Dakota transmissions follow the engine: Magnum-era trucks take the RE-series three and four-speeds, and the 2000-up PowerTech trucks take the RFE five-speeds or the 42RLE. The RE-series share a family resemblance and a specific electrical failure worth understanding before you buy, because it is often mistaken for a dead transmission when it is a sixty-dollar sensor.
Dodge Dakota Used Transmissions — transmission options by generation
| Years |
Transmission |
Type |
Notes |
| 1991–1996 |
A500 / 42RH |
4-speed auto |
Hydraulic, behind the 3.9 and 5.2 |
| 1991–1996 |
A518 / 46RH |
4-speed auto |
Heavier duty |
| 1991–2004 |
AX-15 / NV3500 |
5-speed manual |
AX-15 behind the four and V6 |
| 1997–2004 |
42RE / 44RE |
4-speed auto |
Electronic governor control |
| 1997–2003 |
46RE |
4-speed auto |
Behind the 5.9 Magnum |
| 2000–2004 |
45RFE |
4 and 5-speed auto |
Behind the 4.7 PowerTech |
| 2005–2011 |
42RLE |
4-speed auto |
Behind the 3.7 V6 |
| 2005–2011 |
545RFE |
5-speed auto |
Behind the 4.7 V8 |
How to pick the right one
Engine first, then the model year, then 2WD or 4WD. The RE and RFE families do not interchange: a 46RE and a 545RFE have different cases, different bellhousing patterns and different control strategies. Within the RFE family, the 45RFE and 545RFE share a case but the 545 has the fifth ratio and a different valve body, and fitting the wrong one gives you a transmission that shifts but not correctly. Four-wheel-drive trucks need the matching tailhousing for the transfer case.
What usually fails on these transmissions
On every RE-series transmission the single most common cause of a transmission that "failed" is the governor pressure solenoid and the governor pressure transducer in the valve body. When they go, the transmission drops into limp mode and holds second gear, which feels terminal and is not. Check that before you buy anything. Where the unit has genuinely failed it is usually the overdrive clutch pack. On the 45RFE and 545RFE the solenoid pack is the common item. We pressure test every transmission and report the solenoid readings.
What ships with every unit
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Pressure tested with the solenoid readings recorded, and the fluid condition inspected and reported.
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Fitment matched — send us the model year, engine, drivetrain and the RPO option code or ID tag and we confirm the part before the order ships.
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Written warranty on every transmission, with labour coverage available.
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Free freight anywhere in the lower 48, crated on a pallet to a commercial address or a terminal.
Replacing the engine too? See our Dakota used engines. Full terms are in the transmission warranty policy, and the complete catalogue is at used transmissions.
Dodge Dakota used transmissions - frequently asked questions
Which transmissions did the Dodge Dakota use?
Across 1991 to 2011 the Dodge Dakota was built with A500 / 42RH, A518 / 46RH, AX-15 / NV3500, 42RE / 44RE, 46RE, 45RFE, 42RLE and 545RFE. The table above lists which one belongs to each generation, with the transmission designation and option code that identifies it.
How do I identify the right transmission for my Dodge Dakota?
Four things decide it: model year, engine, drivetrain, and the option or RPO code. That code is the one most people do not have to hand and the one that settles it - on a GM vehicle it is on the glovebox or door-jamb sticker, on a Chrysler it is on the build sheet, and on a Ford it is on a tag on the case. Send us the VIN and the code and we confirm the unit before anything ships.
Will a transmission from a different year fit my Dodge Dakota?
Engine first, then the model year, then 2WD or 4WD. The RE and RFE families do not interchange: a 46RE and a 545RFE have different cases, different bellhousing patterns and different control strategies.
What usually fails on these transmissions?
On every RE-series transmission the single most common cause of a transmission that "failed" is the governor pressure solenoid and the governor pressure transducer in the valve body. When they go, the transmission drops into limp mode and holds second gear, which feels terminal and is not.
What comes with a used Dodge Dakota transmission?
Every transmission is pressure tested with the solenoid readings recorded and the test sheet ships in the box. The unit is matched to your VIN and option code before the order goes out, carries a written warranty with labour coverage available, and freight is free anywhere in the lower 48.
