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xxx
Dodge Dakota
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3/24/2003
05:54:31
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 Subject: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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I'm a die hard MOPAR fan and have extensive experience with restoring and building vintage MOPAR Muscle (challengers Roadrunners 440-6 etc) I was convinced that a Dakota 4x4 Quab cab was my next purchase. After doing extensive research on many websites I've noticed that there is nothing but problems with Dakotas with under 50,000 miles: engines, transmissions, rear ends, electrical problems. Every Harry home owner, self proclaimed joe mechanic has some BS explanation.. The bottom line is that a new vehicle should give you 150,000 miles of trouble free driving except for routine maintenance. Dakotas are by far the best looking truck out there with very muscular lines but I'm amazed at how many people accept these problems and justify that DAKOTAS are great. Frankly, I'm not impressed. Stop glorifying Dodge and get honest feedback to Daimler/Chrysler. Sad but toyota 4x4s blow the doors off Dodges in quality and reliability, even though they look terrible. It pains me to say that. Why should we pay 30,000 for a great looking truck and have nothing but problems. To all the self proclaimed experts: If you have nothing constructive or meaningful to offer someone with a problem, refrain comment and get a life.
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CThomp
Gen III
3/24/2003
07:52:34
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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'00 4.7L 5spd 2wd. Nothing fancy. Had rotors replaced at 25K even though they were still functional. I think people have problems with vehicles when they are loaded up with all the crap like power options and what not. I don't even have a cd player. I've souped up my truck just a little bit. I don't rag on it but I do actually use it as a truck to haul everthing from furniture, to lumber, to cement. It is after all a truck.
I paid around $18K new for my truck. For those who want to put all that fancy frilly convience crap on their trucks...ask yourself "Do I really need it?" Fancy crap breaks...thats just the way it is.
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adam182003
Dodge Dakota
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3/24/2003
08:41:01
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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u know xxx u will never hear from the people that dont have problems cuase they have no need to come to these things really. u will only hear from the people that have had problems. im not saying they dont have problems though. second all the mid size trucks have a lot of problems to me it just seems like the dodge has less then chevy wich im a chevy man or ford. ths s10 i had was nothing then a peice of garbage as much as i dont want to admit it. personally i have only had 2 problems with my truck on the exhuast manifold and 2 the bumper is starting to rust . if u want a good truck i recomend just going full size to the 1500 series if u can afford it. or mabe toyota i didnt look in to them much but my freind has one with 250,000 miles and origonal engine and trany and has no rust on body little on bumpers. hope that helps a litte
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Texas Todd
Dodge Dakota
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3/24/2003
08:54:59
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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xxx,
Please see a thread I had started.
http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/gen/10886.html
Your comments are duly noted.
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vern
Dodge Dakota
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3/24/2003
09:11:37
|  RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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i agree with triple x and CThomp!i own a 89 4x4 sport dak with 142k mi,with a plow,A500 trans,392 gears and a/c,i have,nt had no problems except for the heater core this winter,and i plow 12 driveways each storm.
i,ve read alot of the problems you,re all having with your gen daks and this leads me to believe these trucks are junk,poor quality,dealer techs stupid or you just like to bitch!
if your so unhappy with your truck and not getting the answers from the dealer go over their heads to the regional office rep.and let him/her know how you feel about your truck and service.tell them the quality SUCKS and you would,nt or tell anyone else to BUY a DODGE!!!
[if you all would do this mopar would have to do something about quality] SQEAKY WHEEL GETS THE
GREASE!!!PERFORMANCE and LOOKS are ONLY SKIN DEEP.
i realize 100 thous. units built and hundreds of dealers you can,t make everyone happy.
sorry for being so long winded,just my thoughts.
god bless happy motoring
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CThomp
Gen III
3/24/2003
09:25:51
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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I don't think they are junk by any means...I just think people should think about what they need in a vehicle (especially a truck) before purchasing. People are so often "want" minded that they lose focus on what is actually "needed."
When I bought my dak I actually did look at a 4x4 quad cab dak with all the power option sitting on the lot. Then I actually thought about it. I don't go offroading anymore because I went through to many sets of tires, alignments, and all the other random breakage that occurs with an offroad vehicle. I don't even need 4X4 any more to tow a boat (S. Florida is pretty flat and even the ramps are flat). So I got a 2wd, 5sp, 3.92's, and 9.25 rear end with LSD. Tows great and no breakage. The key is to be rational.
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Burnt Out
Dodge Dakota
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3/24/2003
22:15:22
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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I'm on my second Dakota. The first one was a '88 V6/4X4/auto. I sold it with 146K miles and its still running. The repairs totaled 4 tie rod ends. My current one is a 94/V6/5spd/4x4/ with almost 91K. Repairs to date are 2 lower ball joints and both wheel bearings assemblies which only one was bad. I agree that you only hear about the problems but if you look at the number of posts with problems compared to the number of trucks built, I think you might find out they are much better than one might think. Then again, some people can break a crow bar in a sand box.....
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Dr. D
Dodge Dakota
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3/24/2003
22:33:35
|  RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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Then how come you don't see any Dakotas in the junkyard unless they are badly wrecked ????
Dr. D
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JakDak
Dodge Dakota
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3/24/2003
22:43:10
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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People come to message boards to ask questions and fix problems. That is why there are so many people with mechanical problems on this board.
Think before you make stupid posts XXX. If you think dakotas are such junk, why did you waste your time posting a message in the first place?
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cool
Dodge Dakota
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3/24/2003
22:48:03
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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Thank you JakDak, finally someone with some common sense!
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adam182003
Dodge Dakota
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3/24/2003
23:09:22
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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first of all jakdak people know that people come to forms for problems i was just reminding him. second he isnt really saying they are garbage he wants to know what peoples opions are about the truck. and i agree with burn out if u beat on any vehical it is bound to break. i am personally happy with my truck i love it and wouldnt trade it except for a nice 2002 chevy 1500 side step:). but the only prob i had with it is the exhuast manifold and was no big deal cheap easy fix oh i have a 99 dakota sport 4x4 all stock
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blu4door
Dodge Dakota
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3/24/2003
23:17:30
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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This is just my $.02 if you care. My first dakota I had was a 98 v6 2wd and a 5 speed. It had air and power mirrors. Within about 6 months of buying it I did a 2/4 drop. Now for all the problems....I had to get the brake line fixed which was under a recall and fixed for free, and the cat went bad around 20k. Which I didn't care cause I was putting on a whole new exhaust anyway. Now you have to understand how I drive. launches at 3k, slamming the gears as fast as I could, with only 500 miles on the engine I was doing first, second, and third gear brakestands. And for all of this I had no problems whatso ever. My second dak is an 02 quad 4.7 4x4. It only has 4k on it so nothing has broken yet....I say yet cause im going to lift it and beat the hell out of it. Why? because it is a truck!! I have confidence in my mopars!! And I wouldn't be caught dead having that much fun in any other brand!! but like I said just my $.02 if you care.
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DAKX01
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2003
00:43:38
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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Dr. D has a point!!!!
Paul
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Chris
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2003
08:33:17
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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1st dakota: '88 3.9 auto reg cab long bed
PRoblems: Tranny rebuild at 100k, starter at 109k new trans at 125k, new engine (cracked head) at 135k, sold at 142k. Everything else was jsut regular maintence. For me I liked neutral drops, brake stands, etc...
2nd dakota: '00 4.7 5-speed
problems: clutch at 33k, drivers door actuator at 50k, pass door at 30k, burnt up power steering fluid at 65k... currently at 84k
Next dakota: '03 4.7 5-speed 4x4 on order...
Yes I am convinced in these trucks... They have been all I have owned...
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Quad Dad
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2003
10:02:54
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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'02 Quad cab 4x4 with 25k. Loaded. Not a single problem except for the radio - would cut out when cranked. Drive 60 miles a day 5 days a week and the looks far outway any problem. Granted I don't do hole shots or neutral drops - those days are gone for me. Also have a '99 Durango. 36k. Just replaced lock acuator and that being the only problem.
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CURT
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2003
11:56:56
|  RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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I AGREE WITH DR. D....IF THEY ARE JUNK THEN HOW COME I CAN'T FIND ANY PARTS??? THERE AREN'T ANY IN THE JUNKYARDS, THAT'S FOR SURE!!!
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Uncle Sam
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2003
12:28:05
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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15,0000 on a "loaded" 4X4 QC. Ordered every single light, button, thingamajig possible.
Problems...none.
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RedQuad
GenIII
3/25/2003
14:23:10
|  RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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25000 miles on '01 QC 4.7 4X4 SLT plus. Only problem so far was heater blower motor last summer. Truck has been recalled twice for minor issues, otherwise has been great. I visit these forums for information, not necessarily because of problems, but to have the information needed if a problem arises. Best advice I have is to make an informed purchase, especially if you are spending 30k!.
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stony22
R/T
3/25/2003
15:06:17
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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My first SLT totalled after 6 months with 25k on it. NOT one problem....
My second the R/T I have now, yea i've had a shi*load of problems so far with it at 17k
tranny
rearend
3 sets of brakes
power steering
But yea i know what the problem is NOT DODGE
it's my driving habits........that's what warrenties for aint it. get a 03 and you dont' have to worry about it untell 75k
Either way my next truck will still be a dodge.
Awsome trucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yea xxx, like they say DODGE DIFFERENT. ur call a killer ride, or just a econo box toyota.
22's
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ORANGEDAKOTA
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2003
20:18:32
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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If he thinks Toyotas and other trucks are of such a higher quality than Dodge Dakotas then maybe he can explain why the other dealerships have service departments. ALL VEHICLES WILL HAVE PROBLEMS. Thats why all dealerships have service departments.I have almost 50k on my quad cab and have only had it serviced twice ( once for a gas cap that wasnt holding seal, and once for some type of carbon canister for the emissions sytem).Both were warranty items and only took about 30 minutes to diagnose and repair. A guy I work with has a 2002 Lexus and it has been in the shop as many times as my truck.This is the first Dodge vehicle I have owned, and I was leary of buying it because of all the stuff I had heard people saying about Dodge quality. But one test drive is all it took to change my mind. Try it, youll like it. Sorry so long.
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andy
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2003
21:19:45
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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I have a 96 cc4x4 with 125k miles on it. The only things that have ever broke were my fault. The truck i had before this was an 86 dodge and nothing ever broke so i really dont think dodge is at fault for the problems.
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01Motorsport
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2003
22:21:12
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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My "Sanford and Son" ride, '01 RC 4.7 5-speed came new with a 3/36 warranty. Replaced the windshield and one fog light. THAT'S IT. 45K now...What's the old saying?..."One man's junk..."
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adam182003
Dodge Dakota
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3/26/2003
15:54:37
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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i wasnt saying my dak was a peice of sh!t i was saying my s-10 was i personally love my dakota and i said the toyota cuase its another alternative i just wouldnt go ford or chevy. in the midsize truck department. and personally im a chevy man this is my first dodge product and personally i like it. i would buy another one.
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sandman
Dodge Dakota
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3/26/2003
23:50:09
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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Well do not buy a Chevy or a Ford if you think Dakota's suck because they have even more TSB's of a serious nature. To date most of the problems with Dak were in the 2000 model year. This is not a single TSB for a 2001 Quad Cab with the 4.7. You are of course going to hear about problems about a Dakota at a Dakota site!! I doubt huge numbers of Ford owners are going to come to a Dodge Dakota site to look for help with their trucks problems. I suggest that you go to Alldata and get a more complete look at the number of TSB's and recalls each brand has for the specific models you are going to be compareing. When looking at TSB's ignore the silly ones like updated paint codes etc..... Just look at durability, emissions and power train issues !!!
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EBL
Dodge Dakota
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3/30/2003
12:07:12
| RE: Dakotas appear to be JUNK
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92 Dakota with 142k on 5.2/518 tranny.
Over the years this is what I have replaced:
radiator
idler pully
starter (problem ended up being the battery... whoops)
battery
Fuel pump
Just basic maintanance other than that... stuff like brake pads, repacking berings and oil changes.
I have towed with my truck, loaded 2000 lbs of cement mix into the bed and hauled 20 foot tall trees. I have set the bed down on the wheels many times. The truck keeps treating me right. All she asks in return is some clean oil and a wash and wax.
What a lady...
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