1997 Dodge Dakota vs 1997 Ford Ranger
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 Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 446 | 411 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 107 | 202 |
| Investigations | 1 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 42 | 40 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 8 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 13–20 | 16–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 72,834 mi | 100,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Dodge Dakota | Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 142 | 25 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 68 | 36 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 34 | 55 |
| Power Train | 46 | 42 |
| Tires | 16 | 57 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 49 | 14 |
| Air Bags | 37 | 22 |
| Steering | 34 | 21 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 16 | 28 |
| Stalling | 15 | 11 |
| Vibration / shaking | 14 | 8 |
| Clunking / rattling | 10 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 7 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 5 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 5 |
1997 Dodge Dakota
1997 Ford Ranger
Compare all Dodge Dakota vs Ford Ranger 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.