2005 Dodge Dakota Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2005 Dodge Dakota, 17% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 85,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “transfer case” (12% of reports).
- 81power train complaints
- 85,000median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 38%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Transfer case: mentioned in 10 of 81 complaints (12%)
- Four wheel: mentioned in 7 of 81 complaints (9%)
- Svc 4WD: mentioned in 5 of 81 complaints (6%)
- Selector switch: mentioned in 5 of 81 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 69 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 81 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury.
Dodge Dakota power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Dakota | 8 | 18% | 28,455 |
| 2010 Dakota | 7 | 20% | 65,000 |
| 2009 Dakota | 6 | 33% | 50,000 |
| 2008 Dakota | 10 | 11% | 57,000 |
| 2007 Dakota | 24 | 17% | 39,000 |
| 2006 Dakota | 36 | 13% | 50,000 |
| 2005 Dakota | 81 | 17% | 85,000 |
| 2004 Dakota | 19 | 9% | 34,000 |
| 2003 Dakota | 38 | 13% | 12,500 |
| 2002 Dakota | 89 | 13% | 50,000 |
| 2001 Dakota | 93 | 14% | 56,982 |
| 2000 Dakota | 74 | 9% | 60,000 |
| 1999 Dakota | 56 | 9% | 92,000 |
| 1998 Dakota | 74 | 14% | 79,000 |
| 1997 Dakota | 46 | 10% | 53,990 |
| 1996 Dakota | 28 | 15% | — |
| 1995 Dakota | 27 | 13% | 49,330 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: 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.
Risk: If this occurs and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may roll away and cause a crash without warning.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the transmissions and install a bracket to ensure the park pawl anchor shaft is retained in the proper position. The recall began on november 28, 2005. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
*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…
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…
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.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2005 Dodge Dakotas have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 81 owner complaints about power train for the 2005 Dodge Dakota (17% of the 470 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Dodge Dakota power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 85,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2005 Dodge Dakota?
The most frequent phrase is “transfer case”, in 10 of 81 complaints, followed by “four wheel” (7).
Other 2005 Dodge Dakota problems
See all 2005 Dodge Dakota problems or power train problems across all Dakota years.