Nine problems related to air bag not deploy have been reported for the 1997 Dodge Dakota. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
My husband and I were in a wreck 01/02/06 with his 97 Dodge Dakota slt club cab, we hit 2 deer at 50-55 mph head on. Our airbags did not deploy. We notified Chrysler about this matter. They sent out a special investigator to go over the truck to see why they did not deploy, we were advised by my husbands insurance company to be present at the time of inspection, we told this to chryslers special investigator. My husband went to the dealership the truck was to be taken to the si didn't show up my husband came home, I called the body shop that had the truck and they informed me that the si had come and looked at the truck there and then was wanting it taken to a local dealership. I told the body shop not to allow the truck to be moved without us present, they went ahead and did it anyway. Along with contact over the airbags with Chrysler I was made aware of 1 recall, that we had not been notified of. Now in my research I have found 5 recalls that we were not notified of. I was injured in the accident because of the airbags not deploying, I am still having problems. We have no vehicle at all, Chrysler is dragging their feet about doing anything as far as telling us any details of the investigation. We are thinking about possibly repairing the truck, this will take money that we do not have to fix, the truck had liability only insurance. We live on a fixed income, my husband is disabled, I am currently not working and if I were I would have been fired for not being able to get to work. Due to all the recalls on this truck that we have just found out about and the airbags not deploying and this being our only transportation, we would just like to see the vehicle replaced, but not with Chrysler with a competitor, we are not asking for a brand new vehicle and also to have my medical bills paid.
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. . . . 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.
While driving approximately 30 mph and trying to avoid a deer consumer swerved and vehicle ending up crashing into a fence. Upon im[pact, air bags did not deploy. The cause was undetermined.
While driving 45 mph in the rain driver lost control of vehicle and hit a utility pole head on. Frontal air bags did not deploy. Both driver and passenger were wearing seat belts. The drivers nose was bruised. Passenger's head hit the windshield. Passenger's face was bruised and windshield cracked.
Vehicle was involved in a front end collision at 25 mph, driver's and passenger 's side airbags did not deploy. Consumer received minor chest injuries from hitting the steering wheel after impact.
Vehicle was involved in an accident on an icy road condition, causing the vehicle to impact at a post at approximately 35 mph, and both air bags failed to deploy. Dealer/manufacturer were not notified at this time.
During frontal impact at speeds of 30mph, the driver's and passenger's side air bags did not deploy.
Vehicle was in collision at a 1:00 angle at 30mph and airbags did not deploy. Dealer has not seen vehicle.
Consumer was involved in a 50 mph frontal collision in which the driver's or passenger's air bags did not deploy. Please give further details.