1992 Dodge DAKOTA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
156 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
112,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 63 of 156 complaints (40.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 58 | 37.2% |
| Braking behavior | 19 | 12.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 5.1% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 3.8% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 2.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 63 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl) | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Power Train | 5 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 63; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl): 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift: 6; Electrical System: 5; Power Train: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 3
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 148 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 32 |
| 1996 | 58 |
| 2000 | 35 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
1995: 32; 1996: 58; 2000: 35; 2001: 9; 2002: 6; 2003: 7; 2004: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 2; 2012: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 58 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10009825 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
THE VEHICLE LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LEAK WAS NOT RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION RECALL. *NLM THE VEHICLE LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID. DEALER STATED THAT THE LEAK WAS NOT RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011247 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN REVERSE. THE DRIVER THOUGHT THE KEY WAS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION BUT IT WAS NOT. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WENT TO PULL THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION WHEN IT SUDDENLY STARTED AND RAN OVER HER. THE DRIVER SUSTAIN 2 BROKEN BONES IN HER RIGHT LEG AND A BROKEN COLLAR BONE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES A CLUTCH SAFETY SWITCH SHOULD BE INSTALLED. *NLM *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011743 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE DEALER ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO THE OVER DRIVE CONTROL FEATURE. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 29,628 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017874 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION RECALL WAS DONE IN JUNE 2000. SINCE THEN, THE VEHICLE HAD TO WARM UP FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. *JB PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017875 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)
ON DAYS OVER 90 DEGREE TEMPERATURE THE ENGINE WILL REV VERY LOUD AT FIRST START, WHILE VEHICLE WILL BARELY MOVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAN CLUTCH TWICE AND REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER THE REMEDIES DID NOT HELP. *JB THIS PROBLEM HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHILE AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, WHEN DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS THEN KICK INTO NORMAL SPEED, MAKE NOISE, AND THEN STOP. *SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019329 · 2003-05-07 (May 7, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A VIBRATION . WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. THE MECHANIC STATED THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS FAILED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019329 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022112 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND STILL RUNNING WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF PARK AND ROLLED BACK INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEIHICLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022112 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062289 · 2004-03-15 (March 15, 2004)
THE PAINT IS PEELILING OFF. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED AND THEY SIAD THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST THEY HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS AND SAID WE HAD TO PAY FOR IT OURSELVES. NOW THE MAJORITY OF THE PAINT IS GONE AND RUSTING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062289 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V106000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
Reported: 2000-04-11 (April 11, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A500 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. INADVERTENT PLACEMENT OF THE SHIFT LEVER IN REVERSE CAN OCCUR WHEN THE DRIVER BELIEVES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN PLACED IN PARK.
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY WITH THE ENGINE ON AFTER THE DRIVER HAS LEFT THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEEL MANUAL VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION WITH AN ALUMINUM VERSION.
NHTSA campaign record ↗