1997 Dodge Dakota Consumer Reviews

My Pig

Written by: cordulidae on 04/02/2008

Vehicle

1997 Dodge Dakota 2 Dr Sport 4WD Extended Cab SB

Review

I name all of the vehicles I drive, and this one is appropriately named. I love this truck and hope to pass it on to my favored heir one day. :) It is fun to drive, full of torque, fast, has trailered everything I own several times over w/out complaint, and looks better than the current Dakota's. The few bad things I have had with Pig include Batteries, I put my 4th battery in this weekend, the gas mileage (avg. 14 mpg), but it is a 5.2 V-8. Oh, and when they built her, someone put an engine bearing in wrong or forgot to. Regardless, engine was rebuilt at 3,000 miles (under warranty). But, it hasn't stalled, hiccuped, or let me down since.

Favorite Features

Performance, especially w/Flowmaster! After 10 years the truck still looks and drives great!

Suggested Improvements

Better QA/QC at assembly line. Better cup holders, and gas mileage

0 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Dakota keeps up with BIG BOYS

Written by: tsrtrek on 03/20/2008

Vehicle

1997 Dodge Dakota 2 Dr SLT Extended Cab SB

Review

Great design and layout but with POOR MPG and a weak transmission. Have had no major problems just ball joints and new paint.

Favorite Features

Interior room

Suggested Improvements

Better MPG and transmission

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Handy to have around

Written by: Phil Briddell on 01/12/2008

Vehicle

1997 Dodge Dakota 2 Dr Sport Standard Cab LB

Review

I bought this for my daughter who always wanted a pickup. It has a teal color. It worked very well for her. She has moved to the city and a pickup is unnecessary, so I inherited it. I'm having trouble giving it up as it is handy to have around. Drives like a truck and gets the same kind of low mileage but that is what it is.

Favorite Features

Space for hauling anything I want. Did well with fully loaded U-Hauls although it took getting used to

Suggested Improvements

Would not change a thing.

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Dodge, never again!

Written by: Rosemountguy on 11/04/2007

Vehicle

1997 Dodge Dakota 2 Dr SLT Extended Cab SB

Review

This was my first new vehicle purchase and my last Chrysler product purchase. While the truck always got reasonable mileage and was comfortable to drive, it was a maintenance nightmare. I went through three power steering pumps, replaced the ball joints, fuel pump, cruise control, and had the rear rebuilt by 50000 miles. The truck also ate brakes every 15- 20thousand miles. I never owned a vehicle that was this hard on brakes, even my old Trans-Am which I drove hard. A am happy I never really used it as a heavy hauler as I am sure I would have gone through many more parts.

Favorite Features

Ride quality and interior comfort. The engine was also torquey for its size (3.9)

Suggested Improvements

Improve reliability. There is no reason why a truck should not go at least 100,000 miles without replaceing major parts due to failure.

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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Great looking truck with many problems.

Written by: jcaisse2007 on 06/26/2007

Vehicle

1997 Dodge Dakota 2 Dr Sport 4WD Extended Cab SB

Review

I purchased this truck at 106,500 miles and it now has a little over 126,000. At first I loved the smooth transition of the transmission switching gears, but at 123,675 the transmission started to slip and the 5.2 liter v8 started to knock, and for everyone that put this truck in the shop it wasn't worth it. I don't plan to spend anything on this truck unless it is gas or regular maintenance. These trucks are only worth 5,000 and if you put it in the shop you will spend a lot more than its worth.

Favorite Features

Great gas mileage. I’m getting 18 to a gallon or better and roughly 370 to a tank on a V8. The torque to get off the line with a fully loaded ATV trailer

Suggested Improvements

Stronger transmission that can handle the torque. Quieter engine. Sound system

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Still going

Written by: hoylemd on 03/26/2007

Vehicle

1997 Dodge Dakota 2 Dr STD Extended Cab SB

Review

Bought my truck new. Have driven 110 miles round trip to work daily for past 6 years. Now have over 257,000 miles and uses only a half quart oil between changes. Still runs great. No major repairs, only things that wear out on any truck, brakes, water pump, belts, rotors. Radio did go out and I replaced it with a nice one with cd, which I was going to do anyway. Plenty of power with the V6, gets about 21 mpg no mater how I drive or what gas I use.

Favorite Features

Extended cab, lots of room for stuff you don't want to keep in bed. Just fun to drive.

Suggested Improvements

Thicker, heavyer rotors. The cheap thin ones warp if they get wet while hot.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Best truck I could buy

Written by: curt on 09/25/2006

Vehicle

1997 Dodge Dakota 2 Dr SLT 4WD Extended Cab SB

Review

I wanted to get a little truck hoping for good gas mileage, and when I found my Dakota SLT 4x4 with the 5.2 V8 I fell in love. Since I got this truck all I have had done was put dual flowmaster exhaust on it which increase my fuel mileage 3 miles. I love the horsepower it has, and I feel this is the best looking Dakota model out there, and my friends agree.

Favorite Features

I like that the back seats do have enough room for 4 comfortably, and that they fold up and have storage under them. I also like how the dash is set up.

Suggested Improvements

There isn't much that I feel needs improving on it. The only thing I really want is more storage under the passenger and driver seats.

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All around good to go

Written by: danny on 04/03/2006

Vehicle

1997 Dodge Dakota 2 Dr Sport Standard Cab SB

Review

I am very happy with my truck. As long as I take care of it, it seems to take care of me. The V-6 has the all the power I need and the size is perfect for just around the house needs. It is fun to drive and comfortable to drive. I have only had to do the best maintance work to it. It is the base model so it doesn't have all the features, but that's what the base model is. (basic) It is a great buy and I would buy again

Favorite Features

All good

Suggested Improvements

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Pretty dissapointed

Written by: Justin on 03/06/2006

Vehicle

1997 Dodge Dakota 2 Dr Sport 4WD Extended Cab SB

Review

Got the truck 4 years ago with 29k now have 100k...Get the 5.2 or 5.9 if you get a 4x4. Have a extended cab 4x4 with the 3.9 and it is terrible, won't even stay over 70 in hilly areas or long trips.The design is beautiful and the build qaulity is good. no rattles, things broken etc...been in two wrecks and both times totaled other cars and simply busted my bumper (Mitsu Montero suv and a Toyota Camry. I have had a problem with the speedometer going crazy and the dealerships cannot figure it out. been in and out for 3 months, I am selling it....

Favorite Features

Handsome truck, good worker, seat/center console is very practical!

Suggested Improvements

Gas mileage is 13...come on it's a v6! More power, and dependibility please!

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Good truck

Written by: lil ram on 01/30/2006

Vehicle

1997 Dodge Dakota 2 Dr Sport 4WD Extended Cab SB

Review

Good power, plenty of room for gear and four wheeler. Only drawback is that the tranny is weak, 44RE tranny is not the best tranny for constant towing on a daily basis, but a good weekend warrior.

Favorite Features

v-8 and size of truck. not too big or too small, and not cramped in interior

Suggested Improvements

Tranny, automatic too weak

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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