1997 Dodge Dakota Sport
Summary:
Fun to look at, Not fun to drive
Faults:
In little more than half a year I have had to fix the:
- Stereo System Speakers (Wire was crossed and sound quality was horrendous)
- Heater Thermometer (Only got cold air and for a New England Winter Weather, it wasn't fun)
- Exhaust (Loud and let off more fumes than a hippie)
- Odometer Lights (while I was driving they decided to break and I was given the task of driving home and guessing my speed)
- Glove Compartment (Got stuck and never opened)
- Lighter (stopped working.. I don't smoke, but nonetheless it doens't work anymore..)
Door to the Bed of Truck - (While carrying a few cement block as I barely accelerated the slid back and knocked off the door. Thank god there wasnt anyone behind me or there would have been some bad news)
Brake line blew and I got to drive home with brakes that worked by slamming them on 3 miles away from where you wanted to stop.. Great fun there...
Theres probaably more minor things that's gone wrong, but I can't remember them..
General Comments:
It's a flashy sport truck (Best in Red) that has a comfortable interior and smooth controls. It can get some good speed, but If your looking for power, Look elsewhere.
For a truck I must admit you'd have a better shot towing and 4- wheeling with a golf cart.. She slides out of control on a small patches of ice and It can get itself stuck in 1/2 of Mud..
Beats walking though :P.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 13th April, 2004
2nd Nov 2010, 12:33
Dude, seriously. It's a 97. Common maintenance would have taken care of everything. I have a 97, they have small issues, but they aren't as bad a truck as you make them out to be.
10th Feb 2011, 01:19
I just bought one! Woohoo! 4x4 V8 baby!
13th Jan 2014, 20:48
You obviously didn't have the right tires on the truck if you slide on ice and get stuck in 1/2 inch mud. I've gone through three feet of snow with no problem, and towed an 06 Ram 1500 that was stuck in a foot of mud.
7th Feb 2023, 03:06
You must not know how to drive or take care of a pickup truck. I've owned 2 Dakota's, an '00 V6 2 wheel drive that never let me sit. No problems as long as I had it with only routine recommended maintenance; it was rear ended and totaled at 210k miles or I would still have it. And I have a 97 V8 4×4 that just needed a starter at 230k miles, and it will probably outlast me. I will never get rid of it. PS a rear end 'door'? It's a tailgate.
6th Jul 2004, 15:33
Odometer lights "broke"? "Door" on bed of truck? You had to "slam" on the brakes to stop after the lines "blew"? Sorry, but you sound like a serious "idiot"! The "door" on your bed and "broken" dash lights I can deal with, but if your brake lines "blew", slamming on the brakes would not stop your vehicle in any distance. You truck has 130,000+ miles, deal with it.