81 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Dodge Dakota cite power train, 17% of all 470 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.
“*Incomplete Recall Status* ***Defect in transfer case*** Complaint of Manufacturer Defect in 2005 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab 4x4 3.7l v6. While driving at a speed of 30mph on a smooth paved highway and selector switch turned to 2 wheel drive mode; out of nowhere, the transfer case tried to engage 4 High which resulted in SVC 4X4 warning lamp illumination and a loud grinding/stuttering sound from under carriage as well as halting me to 10 mph without any help from me. after pulling over on the roadside and putting truck in park and turning the engine off, i waited a couple of minutes and SVC 4X4 indicator and 4High dash light had gone. I restarted the truck only to find that the SVC 4X4 Warning lamp immediately returned and now the 4lo illuminated dash light is constantly showing and truck is still showing in 2 wheel drive with selector switch but 4x4 will not engage at all now. Took to a mechanic shop 1/2 mile down the road and had it read for any DTCs and inspected. Code came back as C1404. Transfer case still tries to engage as soon as truck door is opened and dome light comes on. SVC 4X4 warning indicator stays on the dash lit up and 4lo warning light flashes non…”
“WHILE DRIVING ON I-635 NORTHBOUND AT AROUND 25 TO 30 MPH WITH 4X4 ACTIVATED ON A SINGLE LINE AVAILABLE SINCE IT WAS CLEARED AND SALTED. WITHOUT WARNING I WAS THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT VEERED RIGHT HARD AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ALMOST CRASHING ONTO THE METAL BEAM ALONG THE HIGHWAY. I WENT PAST THE SHOULDER AND DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF HILL, BUT THANKFULLY VEHICLE DIDN'T TURN OFF. I HAD TO SWITCH OFF 4X4 AND BACK ON AND WAS ABLE TO CLIMB UP DESPITE THE SNOW BACK TO THE HIGHWAY WITH NO FURTHER REOCCURRENCE. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN THIS HAPPENED MY PASSENGER SEAT WENT FORWARD AND IS NOW STUCK AND I BROKE LEVER TRYING TO BRING IT BACK FROM FRONT RECLINING. BECAUSE OF THE ROUGH TERRAIN THE REAR QUARTER PANELS WHERE THE WAS SOME RUST HAVE CRACKED”
“WHILE TRUCK IS SITTING IN PARK NO KEYS IN IT, OBVIOUSIY NOT RUNNING YOU CAN HEAR THE 4WD ACTIVATING, ALSO WHEN DRIVING IN 2WD THE 4WD LIGHT STARTS TO FLASH TRYING TO ENGAGE.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START OR PARK WITH THE GEAR SHIFTER IN THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY ABLE TO START OR PARK WHEN PLACED IN NEUTRAL. NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH CHAPMAN LAS VEGAS DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM LOCATED AT (3175 E SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV 89104) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.”
“CAME TO A STOP BEHIND 2 VEHICLES IN LEFT TURN LANE. WHEN TRAFFIC LIGHT GREEN ARROW CAME AND ACCELERATED THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND TRUCK WOULD NOT MOVE. CAR BEHIND SKIDDED TO A STOP TO AVOID TRUCK. TRIED REVERSE AND DRIVE WITH NO AFFECT THEN LOOKING UNDER TRUCK THER WAS REAR DIFFERENTIAL OIL PUDDLING UNDER CENTER PUMPKIN. GROUP OF PEOPLE HELPED PUSHED TRUCK INTO LOT BACKWARDS SINCE WOULD ROLL FORWARD. TOWED BACK TO WORK AND INSPECTED NEXT DAY 8/3/19 AND PINION NUT HAD BACKED OFF. PULLED DIFF COVER AND FOUND SEVERAL CHUNKS OF METAL FROM DAMAGE. BUILD DATE 08/04 152,000 MILES WITH 9 1/4 REAREND. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE RAM 1500 WITH SAME REAR END AND WITHIN THIS BUILD DATE. WOULD NOT THE DAKOTA ALSO BE INCLUDED? L”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE INDICATOR INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. DURING THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. ALSO, AFTER REMOVING THE IGNITION KEY, THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE ACTUATOR WOULD REMAIN ACTIVE. EVENTUALLY, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS RESET. AFTER RESETTING THE TRANSMISSION, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION ERRONEOUSLY SWITCHED INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND CAUSED THE SPEED TO REDUCE TO 10 MPH. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.”
Showing 6 of 81 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 42RLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE CUP PLUG THAT RETAINS THE PARK PAWL ANCHOR SHAFT MAY BE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. IF THE SHAFT MOVES OUT OF POSITION, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE 'PARK' POSITION.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.