1997 Dodge Dakota Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems
Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the 1997 Dodge Dakota, 15% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 70,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “brake rotors” (9% of reports).
- 68service brakes, hydraulic complaints
- 70,000median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 18%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Brake rotors: mentioned in 6 of 68 complaints (9%)
- Brakes failed: mentioned in 5 of 68 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do service brakes, hydraulic problems happen?
Based on 10 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 68 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 2 an injury.
Dodge Dakota service brakes, hydraulic complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Dakota | 1 | 2% | 1,000 |
| 2008 Dakota | 4 | 4% | 30,656 |
| 2007 Dakota | 4 | 3% | 26,500 |
| 2006 Dakota | 15 | 5% | 18,600 |
| 2005 Dakota | 67 | 14% | 9,200 |
| 2004 Dakota | 21 | 10% | 12,666 |
| 2003 Dakota | 44 | 15% | 7,827 |
| 2002 Dakota | 177 | 26% | 30,000 |
| 2001 Dakota | 118 | 17% | 23,662 |
| 2000 Dakota | 248 | 31% | 22,019 |
| 1999 Dakota | 85 | 13% | 60,000 |
| 1998 Dakota | 68 | 12% | 76,500 |
| 1997 Dakota | 68 | 15% | 70,000 |
| 1996 Dakota | 23 | 12% | 235,000 |
| 1995 Dakota | 26 | 13% | 90,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Some vehicles may have been built with inadequate clearance between the rear axle vent hose and the brake hose.
Risk: A puncture in the rear brake hose will result in a loss of braking force at the rear wheels.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear brake hose for evidence of wear. Worn brake hoses will be replaced. The rear vent hose will be shortened by 3 inches and a clip will be installed to assure clearance between the axle vent line and brake hose is maintained.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Vehicle description: pickup trucks built with 2.5l engines. Some vehicles may have been built with inadequate clearance between the left front brake tube and the power steering hose.
Risk: A puncture of the left front brake tube can result in a loss of braking force at the front wheels, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the brake tube and power steering hose for wear. If wear is evident, the brake tube and/or power steering hose will be replaced. A power steering standoff bracket will be installed on all vehicles to ensure that adequate clearance between the brake tube and power steering hose is maintained.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Brake lines rusted through. Burst while driving on expressway. Replaced all brake lines. *js
The front brake caliper bolts to the steering knuckle on a 1997 dodge dakota, 4wd. Due to the nature of the design, the threads that hold the brake caliper mounting studs can strip out, thereby leaving the caliper to float on the knuckle. Under prolonged use, these studs can back out, letting the…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 dodge dakota. The contact stated that the vehicle shifts out of gear when the 4 wheel drive feature is activated. The failure began since the time the vehicle was purchased. He called the dealer, but became ill and was unable to return the vehicle for repair before the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1997 Dodge Dakotas have service brakes, hydraulic problems?
No. NHTSA has 68 owner complaints about service brakes, hydraulic for the 1997 Dodge Dakota (15% of the 446 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Dodge Dakota service brakes, hydraulic?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list service brakes, hydraulic. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do service brakes, hydraulic problems start?
The median reported mileage is 70,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the 1997 Dodge Dakota?
The most frequent phrase is “brake rotors”, in 6 of 68 complaints, followed by “brakes failed” (5).
Other 1997 Dodge Dakota problems
- Suspension problems (142)
See all 1997 Dodge Dakota problems or service brakes, hydraulic problems across all Dakota years.