1989 Dodge Dakota Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 19%of 63 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 105,980miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1989 Dodge Dakota, 19% of the 63 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 105,980 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When switching from 4h to 2h on 89 Dodge Dakota on floor shifter it takes a few minutes to engage and when it does it jars the vehicle to a side jerking the steering wheel to the right suddenly.”
NHTSA complaint #10184459, filed 2007-03, 105,980 miles“The contact stated while placing the vehicle into park, the gear shifts into reverse or if parked on an incline will roll down a hill. The transmission will not properly lock into the parking gear. No examination or repairs were made. There was a NHTSA recall # 00v106000 regarding powertrain: automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl). The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the VIN.”
NHTSA complaint #10171732, filed 2006-10, 144,000 miles“The truck was in park , leaving the engine idling and got out to open the garage door. Upon turning around the truck was moving backwards out the driveway. Running to catch vehicle before it reached the street, driver opened the door and tried to enter vehicle. Driver wa sknocked to the pavement. Vehicle proceeded across the street and headwd to main entranc eof hospital. Runnin gover cement parking stops or the curb turned fron twheels truck made a circle and landed back out on the street. …”
NHTSA complaint #506449, filed 1998-06“Vehicle jumped out of park to reverse by itself and ran over and killed the owner.same occurrence last fall and the vehicle by itself hit a bldg.details.”
NHTSA complaint #986119, filed 1996-06Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 8 | 18% |
| 2010 | 7 | 20% |
| 2009 | 6 | 33% |
| 2008 | 10 | 11% |
| 2007 | 24 | 17% |
| 2006 | 36 | 13% |
| 2005 | 81 | 17% |
| 2004 | 19 | 9% |
| 2003 | 38 | 13% |
| 2002 | 89 | 13% |
| 2001 | 93 | 14% |
| 2000 | 74 | 9% |
| 1999 | 56 | 9% |
| 1998 | 74 | 14% |
| 1997 | 46 | 10% |
| 1996 | 28 | 15% |
| 1995 | 27 | 13% |
| 1994 | 25 | 15% |
| 1993 | 20 | 15% |
| 1992 | 110 | 51% |
| 1991 | 60 | 47% |
| 1990 | 14 | 22% |
| 1989 | 12 | 19% |
| 1988 | 10 | 18% |
| 1987 | 1 | 5% |
Other parts of the 1989 Dodge Dakota
19 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsEngine cooling
8 complaintsElectrical system
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsTires
4 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaintsEquipment
2 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1989 Dodge Dakota
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology