1997-2004 Dodge Dakota - Consumer Guide Automotive

Category	Dodge Dakota Club Cab 2WD, V6 auto Rating (See All Ratings)

Performance	4

Fuel Economy	3

Ride Quality	5

Steering/Handling/Braking	4

Quietness	5

Controls/Materials	6

Interior Room	6

Room/Comfort (rear)	2

Cargo Capacity	4

Value within Class	7

Total Score:	46

Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category

Chart: One rating chart provided for a representative model

1997-2004 DODGE DAKOTA BUYING RESOURCES

Search Local Listings

Sell Your Car

Free CARFAX Record Check

1997-2004 Dodge Dakota Review

Fully redesigned for 1997, Dodge's pickup again measured between compact and full-size. Powertrains and suspensions were essentially carryovers. Dual airbags were now standard. Regular-cab Dakotas came in two sizes: 111.0-inch wheelbase with a 6.5-foot cargo bed, or 123.9-inch with an 8-foot bed. The Club Cab, which added a 3-place bench seat and 19 inches to the back of the cab, rode a 131-inch wheelbase and came only with the shorter bed. All body styles were available with rear-wheel drive or on-demand 4-wheel drive that is not for use on dry pavement. Rear antilock brakes were standard; 4-wheel ABS optional. Three engines were available: a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 120 horsepower; a 3.9-liter V6 that produced 175 horsepower; and a 5.2-liter V8 with 230 horsepower. A 5-speed manual transmission was standard; 4-speed automatic optional only with the V6 or V8.

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.

1997-2004 Dodge Dakota Road Test >

Car Buying Resources