12 of the
650 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Dakota are about the
seat belts — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
62,000 miles.
WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE LANE, DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEY DID NOT WORK AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE LEFT SIDE SEAT BELT CAME APART. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK, AND KNEE INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK...DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION NOTIFIED CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT VERIFY ANY TYPE OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE AND DENIED CONSUMER'S CLAIM. A POLICE REPORT WAS ON FILE.
NHTSA complaint #10117490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 63,453 milesEdinburg, PACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE OTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT THE BRAKES AND ALSO HIT THE SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #10098551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,000 milesLombard, ILCrash1 injured1 killed
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
VEHICLE SEAT BEAL FAILED,DRIVER SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10004966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,000 milesLombard, ILCrash1 injured1 killed
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE SEAT BEAL FAILED,DRIVER SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10004966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,000 milesLombard, ILCrash1 injured1 killed
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
VEHICLE SEAT BEAL FAILED,DRIVER SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10004966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Prescott Valley, AZCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
CONSUMER'S SON HAD A REAR END ACCIDENT AND SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HIM. SUSTAINED LEG AND CHEST INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #8000751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Prescott Valley, AZCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
CONSUMER'S SON HAD A REAR END COLLISION AND SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HIM. SUSTAINED LEG AND CHEST INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #8000752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sacramento, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEATBELT DID NOT HOOK...THIS PART HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES (WITH THE DEALER PICKING UP THE COST)SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN DEC 1996. IT SEAMS TO HAPPEN ABOUT EVERY 30,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #754212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Victoria, WA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
I AM IN VICTORIA, BC CANADA, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS BUILT IN THE US. THE FEMALE PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT USES THE SHEATH AS A GUIDE. THIS IS HELD IN PLACE BY A WEAK PLASTIC CLIP. EVENTUALLY THIS CLIP DETERIOTATES AND THE SHEATH SLIPS DOWN, NO LONGER FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AS A QUIDE AND ONE IS ABLE TO INSERT THE SEATBELT BETWEEN THE MECHANISM AND THE GUIDE THINKING IT IS DONE UP, WHICH IT ISN'T. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL. BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S HAVE FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. LUCKILY, I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #738322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Richmond, VA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RESTRAINT IS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #847229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Platteville, WI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKS WHEN PULLING ACROSS BODY TO HOOK AND ONCE RELEASED NOT RECOILING PROPERLY, 2 SERVICE VISITS.
NHTSA complaint #523691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Smithville, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE SEAT BELT CATCH FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER IS TOO SHORT, CAUSING DIFFICULTY FINDING, ESPECIALLY WHEN CENTER CONSOLE IS DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #516658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.