1997 model goes from overdrive to neutral

Hey,

A friend has a 1997 Dakota he wants me to test drive/buy from what he tells me it sounds good, though he says the (automatic) shift lever wiggles when in gear, and "if you don't make sure its in drive it will pop out and into neutral"

Does this make any sense? I've never owned an automatic, my first/current truck (an '89 Ranger) is stick. I read something about a linkage adjustment screw that is under the instrument panel on the steering column, think that might do the trick?

My friend showed me that on his current truck (an f-150 super duty) that the shift lever on that wiggled too. So it must be a common problem with automatics. I just don't know how serious it is... like will it need a new transmission soon? When i drive it i clearly wont buy if i hear noise from the transmission that doesn't seem right like say shifting at weird rpms (though i don't know... is that serious or adjustable?) but I do need a safe reliable truck now, even if it only lasts a year or two.:uhoh: