1991 Dodge Dakota Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe automatic-transmission problems: the truck rolling while the selector reads Park, delayed or sudden engagement when shifting, and unexpected downshifts. Many of these reports were filed around the 2000 transmission shift-lever recall, including owners who say the truck shifted poorly after the repair or who could not get the work done. A smaller but recurring group of complaints concerns fuel lines rubbing through and leaking.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Rolls or moves while in Park / delayed reverse engagement

   • 54 complaints (42%)
   • median 97,500 mi at 22.4 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2017

   Owners describe leaving the truck in Park, sometimes on level ground with the parking brake set, and finding it has moved backward or forward, in some cases striking a wall or another vehicle. Others report that after selecting Reverse the truck does nothing for many seconds and then engages abruptly. Several of these reports involve trucks that had already received the transmission shift-lever recall repair, and a number of owners say the dealer could not perform the recall because parts or a special tool were unavailable. Reported across a wide mileage range, from trucks around 75,000 miles to over 120,000 miles; no clear seasonal pattern in the sample.

   Recall 00V106000

   What to check: Confirm on a vehicle history or dealer record that recall 00V106000 (transmission manual valve / shift lever) was completed. Test that Park holds on a slope, and check that Reverse engages promptly rather than after a pause.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving home, one block from home, vehicle suddenly down shifted and went into reverse.. Luckely I had the presence of mind to immediately slam on the brakes, which prevented my head from hitting the windshield, I also weight 200 pounds which could also be a factor, I contacted chrysler customer assistence center and imformed of my poblem and that I had a recall notification #871 concerning a transmission blocking valve failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #733814, filed 2000-10

   “Consumer received a recall notification concerning the replacement of the steel manual valve, however consumer was informed that since the vehicle has over a hundred thousand miles on the transmission, in order for the recall repairs to be effective the transmission would need to be rebuilt at consumers expense, consumer feels this is just an excuse in case of a product failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #563618, filed 2001-10
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Unexpected downshifts and hesitation under acceleration

   • 36 complaints (28%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 26.9 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2017

   Complaints describe the automatic transmission dropping a gear without warning while cruising, with engine speed rising and the truck slowing; one owner reported it going from second to first. Others note a lag between pressing the accelerator and the truck moving, and hesitation when pulling away in hot weather. Some owners link these symptoms to work done under the transmission recall. Mileage is not stated in most of these reports; symptoms appear during normal driving at highway and lower speeds, with one mention of hot ambient temperatures.

   Recall 00V106000

   What to check: Drive the truck at steady highway speed and watch for uncommanded gear changes or slipping; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced and whether the recall work included the manual valve.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Abs found flashing code 7,performedppt, found module bad.( check safety recall f05) when performing recall a/t manual valve , found discoloration in transmission fluid possible cooler restriction is a major factor in condition .. Tech told this customer this is a major problem with this transmission truck only has 75000 actual mile...”

   NHTSA complaint #11052471, filed 2017-12, 75,000 miles

   “After recall repair 00v-106 the transmission would not shift into overdrive and caused the water pump to fail, the vehicle never had transmission trouble until the recall repair was done. Nlm”

   NHTSA complaint #559700, filed 2001-02
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel lines rubbing through and leaking

   • 5 complaints (4%)
   • typically at 7.5 yrs old
   • filed 1996–2003

   Owners report gasoline lines wearing against the frame, crossmembers, cab floor or firewall until a hole forms and fuel leaks out, sometimes near hot exhaust or catalytic converter parts. In a related report the parking brake cable rubs the catalytic converter and corrodes. Repairs described include replacing the affected line or hose. Reports span the 1990s and 2000s with mileage rarely stated; conditions tied to routing and contact points rather than age or climate.

   Recall 90V176000

   What to check: Look along the frame rails and firewall for fuel lines chafing on metal edges, and check for a fuel smell after driving. Ask whether recall 90V176000 on fuel hose routing was performed.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The fuel line rubs against underside of the cab, causing a hole in the fuel line. The fuel is squirting out in the direction of the catalytic converter. The problem has not been corrected.”

   NHTSA complaint #822814, filed 1998-04
4. 4
   Steering

   Steering rack and pinion leaks and steering loss

   • 17 complaints (13%)
   • typically at 5.8 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2008

   Owners report fluid leaking from the rack-and-pinion area and, in some cases, power steering loss or a locked-feeling wheel; several had the rack replaced. Related complaints describe wires in the tilt-wheel column chafing and cutting power to lights or the whole vehicle, and one owner received a steering wheel recall notice that a dealer declined to perform. Mostly reported on trucks of this age with mileage not stated; one owner describes steering locking up while driving into a parking lot.

   Recall 95V089000

   What to check: Look for fluid weeping at the steering rack boots and check power steering assist at low speed in both directions. Ask whether the steering wheel recall 95V089000 was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Main wiring harness at tilt wheel: tilting the steering wheel has severed large guage electrical wires leading to the main electrical bus on two occasions. The first instance, the wire providing power to the headlights was broken and all lights were loss, and the second instance the wire providing ignition broke and killed power to the entire vehicle. Both times the vehicle could not be driven.”

   NHTSA complaint #541680, filed 1998-09

   “Consumer attempted to put key into ignition and it would not go in. Consumer noticed that steering was upside down, and that was why. Consumer contacted dealer, but couldnot bring vehicle in to repair shop because would not start. Consumer indicated that 8 years ago steering locked up, and had to go straight into a parking lot. Could have had an accident. Owner later found the problem to be a dead battery. Once battery was replaced, problem solved.”

   NHTSA complaint #864580, filed 2000-06

Buying note. On a truck this old, the transmission is the item to scrutinize: verify the shift-lever recall was actually done and that Park holds and gears engage promptly. Also inspect fuel and brake line routing along the frame and firewall for rubbing, and check for steering fluid leaks.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.