
<PAGE>   1




                                                                    Exhibit 23-A

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated January 21, 1997, which appears on
page 22 of the 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders of Dana Corporation, which is
incorporated by reference in Dana Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1996. We also consent to the incorporation by
reference of our report on the Financial Statement Schedule, which appears on
page 15 of such Annual Report on Form 10-K.

PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP

Toledo, Ohio
October 7, 1997


                                   -11-
