1997 Dodge Dakota Air Bags:frontal Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · data through 07/14/2026

23Air Bags:frontal complaints

5.2%Of all 446 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How air bags:frontal ranks on this vehicle

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT82 · 18.4%

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT75 · 16.8%

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL23 · 5.2%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION21 · 4.7%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP20 · 4.5%

Share of the 446 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1997 Dodge Dakota overview page.

What owners report

“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…”NHTSA complaint 851585 — filed 10/25/1999

“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…”NHTSA complaint 835675 — filed 03/10/1999

“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…”NHTSA complaint 529536 — filed 01/20/1998

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Air Bags:frontal complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Dodge Dakota have air bags:frontal problems?

Air Bags:frontal is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 1997 Dodge Dakota: 23 of 446 complaints on file (5.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1997 Dodge Dakota have in total?

446 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 42 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 30 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags:frontal category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS:FRONTAL category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.