1997 Dodge Dakota Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 46about this part
- Share
- 10%of 446 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 53,980miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 46 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1997 Dodge Dakota, 10% of the 446 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 53,980 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My ball joints and tie rods were going bad at 54,000 miles. Dodge would not do anything about the problem. Also, my transmission started to go bad at 74,000 miles. 2nd gear went out, then it went completely out at 91,000 miles. Obviously Dodge wasn't going to do anything about it. I wont buy another Dodge again.”
NHTSA complaint #10220369, filed 2008-03, 54,000 miles“Without warning, just after exiting a freeway, the rear wheels of my 1997 Dodge Dakota truck, locked up. I was stuck in traffic and was not able to move. Tow truck arrived , and advised that the rear axle had locked-up. This truck has only 52,423 miles.”
NHTSA complaint #10028366, filed 2003-07, 52,423 miles“Going down the road at 55 MPH and all of a sudden I hit a pothole and the passenger side tire came right off , it is the same problem as the 2000 - 2003's have. We have pictures of it to prove it . The upper and lower ball joints let loose the cv shaft pulled out and the shock got bent. The tire turned on its side while the truck was sliding down the road sideways and I was unable to control how the truck was going. The only thing holding the tire on the truck was the brake line. …”
NHTSA complaint #10102620, filed 2004-12, 94,255 miles“Transmission failure at 50,000 miles. Transmission began to bog down while driving about 40 MPH. After about 5 minutes it would only go about 5 MPH while reving about 3500 RPM. Paid for tow to Dodge dealer in hampton va for analysis and repair. Tow operator remarked almost all Dodge dakotas towed for tranny work ended up costing $2300-$2900 for a replacement. I was lucky and only had to replace all pressure regulating valves for about $670 (funny how they all went bad at the same time but I would not argue the point since the parts were cheap compared to doing it over in a few months). …”
NHTSA complaint #10214613, filed 2008-01, 51,000 miles“Car lost power and locked up while driving. Check engine light came on. Scanner showed code p0740; torque converter problem. Had to overhaul transmission and replace the torque converter.”
NHTSA complaint #10453604, filed 2012-03, 137,141 milesTransmission 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 1997 Dodge Dakota
142 complaintsBrakes
73 complaintsEngine cooling
49 complaintsFuel system
38 complaintsAir bags
37 complaintsSteering
34 complaintsSeats
22 complaintsElectrical system
17 complaintsTires
16 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaintsVehicle speed control
12 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Dodge Dakota
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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