years
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 1997 Dodge Dakota owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I noticed another complaint dated 3/1/2004 as the fail date and an internal use date of 7/6/2005 of this same problem. The paint on the roof of the cab stared peeling off and paint on various other areas of the truck. The bumper was the first to go. I would say this started about after the truck was 4-5 years old. I once had this happen on a two year old nissan truck and nissan repainted the entire truck an said it was defectively painted.
Paint began bubbling about a year ago on the roof of the cab. Since then every single panel on the vehicle(hood, roof, front 1/4 panels, doors, cab body, and rear fenders) all have at least one spot where paint has bubbled and peeled. Some spots as big as a foot in diameter and growing. This is not random. I mean every body part has paint just "letting go". This is an obvious case of poor painting procedures and is seen in many other makes and models from dodge in this same time frame.
Alldata has provided me with informayion on my 1997 dodge dakota c/ cab, it shows a general recall with a tba # 727 for paint chipping. I also have information that the same year and factory VIN # has a recall on the same condition of the paint but only for red trucks, mine happens to be green. But the paint on my truck is peeling like a 30 year old house. The primer is fine, which from talking to other professionals in the auto painting business have informed me that if the primer is not cleaned or dried properly before the paint is laid down, it would cause the paint to later chip and peel, like mine does. I have been unsuccessful in having dodge look at the problem.
While driving approximately 5 MPH on a dirt road consumer heard a grinding noise. Consumer stopped the vehicle, and found that the frame had a large crack on the passenger's side. Vehicle was towed to a dealer, who informed consumer that frame must be replaced. On that same day consumer heard a radio report about dodge dakotas 1995-1996 having a problem with cracked frames. During that report it was mentioned that there was a repair kit that could be obtained at dodge dealerships to fix the frame. Consumer contacted the dealer and manufacturer, the had no knowledge of this repair kit.
Two freeze plugs were not replaced in the back of the block, chryslers resolution was stop leak, however an independent mechanic pulled the transmission to replace the freeze plugs and found stop leak all over the fly wheel area, even though chrysler stated that they had remedied the problem.
While accelerating from a red light, vehicle went backards, consumer restarted and vehicle went forward. Consumer states there is a problem with transmission. *ak consumer states that the transmission mount broke, causing the accident.
Paint on front bumper chipped. Dealer repainted instead of replaced. Chipping again and rusting. Dealer and chrysler refused to replace.
Authorized dodge dealer inspected with employee of chrysler/ stated there was no defect with manufacturer although I don't feel that it cannot be because this peeling/flaking has not occurred elsewhere on the body of the truck.
Brakes worn out prematurely.(attorney for client)yh
Questions about the 1997 Dodge Dakota body
Does the 1997 Dodge Dakota have body problems?
Owners have filed 13 complaints about the body of the 1997 Dodge Dakota, 3% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 1997 Dodge Dakota body problems start?
Not enough complaints include the mileage to tell.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Dodge Dakota body?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Dodge Dakota have the most body problems?
The Dodge Dakota model years with the most body complaints are 1995 (20 complaints), 1998 (19 complaints) and 1996 (18 complaints).
Other 1997 Dodge Dakota problems
Suspension 142Brakes 73Engine 50Transmission 45Fuel system 38Airbags 37Steering 34Seats 22Electrical 17Tires 16Acceleration 12Visibility 12Seat belts 9Lights 6Wheels 5
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