Ok i‘m thinking about buying a 1997 to 2004 Dodge Dakota and I want a Manual Transmission but they are kinda hard to find in 4x4 So how good are the Automatic Transmission in them? What are stronger and more durable the Automatic or Manual Transmission?
I tell you, it seems that just about every car manufacturer is making crappy transmissions these days. One of the problems is that most of the inner parts are not made by the car companies themselves, but instead made by 3rd party manufacturers at a discount, lower price to save money. Ive been seeing people having problems with Dodge transmissions, Ford Transmissions, Hondas, you name it. And the bad thing is the cost of transmission repair is probably the most expensive type of repair for a vehicle today. Theoretically manual transmissions are stronger and last longer, but then again you have to consider that you have a clutch that can wear out and give you problems. With all that being said, just check the car out real good. Look at the transmission fluid, does it look clean? No shavings on the dipstick? The fluid should be a reddish color. Drive the truck, if you notice anything odd about how it shifts just leave it sit-dont buy it. If it shifts ok and the fluid looks good then you probably will be ok buying it.
I have a 1992 Dodge Dakota RWD with V8 and Automatic Trans. While I have to admit I had the tranny replaced 3 years ago, the current one is doing fine and has 35,000 miles on it. I had a re-manufactured tranny put in. The tranny was from Hughes Performance. It has been extremely solid so far and I beat on it every day and I also race the truck on the weekends. Now, I have to tell you it was not cheap. A re-man tranny cost the same as a new one ( about $2000 ). But I trust Hughes Performance they have been in the transmission business for 30 years.
up until about 99-04 some of the dodge transmissions in the trucks and cars did have some problems but not all of them did,a lot of it had to do with how they was treated and how well they was maintained and who owned them how they drove them, i own several dodges and have only had to replace two transmissions in them,and i knew one was bad when i was buying it,but they all wasn't junk like most people say,if you take care of them and have the fluid and filter change when you should it will last as long as any other transmission will,the manual shift is a better choice though and the Dakota is a real good little truck for what it is,most people that buy them over work them and that's what causes a lot of the problems ,they think because its a dodge it will never tear up,truth is they do tear up and most of it is due to the owners not the trucks,i have drove dodges for around 35 years and in all that time only had to replace 4 transmission ,not bad for that long,if you can find manual shift though its a better option to have,good luck
