IllustrationTRANSMISSION SHIFTS INADVERTENTLY OCCASIONALLY, AND OCCASIONALLY HAS DIFFICULTY UPSHIFTING.
1992 Dodge Dakota
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1992 Dodge Dakota do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 166.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Dakota years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 8 of 216 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 110 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports8 fire reports11 injury reports
What owners actually said
216 reportsAUTO-TRAN: WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, TRANSMISSION CLANKS AND JUMPS, INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, NO PICKUP IN DRIVE, JUST ROARS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT APPROX 45MPH, INTERMITTENT SHIFTING OF GEARS OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.**AK
WHILE DRIVING, AFTER INITIAL SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY OVER 45 MPH, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ON ITS OWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING HAZARDOUS DRIVING, COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.*AK
INADVERTENT MOVEMENT OF THE SHIFTER PE95-041, WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR.*AK
WHILE DRIVING THE WHEEL STUDS BROKE AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK
FAILURE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, THE BELT WILL NOT STAY ENGAGED IN THE BUCKLE.*AK
AFTER TURNING OFF IGNITION VEHICLE AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT (RADIO, ETC) CONTINUED TO RUN WITH KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, ONLY WAY TO STOP ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM EQUIPMENT WAS TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. * AK
TRANSMISSION SLIP OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, CAUGHT ON FIRE (ELECTRICAL), ALSO REPLACED RADIATOR DUE TO A LEAK. *AK
Official recalls
100V106000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Apr 11, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A500 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. INADVERTENT PLACEMENT OF THE SHIFT LEVER IN REVERSE CAN OCCUR WHEN THE DRIVER BELIEVES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN PLACED IN PARK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY WITH THE ENGINE ON AFTER THE DRIVER HAS LEFT THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEEL MANUAL VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION WITH AN ALUMINUM VERSION.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA96006 · Rollaway In Reverse When Parked
Opened May 31, 1996 · Closed Aug 10, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
PE95041 · Inadvertent Movement Of Shifter
Opened Jun 23, 1995 · Closed May 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
ODI RECEIVED AN INQUIRY REGARDING ALLEGED PARK TO REVERSE PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ON 1991 AND 1992 DODGE DAKOTA PICUP TRUCKS.THE ODI DATABASE REVEALED 11 COMPLAINTS, SEVERAL OF WHICH HAD BEEN REPORTED IN THE MONTHS JUST PRECEDING THE OPENING OF THE PE.THE CONSUMERS CLAIM THAT THEY MOVE THE VEHICLE, PLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND EXIT THE VEHICLE.THEN, ALMOST ALWAYS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE ALLEGEDLY SHIFTS INTO REVERSETHE VEHICLE THEN BEGINS TO BACK UP, USUALLY STOPPING ONLY WHEN IT HITS SOMETHING.
PE92062 · Brk Pdl Pivot Shaft Diseng
Opened Jul 6, 1992 · Closed Sep 29, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available