Table 1 shows 16 common power train related problems of the 1997 Dodge Dakota. The number one most common problem is related to the automatic transmission (nine problems). The second most common problem is related to the transmission failure (three problems).
My ball joints and tie rods were going bad at 54,000 miles. Dodge would not do anything about the problem. Also, my transmission started to go bad at 74,000 miles. 2nd gear went out, then it went completely out at 91,000 miles. Obviously Dodge wasn't going to do anything about it. Read details...
Transmission failure at 50,000 miles. Transmission began to bog down while driving about 40 mph. After about 5 minutes it would only go about 5 mph while reving about 3500 rpm. Paid for tow to Dodge dealer in hampton va for analysis and repair. Read details...
Going down the road at 55 mph and all of a sudden I hit a pothole and the passenger side tire came right off , it is the same problem as the 2000 - 2003's have. We have pictures of it to prove it . The upper and lower ball joints let loose the cv shaft pulled out and the shock got bent. Read details...