50 of the 650 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Dakota are about the transmission — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 53,980 miles.
50
Complaints
4
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
CAR LOST POWER AND LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SCANNER SHOWED CODE P0740; TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM. HAD TO OVERHAUL TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER.
NHTSA complaint #10453604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS WERE GOING BAD AT 54,000 MILES. DODGE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. ALSO, MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GO BAD AT 74,000 MILES. 2ND GEAR WENT OUT, THEN IT WENT COMPLETELY OUT AT 91,000 MILES. OBVIOUSLY DODGE WASN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WONT BUY ANOTHER DODGE AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10220369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 50,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO BOG DOWN WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES IT WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 5 MPH WHILE REVING ABOUT 3500 RPM. PAID FOR TOW TO DODGE DEALER IN HAMPTON VA FOR ANALYSIS AND REPAIR. TOW OPERATOR REMARKED ALMOST ALL DODGE DAKOTAS TOWED FOR TRANNY WORK ENDED UP COSTING $2300-$2900 FOR A REPLACEMENT. I WAS LUCKY AND ONLY HAD TO REPLACE ALL PRESSURE REGULATING VALVES FOR ABOUT $670 (FUNNY HOW THEY ALL WENT BAD AT THE SAME TIME BUT I WOULD NOT ARGUE THE POINT SINCE THE PARTS WERE CHEAP COMPARED TO DOING IT OVER IN A FEW MONTHS). DEALER INDICATED THIS WAS A YEARS OLD PROBLEM WHICH WAS COMMON TO REPLACE THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT MY $600 REPAIR WAS NOT GUARANTEED TO PREVENT TOTAL FAILURE. DODGE HAS NOT AGREED TO ANY RECALL TO FIX BUT SHOULD DO THIS. THEREFORE, I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER DODGE OR CHRYSLER OF ANY SORT. UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ALSO FAILED AT UNDER 50,000 MILES AND NO REPAIR RECALL ON THIS LONG STANDING PROBLEM AS WELL. SUBJECT ON ANOTHER COMPLAINT.
NHTSA complaint #10214613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 50,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO BOG DOWN WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES IT WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 5 MPH WHILE REVING ABOUT 3500 RPM. PAID FOR TOW TO DODGE DEALER IN HAMPTON VA FOR ANALYSIS AND REPAIR. TOW OPERATOR REMARKED ALMOST ALL DODGE DAKOTAS TOWED FOR TRANNY WORK ENDED UP COSTING $2300-$2900 FOR A REPLACEMENT. I WAS LUCKY AND ONLY HAD TO REPLACE ALL PRESSURE REGULATING VALVES FOR ABOUT $670 (FUNNY HOW THEY ALL WENT BAD AT THE SAME TIME BUT I WOULD NOT ARGUE THE POINT SINCE THE PARTS WERE CHEAP COMPARED TO DOING IT OVER IN A FEW MONTHS). DEALER INDICATED THIS WAS A YEARS OLD PROBLEM WHICH WAS COMMON TO REPLACE THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT MY $600 REPAIR WAS NOT GUARANTEED TO PREVENT TOTAL FAILURE. DODGE HAS NOT AGREED TO ANY RECALL TO FIX BUT SHOULD DO THIS. THEREFORE, I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER DODGE OR CHRYSLER OF ANY SORT. UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ALSO FAILED AT UNDER 50,000 MILES AND NO REPAIR RECALL ON THIS LONG STANDING PROBLEM AS WELL. SUBJECT ON ANOTHER COMPLAINT.
NHTSA complaint #10214613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HIT A POTHOLE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE CAME RIGHT OFF , IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2000 - 2003'S HAVE. WE HAVE PICTURES OF IT TO PROVE IT . THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS LET LOOSE THE CV SHAFT PULLED OUT AND THE SHOCK GOT BENT. THE TIRE TURNED ON ITS SIDE WHILE THE TRUCK WAS SLIDING DOWN THE ROAD SIDEWAYS AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL HOW THE TRUCK WAS GOING. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE TIRE ON THE TRUCK WAS THE BRAKE LINE. THE TIRE RIM HAD CHUNKS TAKEN OUT OF IT AND THE TIRE HAD WEAR FROM BEING ON ITS SIDE UNDER THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK WHILE IT WAS SLIDING. WE HAD TO GET IT FLATBEDDED TO THE REPAIR SHOP . WE HAD A CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP DO ALL THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO THE TRUCK TO WHICH INCLUDED NEW UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS,NEW CV SHAFT, NEW RIM ADN TIRE , NEW SHOCK , AXLE ASSEMBLY,BRAKE HOSE , STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE,INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT.THIS TRUCK HAD JUST BEEN THROUGH A NYS INSPECTION IN DECEMBER 2003 AND PASSED. THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 25, 2004 WHICH LEFT US WITHOUT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY WE GOT THE TRUCK BACK ON NOVEMBER 10 , 2004. WE FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR BILL FOR THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY ARE ADMITTING THERE IS A PROBLEM THE SAME AS THIS TO THE NEWER MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #10102620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY TWO YEAR OLD SUCCESSFULLY PLACED KEYS INTO IGNITION AND TURNED TO ON. THEN WITHOUT THE REQUIREMENT OF DEPRESSING THE BRAKE HE WAS ABLE TO PLACE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL. MY TRUCK ROLLED BACKWARD APPROXIMATELY 150 YARDS AND CRASHED INTO TREE. TOTAL DAMAGE OF $3500, LUCKILY NO ONE SERIOUSLY INJURED.
NHTSA complaint #10090972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
PREMATURE FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS & LOWER STEERING COLUMN U-JOINTS. UPPER BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10061899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
AUTO MATIC TRANSMISSION LACK OF FLUID CAUSED BY CHECK VALVE AND TRANS COOLANT LINE.
NHTSA complaint #10051283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING TRANSMISSION FLUID PROBLEM. SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER HAD TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY YEAR. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED TO WORK AND VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.
NHTSA complaint #10039770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP AND BROKE INTO THREE PIECES. VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN.
NHTSA complaint #10038560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
WITHOUT WARNING, JUST AFTER EXITING A FREEWAY, THE REAR WHEELS OF MY 1997 DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK, LOCKED UP. I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE. TOW TRUCK ARRIVED , AND ADVISED THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD LOCKED-UP. THIS TRUCK HAS ONLY 52,423 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10028366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
CLANKING NOISE IN RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. AXLE SEAL BROKE, REPLACED, 3 WEEKS LATER NOISE AGAIN BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PH
NHTSA complaint #10007548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
THE SPEEDOMETER IS OPERATIING ERRATICALLY.
NHTSA complaint #568315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
SPEEDOMETOR AND CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING REPLACED SPEED SENSOR PER DEALER AND STILL NOT WORKING. ALSO SEAT DOESN'T LOCK IN UPRIGHT POSITION ON DRIVERS SIDE. TRANSFER CASE SEAL WENT OUT AND HAD TO REPLACE TRANSFER CASE. I HATE THIS TRUCK AND I COULDN'T GIVE IT AWAY.
NHTSA complaint #764224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
SPEEDOMETOR AND CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING REPLACED SPEED SENSOR PER DEALER AND STILL NOT WORKING. ALSO SEAT DOESN'T LOCK IN UPRIGHT POSITION ON DRIVERS SIDE. TRANSFER CASE SEAL WENT OUT AND HAD TO REPLACE TRANSFER CASE. I HATE THIS TRUCK AND I COULDN'T GIVE IT AWAY.
NHTSA complaint #764224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WAS DRIVING WHEN TRANSMISSION BECAME HARD TO SHIFT INTO GEARS. WOULD DOWN SHIFT INTO 3RD FROM OVERDRIVE ON ITS OWN. TOOK TO TRANSMISSION MECHANIC. WAS INFORMED THAT GEARS WERE MADE OF PLASTIC AND WERE STRIPPED, BREAKING GEAR TEETH OFF.
NHTSA complaint #899006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
THE UNIVERSAL JOINT ON THE STEERING COLUMN TOTALLY FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO "FREE-WHEEL" THE VEHICLE VEERED OUT OF CONTROL SIDESWIPING TWO PARKED CARS. THIS IS A CRITICAL FAILURE; IF IT OCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT COULD HAVE CAUSED SEVERAL FATALITIES!!.
NHTSA complaint #746888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON FREEWAY.
NHTSA complaint #745362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF 5TH GEAR AND REMAINED IN NEUTRAL. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT "GEAR WAS CRACKED." PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #884985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
SHIFTER CABLE BROKE WHEN DRIVER WAS SHIFTING GEAR. HE CONPLAINED THAT VEHICLE SHIFTER WAS PULLING HARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT SHIFTER WAS OKAY.
NHTSA complaint #884154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #878073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE PURCHASED A 1997 DODGE TRUCK IN OCT. 1996. THHE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 42000 MILES. WE WERE TOLD BY BOTH OUR LOCAL SOUTH CAROLINA DEALER AND BY ED MURDOCK WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THAT CHRYSLER WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO OUR WARRANTY BEING UP AT 36000 MILES. WE CALLED THE 800 # TO CHRYSLERS COMPLAINT LINE AND WERE TOLD THE SAME THING. WE HAD OUR TRUCK REPAIRED AT A LOCAL INDEPENDENT GARAGEAND ONLY THEN DID WE DISCOVER THAT OUR TRUCK HAD A 1998 PROTOTYPE TRANSMISSION IN IT. PARTS WERE ORDERED FROM ATLANTA THAT WOULD NOT FIT OUR 1997 DODGE DAKOTA BECAUSE OF THE PROTOTYPE TRANSMISSION AND HAD TO BE RETURNED AND REORDERED FROM DETROIT. ALA IN ALL WE WERE WITHOUT OUR TRUCK FOR 29 DAYS WHILE THIS MESS WAS SORTED OUT. WE WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED A TRUCK WITH A PROTOTYPE ASIAN TRANSMISSION IN IT IF WE HAD BEEN TOLD. THHE ED MURDOCK DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REIMBURSE US FOR OUR EXPENCES, CHRYSLER SAYS THAT THEY WILL NOT BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE THIS RIGHT BECAUSE NOT ONLY WERE WE MISLED IN OUR PURCHASE BUT ANY TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO PERFORM LONGER THAN 42000 MILES. WE WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE WORK DONE AND OUR EXPENSE FOR A RENTAL CAR DURING THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT WE WERE SORTING THIS MESS OUT AND STILL HAVING TO GO ON WITH OUR DAILY ROUTINE. NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO STAND BEHIND THHE CHRYSLER PRODUCTS FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO THE ONE WHO SELLS THEM. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP , I HAVE SENT SEVERAL OTHER LETTERS AND IF YOU CAN TELL ME OF SOMEONE ELSE TO WRITE I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANKS, RENEE MCABEE.
NHTSA complaint #733340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN GOING 55 OR FASTER AND LET OFF THE GAS, WHEN REACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION "BUCKS". THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE THERMOSTAT HAS BEEN REPLACED TO TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT IT HAS NOT WORKED.
NHTSA complaint #726510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
LOUD WHINING BETWEEN 45 TO 50 MPH, REPLACED DIFFERENTAL RING AND PINION GEAR, TO NO AVAIL.
NHTSA complaint #9001175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON 2/27/2000 I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. MY PROBLEM BEING MY TRANSMISSIOM WILL NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. WHEN IT IS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE THE VECHICLE MAY HESITATE AND NOT MOVE THEN VIOLENTLY SLAM INTO GEAR. ON ONE OCCASION MY NEICE SETTING IN THE BACK SEAT HEAD WAS SLAMMED INTO THE REAR WINDOW GLASS AS THE VECHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. I HAVE A VIDEO TAPE OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILING TO PROPERLY ENGAUGE. I WAS ABLE TO REACH IN THE BACK SEAT TAKE THE CAMERA OUT OF THE CASE INSERT THE BATTERY FILM AND SHOOT A VIDEO OF THE TRUCK SETTING IN GEAR THEN VIOLENTLY LURCHING FORWARD. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SAID ON THE SERVICE ORDER "CANNOT DUPLICATE SITITION. I SHOWED HIM THE VIDEO AND HE ADMITTED I HAVE A PROBLEM BUT HE COULDNT HELP ME BECAUSE CHRYSLER WOULD NOT REIMBURSE HIM.
NHTSA complaint #720186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
DUE TO DEFECTIVE DRIVESHAFT WHICH WAS OUT OF BALANCE BY 31/2 OUNCE, DIFFERENTIAL AND TRANSFER CASE MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #861266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
DUE TO DEFECTIVE DRIVESHAFT WHICH WAS OUT OF BALANCE BY 31/2 OUNCE, DIFFERENTIAL AND TRANSFER CASE MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #861266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
DUE TO DEFECTIVE DRIVESHAFT WHICH WAS OUT OF BALANCE BY 31/2 OUNCE, DIFFERENTIAL AND TRANSFER CASE MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #861266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE SHOWS RPMS BUT DOESN'T ACCELERATE AS FAR AS MOVING UP TO SPEED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED & IT MAY BE THE TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION REPAIRS ARE NOT NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #860931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
I HAVE TWO RECURRING PROBLEMS. 1) I HAD THE TRUCK IN 3 SEPARATE TIMES FOR RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER, SO FAR, REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AND FAN CLUTCH, BOTH UNDER WARRANTY. ONCE AGAIN, THE ENGINE IS MAKING THE SAME RATTLING NOISE. THIS NOISE STARTED AROUND 58,000 MILES. ALSO, MY ENGINE CURRENTLY HAS AN OIL LEAK. THE DEALER CLAIMS IT IS THE FRONT SEAL. THE DEALER BROKE THIS SEAL WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE SEAL REPAIR. 2) I HAD THE TRUCK IN 3 TIMES FOR ANOTHER RATTLING NOISE IN THE A/C (INTERIOR). THE DEALER CLAIMED THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. THE FOURTH VISIT AND CONVERSATION WITH MANAGER PROVED THAT THE NOISE, IN FACT, WAS NOT NORMAL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPRESSOR. AT THE CURRENT MILEAGE, THE A/C IS ONCE AGAIN MAKING THE SAME NOISE. IN SUMMARY, THE ENGINE IS PRODUCING A RATTLING NOISE. THE A/C IS ALSO PRODUCING A RATTLING NOISE (BOTH ITEMS ARE SEPARATE NOISES AS VALIDATED BY THE DEALERSHIP).
NHTSA complaint #720489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.