15 of the 88 complaints about the 1989 Dodge Dakota are about the transmission — 17% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 105,980 miles.
15
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
WHEN SWITCHING FROM 4H TO 2H ON 89 DODGE DAKOTA ON FLOOR SHIFTER IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO ENGAGE AND WHEN IT DOES IT JARS THE VEHICLE TO A SIDE JERKING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT SUDDENLY.
NHTSA complaint #10184459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTS INTO REVERSE OR IF PARKED ON AN INCLINE WILL ROLL DOWN A HILL. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT PROPERLY LOCK INTO THE PARKING GEAR. NO EXAMINATION OR REPAIRS WERE MADE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 00V106000 REGARDING POWERTRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10171732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND MELTED.*MR *PH
NHTSA complaint #10053319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
HAVING ALOT OF HOWLING IN THE DRIVESHAFT??AND THEY DON'T WHY.
NHTSA complaint #722000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. THEN IT MADE A CLUNKING NOISE.THE DRIVESHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE & THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. WAS TOWED TO SHOP THE REAR END OF DRIVESHAFT WAS SHOT. HAD THE WRONG REAR END PUT IN VEHICLE. HAD TO REPLACE IT.
NHTSA complaint #845055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
TH
NHTSA complaint #506499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
THE TRUCK WAS IN PARK , LEAVING THE ENGINE IDLING AND GOT OUT TO OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR. UPON TURNING AROUND THE TRUCK WAS MOVING BACKWARDS OUT THE DRIVEWAY. RUNNING TO CATCH VEHICLE BEFORE IT REACHED THE STREET, DRIVER OPENED THE DOOR AND TRIED TO ENTER VEHICLE. DRIVER WA SKNOCKED TO THE PAVEMENT. VEHICLE PROCEEDED ACROSS THE STREET AND HEADWD TO MAIN ENTRANC EOF HOSPITAL. RUNNIN GOVER CEMENT PARKING STOPS OR THE CURB TURNED FRON TWHEELS TRUCK MADE A CIRCLE AND LANDED BACK OUT ON THE STREET. ATTAMPTING TO ENTER VEHICLE A SECOND TIME, DRIVER WAS AGAIN KNOCKED TO THE PAVEMENT, SUSTAINING A BROKEN COLLAR BONE/HEAD CONCUSSION AND SEVERE TISSUE AND KNEE DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #506449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK TO REVERSE BY ITSELF AND RAN OVER AND KILLED THE OWNER.SAME OCCURRENCE LAST FALL AND THE VEHICLE BY ITSELF HIT A BLDG.DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #986119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
REAR DIFFERENTIAL SPIDER GEAR AND EXCITER RING FAILED TWICE. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #500193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #484774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #484774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #481354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH GRINDS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS.
NHTSA complaint #481354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #482637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS.
NHTSA complaint #482637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.