1997-2004 Dodge Dakota: Year-to-Year Changes
Updated: 11/23/08
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Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1997-2004 Dodge Dakota. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1997-2004 Dodge Dakota.
Year to Year Changes
1998 Dodge Dakota:
A deactivation switch for the passenger-side airbag was added for '98, and, at mid-season, a high-performance Dakota R/T arrived, packing a 250-horsepower 5.9-liter V8 with automatic transmission and riding a sport suspension with 17-inch tires, became available.
1999 Dodge Dakota:
Dakotas got a one-touch-down power driver's window and a redesigned overhead console for '99. A rotary headlight switch replaced the prior pull-turn knob.
2000 Dodge Dakota:
Dakotas could now be equipped with a 235-horsepower, 4.7-liter V8 engine, borrowed from the Jeep Grand Cherokee. It replaced the previous 5.2-liter V8. A "crew cab" (Quad Cab) model with four front-hinged side doors debuted in midseason. Quad Cabs seated six. Regular-cab models abandoned the previously available 8-foot cargo bed, coming only with the 6.5-foot bed used by the Club Cab.
2001 Dodge Dakota:
New linewide features for 2001 included a standard universal garage door opener, redesigned alloy wheels for Sport and SLT models, and 16-inch wheels instead of 15s with the optional tire and handling packages. Dashboards and center consoles were also redesigned and, on 4x4s, the transfer case was now controlled by a dashboard switch rather than a floor lever.
2002 Dodge Dakota:
New for 2002 was an SXT version that included popular equipment such as 16-inch wheels and bucket seats.
2003 Dodge Dakota:
The 4-cylinder engine is dropped, while 4.7-liter V8s could get a 5-speed automatic. Also for '03, 16-inch wheels are standard in place of 15s on all models except the R/T, which uses 17s. Rear seats gain LATCH system child-seat anchors, and added midyear was a Stampede package that includes the Tire and Handling Group plus body-color bumpers and lower-body trim.
2004 Dodge Dakota:
Dodge dropped the 245-hp 5.9-liter V8 for '04, and replaced the 175-hp 3.9-liter V6 with a 210-hp 3.7-liter V6. Also dropped this year was the sporty R/T model.
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