IllustrationTHE TRUCK INADVERTANTLY SHIFTS DOWN WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE *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 reportsAUTO TRANS: TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO OVERDRIVE ON IT OWN, IN A JERKY MANNER, GOES SLIGHTLY FASTER THAN WHEN IN NORMAL, NO WARNING. *AK
WHILE TRUCK WAS IN PARK AND THE GEAR JUMP OUT OF POSITION . *AK
PE95-041; AUTO-TRANSMISSION WILL DOWN SHIFT FOR REASON UNKNOWN. WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL PERFORMANCE. *AK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 55 MPH AND OVER, VEHICLE TACKS AT ABOUT 1800 RPMS, ON A FLAT ROAD, VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT AND TACK AT 2800-300 RPM, CONSUMER STATES IT HAPPENS IN AND OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL WITH A CONSTANT PRES…
Read full complaint
PE95-041; AUTO-TRANSMISSION WILL DOWN SHIFT FOR REASON UNKNOWN. WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL PERFORMANCE. *AK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 55 MPH AND OVER, VEHICLE TACKS AT ABOUT 1800 RPMS, ON A FLAT ROAD, VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT AND TACK AT 2800-300 RPM, CONSUMER STATES IT HAPPENS IN AND OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL WITH A CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR, IT WILL ALSO DOWNSHIFT DRAMATICALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. *SLC
WHILE IN PARK, ENGINE RUNNING, GEAR SHIFTED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE, STARTED ROLLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY WITH 3 YEAR OLD IN FRONT SEAT;SHIFTED TO PARK TO STOP. *AK
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY, ALSO HAS BITS OF METAL IN TRANSMISSION OIL PAN. *DH
WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT IN REVERSE, SUDDEN ACCELERATION/MALFUNCTIONING OCCURS. *SD
TRANSMISSION FAILS TO GO INTO GEAR OCCASIONALLY, ALSO OCCASIONALLY SLIPS OUT OF GEAR. *DH
PE95-041, ACTIVE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IDLE POSITION IN PARK, JUMPED OUT GEAR INTO REVERSE, ROLLED BACK, HITTING A POLE, IMPACT 6:00 POSITION. *AK
PE95-041, ACTIVE, VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, LEFT THE VEHICLE IDLING, SHIFTED IN REVERSE, WENT ACROSS 4 LANE TRAFFIC, IMPACT 6:00 POSITION HIT A POLE. *AK
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