1996 Dodge Dakota Transmission Problems

Which parts fail

• Automatic transmission
  14
• Automatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch
  3
• Manual transmission
  2
• Driveline › Universal joint
  2
• Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines
  1
• Axle assembly › Banjo housing
  1

Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Dodge Dakota owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Vehicle was placed in park position on a slight incline, upon exiting for a brief second, vehicle rolled backwards, injuring the consumer. Also, after the incident vehicle was still in the park position. Consumer has contacted dealer.

While this vehicle was parked it slipped out of gear and started rolling backwards. While trying to stop the vehicle, it ran over consumer's legsand left knee. Vehicle was stopped by running into another vehicle. Dealer was contacted.

While driving the rear axle snapped and the wheel fell off. The highway was wet, and the truck was spinning and flipped over and landed on the roof upside down. The defective part was the axle. The dealer could not duplicate the problem.

Consumer was driving approximately 55-60 MPH when all of a sudden rear end of truck started to bounce up and down and shaking for a block. The universal joint broke, and sounded like going up and down. Consumer had to coast through traffic, nearly causing numerous accidents. Consumer wastold by dealer that driveshaft failed, and dealership replaced the whole driveshaft assembly. Consumer continued to drive after replacement of driveshaft, and vehicle continued to vibrate. After Chrysler in ga. Stated that one of the hubs on the left rear axle was not straight, consumer took vehicle to tire dealer, and they said there was a badly bent rim. Put vehicle on the balance machine and there was a walp. Went back to dealer where evehicle was purchased and they refused to fix it because the 36,000 mile factory warranty expired. Also, they did not acknowledge the defects.

1. The power steering high- pressure hose has an o-ring inside of the fitting that connects to the gearbox. The o-ring completely failed while driving causing difficult steering, which was very unexpected. Refilling the resevoir resulted in a high pressure spray of hydraulic fluid covering the entire engine compartment and lasting less than two miles with no turns. 2. The clutch does not disengage when the clutch pedal is pressed to the floor, there is plenty of fluid in the resevoir, and there is resistance when pressing the pedal. To down shift, I had to stop the engine, put the transmission in 1st gear push in the clutch, then start the engine. There is just enough clutch to keep the vehicle from moving if the brake is on. There were no previous warnings or indications that this failure was pending.

Transmission - excessive rumble noise from purchase (5/8/1999). Dealer said no problem found several times, later after several requests, confirmed problem, replaced (they said) the transmission. Within a year, truck began to have shifting trouble @ 28,000 miles, transmission had lost it's fluid. Dealer gave us a gallon of fluid to keep it "topped off" - later replaced a transmission seal. Truck has consistently shifted from overdrive to 2nd gear on hills or moderate inclines, instead of 3rd gear, causing engine to race (red line) and cruise control to disengage. Similar problem happens when accelerating, truck will downshift from o.d. -or- 3rd gear, engine races, making simple passing on highway virutally impossible. Problem has persisted from original purchase (by us) and recently gotten worse.

5 times within the last 5 year vehicle will sputter and will die, check engine light will also come on at the same time and 4 times vehicle was towed to dealer who keeps telling consumer battery needs to be replaced. The 5th time dealer claims throttle housing needed to be cleaned but 2 months later defect has reoccured. Consumer states tireshave been rebalanced on numerouse occassions, during installation of the last set of tires, mechanic found that all four wheels/rims were bent, consumer was informed by dealership that numerous wheels had been replaced due to a manufacturer's defect, consumer also experienced transmission problems, also the id plate that is suppose to be located on the door jam has been missing since the date of purchase.

Engine stalls while driving at highway speeds. Dealer cannot determine the cause of the problem. Later the consumer was told the battery was bad, the transmission was blown out due to flat bearing also, the check light engine kept flashing. The consumer made several attempts to find an adequate dealership to fix problems. The vehicle wobbled back and forth, the consumer later discovered the wheels were flawed. The gas tank level was not operational.

Transmission is locked in 3rd gear. Previous times could cut vehicle off for 1 minute, it started it back up, and it would be fine. A normal trasmission starts off in 1st gear which vehicle starting off slowly and goes through gears, working its way up to speed. Once vehicle locks, it will move very slow. Dealer has many things, but remedy has not been found for problem. Problems has been in existence since 1996 for this vehicle.

Speedometer/odomoter will stop working intermittently. Sometimes a sharp rap above the assembly will make it work. This was repaired by dealer under warranty approximately 3 times about 4 or 5 years ago and has started occurring again. I think this is a major saftey hazard in that I do not know the speed I'm traveling when this occurs.

Transmission complaints in other Dakota years