Problems · by component

1998 Dodge Dakota power train problems

74 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Dodge Dakota cite power train, 13% of all 557 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
74
13% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE EMINE WILL DIE AMYTIME! GOING AROUND CORMERS LOR ON EXPRESSWAY SITTING IN DRIVEWAY IDLING. MY FAMILY HAS HAD THIS VEHICLE SINE 1999. THIS JUST STARTED 6 MONTHS AGO. UP UNTIL THEN IT NEVER HAPPENED. REPLACED SEVERAL SENSORS (TPS,IAC,MAP,COOLANT TEMP AND ALSO COMPUTER)SO FAR NOTHING FIXES IT. I KNOW DODGE KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND SO DO YOU!!! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE THERE ARE TOO MANY DAKOTA/DURANGOS ON THE ROAD I AM SURPRISED NO ONE HAS DIED OR AT VERY LEAST BEEN HURT BADLY. I KNOW IT GOES ON IN EARLIER DAKOTAS AND LATER OF BOTH NOT SURE IF IT EVER WAS FIXED SINCE OLD BODYSTYLE ENDED IN 2004. HAPPWNED FIRST TIME ABOUT FEB.1,2018. AFRAID TO DRIVE IT FOR FEAR OF DYING OR BADLY HURT BECAUSE IT DIES ANYWHERE ANYTIME INCLUDING RUSH HOUR TRFFIC IN TULSA OK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 30, 2018Power train, EngineODI 11114557
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE BALL JOINTS HAVE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND ALSO HAS A VERY NOISY LIFTER IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DRIFTS IN AND OUT OF LANES AT ANY SPEED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HE WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S MODEL, BUT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 03/14/08. *LJ THE SHIFTER DIDN OT STAY IN PARK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 20, 2007Suspension, Power trainODI 10209566
“WE WERE JUST DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT (A COUPLE OF JERKS AND THEN NO ACCELERATION ABILITY). WE WERE ALMOST KILLED BY A SEMI WHO ALMOST RAN INTO US WHEN WE SUDDENLY AND DRASTICALLY SLOWED AND HADN'T BRAKED AND HE COULDN'T MOVE TO ANOTHER LANE BECAUSE OF OTHER TRUCKS IN THAT LANE. OUR 98 GRAND CARAVAN HAS ONLY 79K MILES ON IT AND THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, (THOUGH I THINK THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPAIRED RATHER THAN REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1000 AND JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS PAST THE YEAR WARRANTY). NOW WE FIND THAT IT WILL BE $3000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAVE IT SERVICED REGULARLY AT THE DODGE DEALER. WE HAVE ALSO HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED TWICE (ONCE WHEN THE FIRST TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS MIS-DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY BATTERY). ALL WORK HAS BEEN OR IS BEING DONE BY THE DODGE DEALER. NOW I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS MODEL. WHY ISN'T DODGE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS INSTEAD OF GOUGING THE PUBLIC (NOT TO MENTION PUTTING US IN DANGER)?*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 5, 2005Power trainODI 10144516
“BALL JOINTS FAILED, PASSENGERS SIDE CAME LOOSE AND THE WHEEL FEEL OFF AND THE TRANSMISSON HAD TO BE REBUILT DUE TO CHEAP INTERNAL PARTS. BUT IF YOU OWN A 98 DODGE DAKOTA HAVE YOUR BALL JOINTS CHECKED THEY ARE A HAZARD AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED, IF THEY ALREADY HAVE NOT.... *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 11, 2005Suspension, Power trainODI 10142475
“LOUD REAR AXLE NOISE....BROUGHT TO DEALER.........REPLACED PINION AND CARRIER BEARINGS IN AXLE.......CAUSE WAS BECAUSE MAUFACTURER CHANGED TOW CAPACITY ON RT'S AFTER OWNERS MANUAL WAS PUBLISHED....I BOUGHT USED TRUCK AT 40,000 MILES AND HAS NO IDEA IT COULD ONLY TOW 2,000 LBS VRS OWNERS MANUAL SAID 6,000...AN 8CYL TRUCK AND CAN'T TOE BOAT.....HOW WEEK FOR DODOGE!*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 19, 2005Power trainODI 10110799
“LOUD REAR AXLE NOISE....BROUGHT TO DEALER.........REPLACED PINION AND CARRIER BEARINGS IN AXLE.......CAUSE WAS BECAUSE MAUFACTURER CHANGED TOW CAPACITY ON RT'S AFTER OWNERS MANUAL WAS PUBLISHED....I BOUGHT USED TRUCK AT 40,000 MILES AND HAS NO IDEA IT COULD ONLY TOW 2,000 LBS VRS OWNERS MANUAL SAID 6,000...AN 8CYL TRUCK AND CAN'T TOE BOAT.....HOW WEEK FOR DODOGE!*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 19, 2005Power trainODI 10110800

Showing 6 of 74 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.