79 of the 1,096 complaints about the 2000 Dodge Dakota are about the transmission — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 52,500 miles.
79
Complaints
4
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING RIGHT AND IT IS VERY SLUGGISH IN FREEWAY AND WHILE WE IDLING.
NHTSA complaint #11327049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
BAD RUST ISSUE TO AREAS INCLUDING FRONT AND REAR BUMBER, THE ENTIRE BED INCLUDING MOUNTING POINTS, FENDERS, CAB CORNERS AND FRAME. LOST FENDER FLARE TWICE DUE TO RUST AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THE ENTIRE BED SLID BACK AND ALMOST FELL OFF AND FENDERS AND BUMBERS ARE BASICALLY RUST AND NEED REPLACED, WHEEL WELLS ON BED ARE FALLING APART CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE IF I HAUL ANYTHING
NHTSA complaint #11129717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
COMPLAINT #10734989 7-19-2015.NO RESPONSE FROM YOU. CALLING AND SENDING E MAILS SINCE OCTOBER 2013 NOT JUST YOUR DEPARTMENT! NO ONE WILL HELP. YOU, DODGE OR THE PERSON WHEN I WAS SITTING ON THE SIDE OF 71S. & PROMISED SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BACK - OH IT WAS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVERYONE WAS LEAVING WORK! NO ONE WILL HELP ME RESOLVE THIS.DO I AND HAVE TO GET KILLED BEFORE ANYONE WILL START TO LISTEN! PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN JULY 2010.WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 65, LONG DISTANCE THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, SLOWS ME DOWN TO 45. THE ENGINE MAKES THE LOUDEST WHINNING (LIKE SOMETHING IS STUCK UNDER THE HOOD) LIKE IT WANTS TO BLOW UP!!!PULL OVER - WAIT TIL THE LIGHT GOES OFF. TEMPERATURE GAUGES DO NOT SHOW OVERHEATING. I'VE STARTED REPLACING PARTS.STILL LIGHT COMES ON AND SLOWS ME DOWN TO 45 I ACTUALLY AM VERY UPSET ABOUT NO ONE HELPING ME. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE TO DEALER WHEN IT DOES IT..I DID AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BECAUSE LIGHT IS NOW OFF TO DRIVE IT THERE. THEY TELL ME TO LEAVE IT AND THEY WILL GO THRU IT. "I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE THEM DO THIS" MY LIFE AS WELL AS MY GRANDCHILDREN, FATHER, ME AND ANYONE THAT I HAVE HAD IN THIS CAR IS AT RISK. BEING ON THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAYS OR EXIT RAMPS WAITING FOR THIS LIGHT TO GO OFF WITH SEMI'S, CARS, FLYING BY. PEOPLE ARE DRIVING OFF ROADS WITH DISTRACTED DRIVING HITTING PEOPLE PARKED ON THE SIDE. I DON'T WANT TO BE A FATALITY! MY GRANDCHILDREN WERE IN THE BACK SEAT AND I WAS PARKED ALONG I96. MY FATHER (ALZ) WAS IN THE CAR WHILE I WAS PARKED ON US23. MY HUSBAND AND I...WHEN DO I GET HELP. WHEN SOMEONE IS DEAD. PLEASE PLEASE IS IT THE CVT!!! I DON'T KNOW ANYMORE.... I WAS DEPENDING ON YOU TO HELP ME OR DODGE. I HAVE TO DRIVE TO NC AND I AM ACTUALLY SCARED TO DRIVE THE DISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10861040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING, THE REAR TIRES WOULD SUDDENLY LOCK UP. HE HAD TO PRESS THE OVERDRIVE BUTTON TO STOP THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PROBLEM CAUSED HIM TO HAVE TO REPLACE TWO TRANSMISSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TRANSMISSIONS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,625. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #10359282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
DODGE/CHRYSLER 9.25 INCH REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE. RETAINING CLIPS FOR THE CLUTCH PACK OF THE TRUE-TRAK DIFFERENTIAL FALL OUT. THE METAL PARTS GET CHEWED UP BY THE RING AND PINION AND CAUSE THE REAR END TO FAIL. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND HUNDREDS PROBABLY MORE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. DODGETALK.COM FORUMS.THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE THE REAR END LOCKS UP AND CAUSES CRASHES. I WAS LUCKY IT DID NOT CAUSE ME TO CRASH. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY SAID CARS OUT OR WARRANTY SORRY.
NHTSA complaint #10276192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A SMALL RED PUDDLE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE OBSERVED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW. HE ADDED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V197000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE DEALER WOULD HAVE TO GET AUTHORIZATION PRIOR TO MAKING ANY REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 174,168.
NHTSA complaint #10251080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE BOUGHT A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT IN JANUARY 2008. EVER SINCE WE'VE HAD IT, IT'S RPM GOES UP TO 3 1/2 TO 4 RPMS BEFORE IT SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND AND FROM SECOND TO THIRD. AT FIRST, IT WAS WHEN WE WOULD FIRST LEAVE OUR PARKING LOT, AND NOW IT DOES IT ALMOST ALL THE TIME. WE BOUGHT IT AT KUNES IN DELAVAN, WISCONSIN AND THEY SAY THAT IT'S NORMAL. WE'VE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE OR KNOWN ANYBODY WHO HAS EVER HAD THAT HAPPENED TO. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 67,000 MILES ON IT. IF THIS IS NORMAL WHY IS IT GETTING WORSE THE MORE WE DRIVE IT.
NHTSA complaint #10225279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
CLIPS IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL BROKE (BELIEVE THEY HELD THE SPRING TO THE CLUTCH PLATES). CAR IS DODGE DAKOTA 2000, WITH 80,000 MILES OF LIGHT USE ( NO TOWING, LIGHT AND INFREQUENT HAULING) BELEIVE THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE CLIPS THAT MAY CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL.
NHTSA complaint #10213747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED ON DODGE DAKOTA ON A HILL. NO CRASH BUT I HEARD THIS IS HAPPENING TO TONS OF DODGE TRUCKS AT AROUND 70,000 MILES. SOME ONE COULD GET HURT. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT.
NHTSA complaint #10138093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2000 DODGE DAKOTA DEVELOPED A MISFIRE IN THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECENTLY READ WHERE THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT REGARDING A SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #10137767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ROUGH FROM WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHOP NO LESS THEN 10 TIMES IN 5 YEARS COMPLAINING. NO PROBLEM COULD BE ID'D UNTIL LAST WEEK. THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON WHILE SITTING IN PARK. THE DEALERSHIP ID'D PROBLEM AS FAULTY VALVE BODY. REPLACED VALVE BODY AND TRANSMISSION SOLENOID, AT A COST OF OVER $950. VEHICLE HAS 63,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10126130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 2000, PROBLEM WITH TRANSFER CASE SHIFTING. *BF THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHIFT OUT OF NORMAL GEAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE DID GO OUT OF GEAR, THE CONSUMER HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE HE COULD GET THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT BACK INTO GEAR. THE CONSUMER STATED A TRUCK OF THIS AGE AND MILEAGE SHOULD NOT REQUIRE THIS TYPE OF REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10117229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS TO THIRD. ALSO, VEHICLE FAILED TO GO INTO REVERSE. EXCESSIVE FORCE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO CLUTCH TO GET IT TO GO INTO REVERSE. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS WITH 2 FINGERS. DEALERSHIP WAS CURRENTLY TAKING THE TRANSMISSION APART , BUT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO A BAD FLYWHEEL. TWO TSBS, #6089740 AND #6089792 WERE ISSUED ON THIS FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10115511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT THE PINION NUT FELL OFF, CAUSING THE REAR END TO LOCK UP. THIS CAUSED THE PINION TO TWIST INSIDE THE DIFFERENTIAL, AND LOCK UP BETWEEN THE DIFFERENTIAL CASING AND THE RING GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10115144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A WHINING NOISE WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OR MORE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS WOULD BE THE FORTH REPLACEMENT WITHIN A YEAR. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *JB DEALER HOWEVER. THERE IS VIBRATION AT 40 MPH. TIRES AND SUSPENSION INSPECTED, NO PROBLEM FOUND. ENGINE HARD TO START FOLLOWING OVERHEATING. DEALER FOUND NO CONDITION THAT MERITS A REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10109778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH BALL JOINTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE EXPLODED UNDERNEATH THE PICKUP, BREAKING INTO BITS AND PIECES. THE TIRE COMPLETELY DISENGAGED. THE AXLE WAS BENT, AND THE INNER TIE ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *TS
NHTSA complaint #10083593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLES TRANSMISSION WOULD HEAT UP AND WE COULD ONLY USE FIRST GEAR. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE 25 MILES AT 55 MPH TRANSMISSION WOULD ONLY USE FIRST, REVERSE AND PARK. IT HAS BEEN TO TWO TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND TWO DEALERSHIPS AND STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG.
NHTSA complaint #10078882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION JUST ACT LIKED IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL, BUT NOW I KNOW THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY WENT OUT SUDDENLY.
NHTSA complaint #10074736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
FRONT DRIVE AXEL, LEFT MOUNT BROKE. DODGE HAS A TSB # 889 ISSUED ON AUG 2000, REGARDING THIS. THIS TSB COVERS THE FRONT AXEL PINNION NOSE BRACKET BOLTS WHICH MAY LOSEN. THESE LOOSE PINNION BRACKET BOLTS CANCAN CAUSE THE BRACKET TO BREAK OFF. IN ADDITION A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION WAS ISSUED TO REPLACE BRACKET BOLTS. AT THIS TIME DODGE IS TALKING ABOUT $3,400 FOR REPAIR AT MY COST. OTHERWISE I'M STILL WORK ON RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. VEHICAL HAS 52,000 MILES ON ODOMETER WITH LESS THAN 50 MILES ON FRONT DRIVE AXEL
NHTSA complaint #10073174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
REAR DIFF WENT OUT
NHTSA complaint #10068836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON VEHICLE LOCKED UP AND THE PINION SHAFT BEHIND THE FORWARD DIFFERENTIAL BEARING SHEARED AND THE ENTIRE DRIVE SHAFT FELL OUT OF THE TRUCK.*MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WAS MADE WITH POOR QUALITY OR SUB-STANDARD PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10054134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION IN A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA, TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP IN OVERDRIVE. DODGE RECOMMENDED A TOTAL REBUILD. TOTAL COST OF REBUILD WAS $1465.00 AT MY EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #10053261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
FAILURE OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL.
NHTSA complaint #10050666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO A GEAR HIGHER THAN TWO. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ACEUM PISTON, IN THE VALVE BODY BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #10048287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN 3RD GEAR IT WENT TO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE CHANGED TO 4TH GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER 6 TIMES FOR REPAIRS. THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO WARPED ROTORS. FAULTY WHEEL BEARINGS CAUSED A POPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE LEFT TURNS. *SCC *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10031721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2000 DODGE DAKOTA,4.7L AOUT TRANSMISSION/UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY DEFECTIVE.REPLACED AT 1.100 MILES,LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY BALL JOINT CAME APART AT 9,200 WHEEL CAME OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10028798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
2000 DODGE DAKOTA BALL JOINTS FAILED PREMATURELY AND WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY CAME LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #10028822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED. 40,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. BALL JOINTS SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THIS. DEALER WANTS $1,200.00 TO CHANGE THEM. TRUCK HAS ALREADY HAD NEW FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, NEW SWAY BAR BUSHINGS, NEW DRIVER SEAT CUSHION, NEW FUEL INJECTORS, NEW ELECTRIC MOTOR IN RIGHT REAR WINDOW. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO "RAM TOUGH". MAY HAVE TO GO BACK TO "LIKE A ROCK". OLD PICKUP 1979 CHEVROLET NEVER HAD BALL JOINT PROBLEMS, MUCH LESS ANY THING ELSE MAJOR. THANKS RICK WORSFOLD. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10023770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I STOPPED THE TRUCK AND PUT IN THE PARK POSITION, I THEN CAME OUT OF THE TRUCK, CLOSED THE DOOR AND THE TRUCK STARTED TO MOVE IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION, I RAN AFTER THE TRUCK TO SEE IF I COULD STOP IT BUT THE REVERSE SPEED WAS TO FAST FOR ME AND THE TRUCK HIT THE TREE DAMAGING THE REAR BUMPER AND I FELL BACK INJURING MY BACK. CHECKED THE POSITION OF THE SHIFT AFTER ABOVE INCIDENT TO SEE THE POINTER POSITION ABOVE "R". I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO DUPLICATE THE SAME SYMPTOM WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. THIS I KNOW FOR CERTAIN YOU CAN NOT GET OUT OF THE TRUCK WHEN IT IS IN REVERSE.
NHTSA complaint #10014412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
REAR END OF TRUCK IS FAILING. THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING ON MANY OTHER DAKOTA'S AND THERE IS SHORTAGE OF USED AND REPLACEMENT PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10014270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.