*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 which resulted in SVC 4X4 warning lamp illumination and a loud grinding/stuttering sound from under carriage as well as halting me to 10 mph without any help from me. after pulling over on the roadside and putting truck in park and turning the engine off, i waited a couple of minutes and SVC 4X4 indicator and 4High dash light had gone. I restarted the truck only to find that the SVC 4X4 Warning lamp immediately returned and now the 4lo illuminated dash light is constantly showing and truck is still showing in 2 wheel drive with selector switch but 4x4 will not engage at all now. Took to a mechanic shop 1/2 mile down the road and had it read for any DTCs and inspected. Code came back as C1404. Transfer case still tries to engage as soon as truck door is opened and dome light comes on. SVC 4X4 warning indicator stays on the dash lit up and 4lo warning light flashes non stop. Manufacturers communication letter has been sent to dealerships for the proper installation steps of the transfer case on the model of my truck due to improper positioning. I have noticed no Recall but have found a Campaign ID listed for this issue. I've owned this truck for only DAYS now with the intention of presenting it to daughter for her 16th birthday next month and now there's a BIG concern here for safety and the fact that a recall hasn't been issued is crazy!....it's completely absurd and should be escalated immediately until a consumer resolution is made. This truck is NOT safe at all with this defect by manufacturer transfer case! I am demanding that this faulty part be investigated and taken considerable responsibility for just for the amount of time allowed to pass!!

- Sweetwater, TN, USA

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 the shoulder and down to the bottom of hill, but thankfully vehicle didn't turn off. I had to switch off 4X4 and back on and was able to climb up despite the snow back to the highway with no further reoccurrence. Unfortunately when this happened my passenger seat went forward and is now stuck and I broke lever trying to bring it back from front reclining. Because of the rough terrain the rear quarter panels where the was some rust have cracked

- Kansas City, MO, USA

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.

- Dubois, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start or park with the gear shifter in the park position. The vehicle was only able to start or park when placed in neutral. No warning light was illuminated. The contact spoke with chapman las vegas Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram located at (3175 E sahara ave, las vegas, nv 89104) and was informed that the vehicle was not subjected to a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

- North Las Vegas, NV, USA

Came to a stop behind 2 vehicles in left turn lane. When traffic light green arrow came and accelerated there was a loud bang and truck would not move. Car behind skidded to a stop to avoid truck. Tried reverse and drive with no affect then looking under truck ther was rear differential oil puddling under center pumpkin. Group of people helped pushed truck into lot backwards since would roll forward. Towed back to work and inspected next day 8/3/19 and pinion nut had backed off. Pulled diff cover and found several chunks of metal from damage. Build date 08/04 152,000 miles with 9 1/4 rearend. Apparently there was a recall on the Ram 1500 with same rear end and within this build date. Would not the Dakota also be included? L

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. While operating the vehicle, the service 4 wheel drive indicator intermittently illuminated. During the failure, the vehicle could not be driven in 4 wheel drive. Also, after removing the ignition key, the 4 wheel drive actuator would remain active. Eventually, the transmission failed and was reset. After resetting the transmission, the vehicle operated normally. While driving 60 mph, the transmission erroneously switched into 4 wheel drive and caused the speed to reduce to 10 mph. The failures were not diagnosed or repaired. An unknown dealer was notified. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 130,000.

- Lincoln, MO, USA

Service 4WD light keeps coming on and I was watching it and notice the 4 low light blinked on once. Nothing seems to be wrong with the transfer case but I think it wanting to go into 4WD on its own. The serv 4WD light stays on at times and other times after awhile it will go off but later come back on.

- Quincy, IL, USA

Approximately two weeks ago from this complaint, while driving the aforementioned vehicle (2005 Dodge Dakota) during normal, summer time road conditions, writer noticed that the "svc 4WD" warning indicator light illuminated. Light remained illuminated for approximately 3 miles before turning off. Light didn't illuminate again until Sunday, 09/09/2018. When unlocking the vehicle using the vehicle's remote unlock on the key, writer noticed a sound that sounded like the vehicle engaging the four wheel drive mechanisms. Writer started the vehicle, noted that the vehicle was not in four wheel drive, and the service light was not illuminated. During the course of this week, the service light has intermittently illuminated on occasion, remaining on for a short period of time, then turns off. Today, 09/14/2018, when leaving my work for an errand, I noted that the "svc 4WD" light was illuminated immediately after starting the vehicle. Writer noted that the vehicle was also, in fact, in four wheel drive, as the vehicle was "skipping" the tires while turning and exhibiting signs of a vehicle in 4 wheel drive while driving on dry pavement. Writer noted that the "4WD control knob" was in the 2wd position. Writer parked the vehicle and made several attempts, while both in park and neutral, to engage the 4WD and disengage using the 4WD control knob. None of these actions were able to disengage the transfer case. Writer drove the vehicle to my destination, (approximately 3 miles), noting upon my arrival that the service light was no longer illuminated and the vehicle was not in four wheel drive any longer. Writer also notes electrical symptoms such as vehicle now honks after locking with the remote lock on the key. Complaint is concerning spontaneous engagement of the four wheel drive mechanism, without cause, possibly related to defects associated with the tipm.

- Demotte, IN, USA

My 2005 Dakota has been jumping in and out of 4WD while driving down the road and yesterday the transfercase locked into neutral while the vehicle wad sitting in my mother's driveway and rolled into the road

- Fillmore, NY, USA

Mine is the 2005 Dodge Dakota extra cab and the exhaust manifold bolts breaking/shearing at the engine block. This can cause (and it has) a ticking sound that gets louder as you accelerate. Once you hear the ticking sound, both sides of the engine are affected. This results in poor mileage, overheating, engine will stall at low idle, ultimately allowing exhaust fumes to enter the cabin, potentiallu, poisoning the occupants with carbon monoxide fumes. I took this vehicle to the dealer to have then replaced. The 1st dealer said it wasn't repairable. 2nd one said, 1400 $ per side to extract broken bolts at the rear of the exhaust manifold on both sides of my 4.7. 3rd repair shop told me this very common on the 4.7 and he does about 10 a week. His price was 350 $ per size plus gasket and doughnut gasket at the collector. Hey! if this is such a common problem why are we Dodge owners being hostage by having to make this repair ourselves and pay for it? it is an emmisions engineering underdesign that needs to be fixed and a recall needs to be issued. It is a design defect. Please investigate and get this situation corrected before some innocent child dies from carbon monoxide entering the cabin. Not to mention other potential hazards that may occur because the driver is overwhelmed by carbon monoxide and runs down 78 people because they passed out from the carbon monoixide filled cabin while driving. Please. Do. something. Time is running out. Before somebody is killed.

- Davis, CA, USA

Truck tries to engage into 4X4 mode while knob is in 2X4 selection and key is not even in ignition. Also while driving truck engages into 4X4 mode while knob is in 2X4 mode. Dodge dealer said they no longer make tipm part to fix this issue and no other parts company make this part.

- Colonial Heights, VA, USA

The transfer case on this vehicle will randomly shift from 2 wheel drive to 4 wheel drive or even to 4 wheel drive low range with no driver input. Shifting to 4 low is very dangerous as it tends to lock up the drive train which could result in loss of control of the vehicle

- Raleigh, NC, USA

Dodge durango 2005 transmission was replaced at 100,000. Once that was replaced 4WD service light appeared and switching sounds under the truck started. The truck locked into place and could not move. I went into 4WD automatically and when I went to seach problems online I came across hundreds of the same complaints. Please check out https://www.cargurus.com/cars/discussion-T4148_ds482593 I am speechless and very afraid of driving this car.

- New Canaan, CT, USA

Transmission slips to neutral from full stop while moving from stoped, and bangs into gear while moving

- Rock Tavern, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. While driving 5 mph, the vehicle independently shifted gears without warning. The failure recurred randomly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer stated that there were no reports for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

- Norwalk, CT, USA

Four wheel drive engages and disengages by itself. It does it sometimes when I unlock the doors with remote and other times when nothing is done. There is no certain thing that I do to make it happen. It does it in drive also but I have only noticed it when I am stopped at a light or in my driveway. Engaging 4 wheel drive while driving or in drive, I believe falls under unsafe conditions. Have done research on different Dodge forums and found that 04-05 durangos and Dakotas have this problem.

- Rio Rancho, NM, USA

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V046000 (power train), 15V313000 (air bags), and 16V352000 (air bags). The parts were not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The contact called four dealers that could not provide a specific date for when the parts would become available. The contact was unable to determine when the vehicle would be repaired. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact was not experiencing a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Anaheim, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the transmission caught on fire while the vehicle was parked. The wiring harness and alarm system were burned. The contact was able to extinguish the fire. In addition, while the vehicle was in reverse, the gear shifter would shift into park or neutral. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

- Crawfordsville, IN, USA

Randomly, the 4 wheel drive will engage when not selected. So far this has only happened at low speed (in parking lots). I can tell it is engaged because I get wheel slippage while turning. After straightening the truck and shifting to neutral, the problem will be resolved. Additionally, the "service 4WD" light or "4lo" lights will illuminate while driving, but the transfer case does not appear to actually shift. No damage to drive train so far. Thirdly, the transfer case will shift while the truck is parked in the driveway, the ignition is off, and the key removed, with no-one in the vehicle. I can hear the shift motor trying to engage.

- Tampa, FL, USA

Transfer case shifting into 4 wheel drive on its own. You can sometimes here it shifting when you open the door no key even in the car yet " it tries to shift into 4 wheel drive at all speeds. It sometimes goes into 4 wheel drive when turning at low speeds ? I don't have a problem paying to fix the problem but no one seems to have a solution ? change front control module?, transfer case shift motor?,change wiring from module to transfer case " change 4 wheel drive selector switch. Which one, where do you start. Need help! should be a recall. Seem's very dangerous. Sounds like hundreds with the same issue and no answer's.

- Gilbertville, MA, USA