VehicleVerdict

1997 Dodge Dakota transmission problems

The 1997 Dodge Dakota has 50 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 8% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

50

Transmission complaints

8%

Share of year

4

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Dakota transmission complaints by model year126 complaints1987: 1 complaints1988: 10 complaints1989: 15 complaints1990: 19 complaints1991: 68 complaints1992: 126 complaints1993: 23 complaints1994: 26 complaints1995: 33 complaints1996: 33 complaints1997: 50 complaints1998: 82 complaints1999: 61 complaints2000: 79 complaints2001: 99 complaints2002: 93 complaints2003: 40 complaints2004: 23 complaints2005: 83 complaints2006: 40 complaints2007: 25 complaints2008: 10 complaints2009: 6 complaints2010: 7 complaints2011: 8 complaints
Dakota transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“MY TWO YEAR OLD SUCCESSFULLY PLACED KEYS INTO IGNITION AND TURNED TO ON. THEN WITHOUT THE REQUIREMENT OF DEPRESSING THE BRAKE HE WAS ABLE TO PLACE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL. MY TRUCK ROLLED BACKWARD APPROXIMATELY 150 YARDS AND CRASHED INTO TREE. TOTAL DAMAGE OF $3500, LUCKILY NO ONE SERIOUSLY…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · September 9, 2004 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 1997 Dodge Dakota have?

NHTSA has 50 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Dakota transmission — 8% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.