Two problems related to driveshaft have been reported for the 2005 Dodge Dakota. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Rear wheels locked up after pulling onto roadway from a grade and turning left. Accelerated to approx. 25 mph to enter roadway, heard loud bang and felt vehicle shudder. Drive shaft separated from rear differential, rear wheels would not move; vehicle stopped in middle of 35 mph roadway. Metal shaft appears sheared off. Used 4x4 mode to power front wheels to pull onto shoulder. Had I been merging onto highway my truck could have stopped without warning, potentially causing a serious accident. Vehicle removed by flatbed tow - again rear wheels would not roll. Vehicle serviced regularly including rear differential pinion seal replaced on 11/5/10 and again on11/29/13 by Dodge dealer. 2005 Dodge Dakota laramie 4x4 quad cab with tow package; very little towing performed over vehicle life.
I have taken the 2005 Dodge Dakota 4x4 back to the dealer for repair on July 24, 2006. Service technician stated that the problem could not be duplicated. No repairs were made to the vehicle. 1) buzzing noise when shifting into drive also in reverse. 2) transmission slips in drive and reverse when going up a steep incline. The transmission is not downshifting to a lower gear when driving up a hill, have to put transmission in 2nd gear to drive up a steep hill. 3) truck has to come almost to a complete stop before transmission downshifts into 1st gear. 4) after the truck has been driven for a while, there is a metallic "clanking" noise coming from the transmission shifting gears. 5) the front axles (driveshafts) are making a grinding noise when executing a sharp turn with the steering wheel. 6) when in park with the truck turned off there is a lot of play in the steering wheel, it will not lock into place when the key is removed.