IllustrationVEHICLE WAS PARKED AND STILL RUNNING WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF PARK AND ROLLED BACK INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEIHICLE.*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
What owners actually said
216 reportsWHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A VIBRATION . WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. THE MECHANIC STATED THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS FAILED. *NLM
ON DAYS OVER 90 DEGREE TEMPERATURE THE ENGINE WILL REV VERY LOUD AT FIRST START, WHILE VEHICLE WILL BARELY MOVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAN CLUTCH TWICE AND REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER THE REMEDIES DID NOT HELP. *JB THIS PROBLEM HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHILE AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, WHEN DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS THEN KICK INTO NORMAL S…
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ON DAYS OVER 90 DEGREE TEMPERATURE THE ENGINE WILL REV VERY LOUD AT FIRST START, WHILE VEHICLE WILL BARELY MOVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAN CLUTCH TWICE AND REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER THE REMEDIES DID NOT HELP. *JB THIS PROBLEM HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHILE AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, WHEN DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS THEN KICK INTO NORMAL SPEED, MAKE NOISE, AND THEN STOP. *SCC
THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE DEALER ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO THE OVER DRIVE CONTROL FEATURE. *PH *JB
THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN REVERSE. THE DRIVER THOUGHT THE KEY WAS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION BUT IT WAS NOT. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WENT TO PULL THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION WHEN IT SUDDENLY STARTED AND RAN OVER HER. THE DRIVER SUSTAIN 2 BROKEN BONES IN HER RIGHT LEG AND A BROKEN COLL…
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THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN REVERSE. THE DRIVER THOUGHT THE KEY WAS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION BUT IT WAS NOT. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WENT TO PULL THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION WHEN IT SUDDENLY STARTED AND RAN OVER HER. THE DRIVER SUSTAIN 2 BROKEN BONES IN HER RIGHT LEG AND A BROKEN COLLAR BONE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES A CLUTCH SAFETY SWITCH SHOULD BE INSTALLED. *NLM *NLM
THE VEHICLE LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LEAK WAS NOT RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION RECALL. *NLM THE VEHICLE LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID. DEALER STATED THAT THE LEAK WAS NOT RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION RECALL.
VEHICLE FRAME IS DISINTERGRATING, BREAKING OFF IN BIG CHUNKS, IN TIRE FRAME FROM CAB BACK MUST BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT FOR 8 OF ITS 10 YEARS. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THE SALT WASHED OFF FREQUENTLY DURING THE WINTERS ALSO. THIS MUST BE A DEFECT IN THE FRAME MATERIAL. DT
15 DAYS AFTER PUCHASING THIS VEHICLE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. THE FIRE DESTROYED EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD BUT THE METAL ENGINE PARTS AS WELL AS MELTED PART OF THE DASH & CARPET ON THE INTERIOR. AFTER PRYING OPEN THE HOOD & DOUSING THE FLAMES COMPLETELY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT A FUEL LINE LEAK HAD CA…
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15 DAYS AFTER PUCHASING THIS VEHICLE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. THE FIRE DESTROYED EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD BUT THE METAL ENGINE PARTS AS WELL AS MELTED PART OF THE DASH & CARPET ON THE INTERIOR. AFTER PRYING OPEN THE HOOD & DOUSING THE FLAMES COMPLETELY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT A FUEL LINE LEAK HAD CAUSED THE BLAZE. APPARENTLY SOME FUEL LEAKED FROM THE LINE NEAR THE FUEL INJECTOR ASSEMBLY ON TOP OF THE ENGINE & AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE FUEL TO IGNITE. THANKFULLY I WAS ALONE WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE CAB FILLED W/SMOKE BEFORE I EVEN GOT PULLED OVER & I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NO SMALL TASK GETTING THEM OUT SAFELY. THE DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED @OVER $2000 BECAUSE OF THE COST OF THE WIRING & COMPUTER, NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF LABOR TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. I ONLY HAD LIABILITY ON THE VEHICLE, SO MY ONLY HOPE OF GETTING THIS THING FIXED W/OUT LOSING MY TAIL IS IF THE MANUFACTURER WILL STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT AND FIX IT. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW ONLY RECENTLY INFORMED ME OF THE NHTSA WEB SITE, OR I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE REPORTED THIS EARLIER. PLEASE HELP ANY WAY YOU CAN, MY FAMILY & I WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATIVE. THANKS. *AK
CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE AT 40 MPH, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, NO BRAKING ACTION. DEALER DETERMINED BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AND ALL BRAKE FLUID HAD DRAINED.*AK *MJ
THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW ON VEHICLE, FUEL LINE IS ROUTED AGAINST THE BODY OF VEHICLE, AND OVER TIME THAT PART HAS CREATED A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE THAT CAUSES FUEL TO LEAK OUT. CONTACTED DEALER. *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