RoadVitals

1994 Dodge Dakota Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
20
Latest Apr 24, 2003
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
12%
of 166 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Dodge Dakota submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Transmission
Filed Apr 24, 2003

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED IMPROPERLY. THE CONSUMER CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED UP, DUE TO WRONG INFORMATION PRINTED ON THE DIP STICK. *JB

NHTSA ID
10017520
Mileage
170,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 4, 2001
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ENGINE OFF, PARK BRAKE NOT APPLIED. VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE AND ROLLED FORWARD ON A SLIGHT DOWN GRADE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO JUMP IN, APPLIED PARK BRAKE, AND STOPPED VEHICLE. DAMAGE WAS $ 3000.00, NO INJURIES.*AK

NHTSA ID
897337
Incident
Mar 25, 2001
Transmission
Filed Feb 26, 2001

THIS IS THE 2ND DODGE TRUCK TRANSMISSION I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE OTHER WAS A 96 RAM WITH 63,000 AND I WAS TOLD THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH DODGE TRUCK TRANSMISSIONS AS THE PLACES I TOOK THE 94 DAKOTA THERE WERE 2 IN FOR THE SAME THING ONE WAS A 1999 RAM. *AK

NHTSA ID
741570
Incident
May 2, 2000
Transmission
Filed Jan 16, 2001

DEALER REFUSED TO DO APPLICABLE TEST TO SEE IF TSB WAS WARRANTED PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHEN TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL DODGE ONLY OFFERED TO PAY HALF OF COSTS AND LATER RENEGED ON THAT OFFER. *AK

NHTSA ID
739435
Incident
Jan 15, 1998
Transmission
Filed Oct 12, 2000

THE TRUCK POPS OUT OF O/D INTO DRIVE AND SLOWS DOWN THE VEIHICLE DRASTICALLY. THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHEN TRAVELING AT 55-70 MPH. IT HAS DONE THIS ABOUT 6 TIMES TO ME AND IT JUST STARTED WITH MY BOSSES 1998 2 WD DAKOTA. IT REALLY SCARES TH

NHTSA ID
734193
Heating & air conditioningEngineTransmission
Filed Jul 24, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
725917
Transmission
Filed Jan 7, 1999

WHILE DRIVING 40 -60 MPH TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF THE SET GEAR, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
833156
Transmission
Filed Dec 29, 1998

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS NOISY,NOT SHIFTING PAINT, ENGINE PROBLEMS

NHTSA ID
701692
Transmission
Filed Aug 12, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
539799
Transmission
Filed Jan 29, 1998

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINES CONNECTORS FAILED, OWNER NOTICED LEAKAGE ON FLOOR. THIS PART WAS RECALLED BY DODGE ON THE FULL-SIZE PICKUPS COVERING THE SAME YEAR AS DAKOTA. OWNER BELIEVES THIS PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID
529616
Incident
Oct 21, 1997
Transmission
Filed Apr 1, 1997

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
809025
Incident
Jan 17, 1997
Transmission
Filed Feb 27, 1997

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ID
546878
Incident
Feb 25, 1997
Transmission
Filed Sep 20, 1996

PURCHASED TRUCK USED, SOMETIMES YOU CANNOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
984343
Transmission
Filed Jun 24, 1996
Crash reported

TRUCK HAS INADVERTANTLY SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND CAUSED TWO ACCIDENTS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
986036
Incident
Jan 14, 1995
Transmission
Filed Jun 24, 1996
Crash reported

VEHICLE IDLE POSITION AND LEFT IN PARKED, JUMPED OUT GEAR AND ROLLED BACKWARDS, AND WAS IMPACTED AT 8:00 POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ID
986028
Incident
Dec 21, 1995
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)Steering+1 more
Filed Dec 1, 1995

DESIGN OF FUEL SYSTEM MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE FUEL FILTER DUE TO IT BEING INSIDE THE FUEL TANK, ALSO RUBBER GROMETS BECOME DRY IN HOT CLIMATES AND LEAK.

NHTSA ID
500813
Incident
Dec 1, 1995
EngineExterior lightingTransmission
Filed Nov 12, 1995

LIGHTS FAIL WHEN DIMMER SWITCH IS USED. *SD

NHTSA ID
487607
Incident
Nov 12, 1995
Tires & wheelsTransmission
Filed Aug 28, 1995

THE TRANSMISSION LOCK UP, IN PARK AND REVERSE TOOK TO DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION AND ALL FOUR TIRES WORN OUT THEY WERE GOOD YEAR TIRE

NHTSA ID
971277
Transmission
Filed Jun 26, 1995

THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND JUMPS GEAR. TT

NHTSA ID
967752
Incident
Jun 26, 1995
Transmission
Filed Apr 19, 1995

MANUAL TRANSMISSION THE CLUTCH DO NOT HAVE TO BE DEPRESSED TO START VEHICLE. TT

NHTSA ID
964027
Incident
Feb 1, 1995

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Brakes24Airbags22Electrical21Steering20Fuel system15Engine14Seat belts13Interior & seats12Suspension9

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .