Three problems related to transmission failure have been reported for the 1997 Dodge Dakota. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
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. Tow operator remarked almost all Dodge Dakotas towed for tranny work ended up costing $2300-$2900 for a replacement. I was lucky and only had to replace all pressure regulating valves for about $670 (funny how they all went bad at the same time but I would not argue the point since the parts were cheap compared to doing it over in a few months). Dealer indicated this was a years old problem which was common to replace these transmissions and that my $600 repair was not guaranteed to prevent total failure. Dodge has not agreed to any recall to fix but should do this. Therefore, I will never own another Dodge or Chrysler of any sort. Upper and lower ball joints also failed at under 50,000 miles and no repair recall on this long standing problem as well. Subject on another complaint.
We purchased a 1997 Dodge truck in oct. 1996. Thhe transmission failed at 42000 miles. We were told by both our local south carolina dealer and by ed murdock where we bought the vehicle that Chrysler would not stand behind the transmission due to our warranty being up at 36000 miles. We called the 800 # to chryslers complaint line and were told the same thing. We had our truck repaired at a local independent garageand only then did we discover that our truck had a 1998 prototype transmission in it. Parts were ordered from atlanta that would not fit our 1997 Dodge Dakota because of the prototype transmission and had to be returned and reordered from detroit. Ala in all we were without our truck for 29 days while this mess was sorted out. We would have never purchased a truck with a prototype asian transmission in it if we had been told. Thhe ed murdock dealership refuses to reimburse us for our expences, Chrysler says that they will not because it is out of warranty. Someone should have to make this right because not only were we misled in our purchase but any transmission should be expected to perform longer than 42000 miles. We want to be reimbursed for the work done and our expense for a rental car during the length of time that we were sorting this mess out and still having to go on with our daily routine. No one seems to want to stand behind thhe Chrysler products from the manufacturer to the one who sells them. Thank you in advance for your help , I have sent several other letters and if you can tell me of someone else to write I would appreciate it. Thanks, renee mcabee.
On 2/27/2000 I filed a complaint with NHTSA. My problem being my transmissiom will not engage properly. When it is shifted from park to drive the vechicle may hesitate and not move then violently slam into gear. On one occasion my neice setting in the back seat head was slammed into the rear window glass as the vechicle lurched forward. I have a video tape of the transmission failing to properly engauge. I was able to reach in the back seat take the camera out of the case insert the battery film and shoot a video of the truck setting in gear then violently lurching forward. The dealer service manager said on the service order "cannot duplicate sitition. I showed him the video and he admitted I have a problem but he couldnt help me because Chrysler would not reimburse him.