2000 Dodge Dakota Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 74about this part
- Share
- 9%of 806 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 60,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 74 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2000 Dodge Dakota, 9% of the 806 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 60,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“We bought a 2000 Dodge Dakota sport in january 2008. Ever since we've had it, it's RPM goes up to 3 1/2 to 4 rpms before it shift from first to second and from second to third. At first, it was when we would first leave our parking lot, and now it does it almost all the time. We bought it at kunes in delavan, wisconsin and they say that it's normal. We've never owned a vehicle or known anybody who has ever had that happened to. The truck only has 67,000 miles on it. If this is normal why is it getting worse the more we drive it.”
NHTSA complaint #10225279, filed 2008-04, 64,000 miles“Front drive axel, left mount broke. Dodge has a TSB # 889 issued on aug 2000, regarding this. This TSB covers the front axel pinnion nose bracket bolts which may losen. These loose pinnion bracket bolts cancan cause the bracket to break off. In addition a customer satisfaction notification was issued to replace bracket bolts. At this time Dodge is talking about $3,400 for repair at my cost. Otherwise I'm still work on resolving this issue. Vehical has 52,000 miles on odometer with less than 50 miles on front drive axel”
NHTSA complaint #10073174, filed 2004-05, 52,000 miles“2000 Dodge Dakota quadcab - I was going forward in my driveway when I stopped the truck and put it in park , engine still running. I got out of the truck and after about 15 seconds it engaged itself in reverse. It smashed through a gate and I got injured when I got caught between the gate and the left front fender of the truck. When the truck stopped I got in and still found it indicating in park . The driveway was level. I have since been able to duplicate the condition with the gear shift just slightly out of park , particularly with a cold engine.”
NHTSA complaint #10000865, filed 2003-01, 16,647 miles“Bad rust issue to areas including front and rear bumber, the entire bed including mounting points, fenders, cab corners and frame. Lost fender flare twice due to rust and almost caused an accident the entire bed slid back and almost fell off and fenders and bumbers are basically rust and need replaced, wheel wells on bed are falling apart causing a safety issue if I haul anything”
NHTSA complaint #11129717, filed 2018-09, 130,000 miles“I stopped the truck and put in the park position, I then came out of the truck, closed the door and the truck started to move in the reverse direction, I ran after the truck to see if I could stop it but the reverse speed was to fast for me and the truck hit the tree damaging the rear bumper and I fell back injuring my back. Checked the position of the shift after above incident to see the pointer position above r . I tried several times to duplicate the same symptom without any success. This I know for certain you can not get out of the truck when it is in reverse.”
NHTSA complaint #10014412, filed 2003-04, 50,000 milesRelated recalls
- 00V197000Jul 17, 2000Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with 4.7l engine and automatic transmissions. The automatic transmission may expel fluid from the fill tube during…Covers: Dodge Dakota 2000
Related service bulletins
- 10181452May 11, 2016Radiator If vehicle comes in for transmission fluid leaking from trans-oil cooler fittings on the radiator, please perform the following before replacing the radiator/cooler:~ 1…
- 10136906Jan 30, 2014Part Description: Seal - Shift Shaft on RFE transmissions Issue Description: This seal (04799346) is replaceable with Seal Kit (68235551AA), which includes a seal and retainer…
- 10017000Sep 1, 200545rfe/545rfe trans - delayed engagement due to cooler return filter replacement.
Transmission 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 2000 Dodge Dakota
282 complaintsBrakes
263 complaintsSteering
68 complaintsEngine cooling
50 complaintsAir bags
29 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
25 complaintsTires
24 complaintsElectrical system
21 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
16 complaintsFuel system
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsWheels
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2000 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