1997 Dodge Dakota vs 1997 Ford F-250
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1997 Dodge Dakota | 1997 Ford F-250 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 446 | 304 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 107 | 316 |
| Investigations | 1 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 42 | 20 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 19 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 13–20 | 13–15 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 72,834 mi | 115,604 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Dodge Dakota | Ford F-250 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 142 | 30 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 68 | 30 |
| Power Train | 46 | 34 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 49 | 29 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 34 | 24 |
| Tires | 16 | 42 |
| Steering | 34 | 23 |
| Air Bags | 37 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 16 | 12 |
| Stalling | 15 | 13 |
| Vibration / shaking | 14 | 9 |
| Clunking / rattling | 10 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 7 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 7 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 5 |
1997 Dodge Dakota
1997 Ford F-250
Compare all Dodge Dakota vs Ford F-250 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.