1997 Dodge Dakota Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 3%of 446 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 120,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 1997 Dodge Dakota, 3% of the 446 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 120,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Headlights keep failing. Have changed headlight switch several times, but fails again. Transmission won't shift into overdrive. Cruise control is difficult to activate. Sometimes transmission won't shift from 2nd to 3rd gear”
NHTSA complaint #10911071, filed 2016-10, 120,000 miles“Speedometor and cruise control quit working replaced speed sensor per dealer and still not working. Also seat doesn't lock in upright position on drivers side. Transfer case seal went out and had to replace transfer case. I hate this truck and I couldn't give it away.”
NHTSA complaint #764224, filed 2002-07“Sometimes the cruise control system will not engage at any speed. Then if does engage sometimes it cannot be manually turned off. When bobby gale Dodge hooked the scanner up to it they had no reading and my cruise control would'nt turn on. So they replaced it with a new switch. The cruise control worked for about a week. Then it started acting up again. And everytime I get ready to take the truck in it works. The five times that I have taking it up to the dealer ship they have been unable to solve the problem with my truck.”
NHTSA complaint #724309, filed 2000-06“On 2/27/2000 I filed a complaint with NHTSA. My problem being my transmissiom will not engage properly. When it is shifted from park to drive the vechicle may hesitate and not move then violently slam into gear. On one occasion my neice setting in the back seat head was slammed into the rear window glass as the vechicle lurched forward. I have a video tape of the transmission failing to properly engauge. I was able to reach in the back seat take the camera out of the case insert the battery film and shoot a video of the truck setting in gear then violently lurching forward. …”
NHTSA complaint #720186, filed 2000-03“Consumer had turned off ignition with key still in switch. Vehicle failed to turn off. Would idle 2600-3200 when vehicle first turned on. Would keep stalling out if not high idling. Would keep pressing accelerator pedal to slow it down. Been to dealer at least 5 times for problem that's not solvable.”
NHTSA complaint #851057, filed 1999-10Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | 2% |
| 2010 | 2 | 6% |
| 2009 | 1 | 6% |
| 2008 | 1 | 1% |
| 2007 | 5 | 3% |
| 2006 | 5 | 2% |
| 2005 | 5 | 1% |
| 2004 | 6 | 3% |
| 2003 | 9 | 3% |
| 2002 | 8 | 1% |
| 2001 | 19 | 3% |
| 2000 | 14 | 2% |
| 1999 | 15 | 2% |
| 1998 | 9 | 2% |
| 1997 | 12 | 3% |
| 1996 | 10 | 5% |
| 1995 | 6 | 3% |
| 1994 | 6 | 4% |
| 1993 | 4 | 3% |
| 1992 | 10 | 5% |
| 1991 | 7 | 5% |
| 1988 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 1997 Dodge Dakota
142 complaintsBrakes
73 complaintsEngine cooling
49 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
46 complaintsFuel system
38 complaintsAir bags
37 complaintsSteering
34 complaintsSeats
22 complaintsElectrical system
17 complaintsTires
16 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Dodge Dakota
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology