IllustrationENGINE ROARS WHEN CONSUMER PUTS VEHICLE IN GEAR. *AK
1992 Dodge Dakota
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1992 Dodge Dakota do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 166.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Dakota years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 8 of 216 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 110 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports8 fire reports11 injury reports
Power Train complaints
110 reportsAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CHANGES GEARS FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING.THEN, IT MAKES A FUNNY NOISE, WHICH IS NOT NORMAL. AUTOMOBILE HAS BEEN IN SHOP AT LEAST 4 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO LEAK HEAVILY AND SLOW TO SHIFT IINTO GEAR, FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED BURNED FLUID IN THE TRANSMISSION AFTER HAVING RECENTLY BEEN CHANGED AND SERVICED. ALSO AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF METAL FILINGS IN OIL PAN AND ON FILTER. IT WAS REPORTED TO ME BY 2 TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITIES THAT DODGE HAD HAD…
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THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO LEAK HEAVILY AND SLOW TO SHIFT IINTO GEAR, FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED BURNED FLUID IN THE TRANSMISSION AFTER HAVING RECENTLY BEEN CHANGED AND SERVICED. ALSO AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF METAL FILINGS IN OIL PAN AND ON FILTER. IT WAS REPORTED TO ME BY 2 TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITIES THAT DODGE HAD HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE PLANETARY GEARS NOT GETTING ENOUGH OIL DUE TO INSUFFICIENTLY SIZED ACCESS HOLES TO THE PLANETARY GEARS. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF DODGE HAD ANY TYPE OF RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM OR ASSISTANCE IN THIS AREA. *AK
SEVERE REAR WHEEL HOP PROBLEM ONGOING SINCE 1994.REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES TO DEALER FOR REPAIR.TRUCK STAYED THERE FOR OVER 8 MONTHS ALTOGETHER.SEVERAL PARTS REPLACED INCLUDING:LEAFS SPRINGS,SHOCKS,TRANSMISSION SUPPORT,DIFFERENTIAL(4 TIMES),BRAKE LINES(BROKE OFF DUE TO VIBRATION DURING ROAD TEST),LEAF SPRINGS RETAINERS.ETC...CHRYSL…
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SEVERE REAR WHEEL HOP PROBLEM ONGOING SINCE 1994.REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES TO DEALER FOR REPAIR.TRUCK STAYED THERE FOR OVER 8 MONTHS ALTOGETHER.SEVERAL PARTS REPLACED INCLUDING:LEAFS SPRINGS,SHOCKS,TRANSMISSION SUPPORT,DIFFERENTIAL(4 TIMES),BRAKE LINES(BROKE OFF DUE TO VIBRATION DURING ROAD TEST),LEAF SPRINGS RETAINERS.ETC...CHRYSLER NO LONGER WANTS TO TRY TO SOLVE THE MATTER.DOT GOT INVOLVED.HAD MECHANICAL ENGINEER PERFORM INSPECTION ON TRUCK,DECLARED IT DANGEROUS. DOT PULLED TRUCK OFF THE ROAD.NOW I'M HITCHICKING. EVEN TOUGH I'M FROM CANADA, I"D HOPE YOU MAY HAVE HAD SOME ADVICE.....PLEASE. *AK
THIS TRUCK HAS A 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE TRUCK WILL START IN GEAR WITHOUT HAVING TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH. FROM WHAT I CAN FIND OUT THERE WAS NO SWITCH PUT ON THIS MODEL TO PREVENT THIS. *AK
PULLED INTO ALLEY IN DOWNTOWN HANOVER. TRUCK ON SLIGHT INCLINE TO THE REAR. PUT TRANSMISSION IN PARK THEN VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS.
TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT FROM PARK INTO REVERSE. STOPPED AT STORE, PUT IT IN PARK AND THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO REVERSE. CONTACTED DEALER, THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION. ALSO CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. *AK
PAINT IS PEELING OFF STARTING ON THE ROOF AND IS NOW STARTING ON THE SIDE OF THE CAB/THE U-JIONT IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AGAIN AT THIS TIME
THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNED OFF AND IN PARK, WILL NOT TURN ON. VEHICLE IS LOCKED IN PLACE, CONSUMER WILL ROCK THE VEHICLE BACK AND FORTH, A CLICK OCCURS AND EVERYTHING IS OKAY. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AND HITTING A BUMP, THE VEHICLE WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL AND WILL HAVE TO PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED OF ANY PRO…
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THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNED OFF AND IN PARK, WILL NOT TURN ON. VEHICLE IS LOCKED IN PLACE, CONSUMER WILL ROCK THE VEHICLE BACK AND FORTH, A CLICK OCCURS AND EVERYTHING IS OKAY. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AND HITTING A BUMP, THE VEHICLE WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL AND WILL HAVE TO PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED OF ANY PROBLEMS. *AK
VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
Official recalls
100V106000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Apr 11, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A500 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. INADVERTENT PLACEMENT OF THE SHIFT LEVER IN REVERSE CAN OCCUR WHEN THE DRIVER BELIEVES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN PLACED IN PARK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY WITH THE ENGINE ON AFTER THE DRIVER HAS LEFT THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEEL MANUAL VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION WITH AN ALUMINUM VERSION.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA96006 · Rollaway In Reverse When Parked
Opened May 31, 1996 · Closed Aug 10, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
PE95041 · Inadvertent Movement Of Shifter
Opened Jun 23, 1995 · Closed May 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
ODI RECEIVED AN INQUIRY REGARDING ALLEGED PARK TO REVERSE PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ON 1991 AND 1992 DODGE DAKOTA PICUP TRUCKS.THE ODI DATABASE REVEALED 11 COMPLAINTS, SEVERAL OF WHICH HAD BEEN REPORTED IN THE MONTHS JUST PRECEDING THE OPENING OF THE PE.THE CONSUMERS CLAIM THAT THEY MOVE THE VEHICLE, PLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND EXIT THE VEHICLE.THEN, ALMOST ALWAYS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE ALLEGEDLY SHIFTS INTO REVERSETHE VEHICLE THEN BEGINS TO BACK UP, USUALLY STOPPING ONLY WHEN IT HITS SOMETHING.
PE92062 · Brk Pdl Pivot Shaft Diseng
Opened Jul 6, 1992 · Closed Sep 29, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available