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Rich
Dodge Dakota
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1/01/2005
20:36:48
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 Subject: RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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Keith, i feel ya about your frustration with your kota. I had the very same probelm as you when I owned my 99; but.....lets get some facts straight that other bros were sharing. Think about it, the truck is a 99 and it HAS been on the road for 6 years. That is a factor but to put out the fire before they get serious from all you maintenance people, yes it will last much longer if it is taken care of. But as many said, you purchased your truck USED, not only is it aging rapidly but it was probably not properly taken care of before you even bought it! So don't be hatin' just because you have a used dodge, they are great trucks and I love mine. I dumped my 99 as it was POSing and then learned how to take care of my new one and on top of that I was smart and bought a warranty, now I sleep better at night without any worries. Be smart and not judge something with only a fraction of actual experience.
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Keith
Dodge Dakota
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1/01/2005
22:29:10
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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HAHA CJ youre right girls do love them! Thanks for all the respones guys mine just needed more TLC i guess.
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JoeK
Dodge Dakota
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1/02/2005
12:01:57
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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OK..But....
I disagree with you regarding the sealed ball joints vice ball joints with grease fittings. The sealed version lasts way longer than the joints with grease fittings. The problem with the Dak's ball joints is that they are poorly designed; not the fact that they don't have grease fittings. It could be that the seal design was bad or that they are too small for the load. Even if you greased the Dak's ball joints regularly they would still fail.
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JoeK
Dodge Dakota
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1/02/2005
12:15:06
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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Jag:
You wrote: "Concerning quality - Americans are piss poor designs. It isn't just Dodge...work on Fords for awhile and get with me. Imports bring a higher standard of quality to the table, but you will also pay the price upfront too. I would go the import route again, but I still can't see paying $10k for a underpowered Frontier or Tacoma when I paid $7k for my 1998 Dakota R/T"
I think your statement is unfair regarding the quality of American vehicles. Pat Goss of Motorweek, who owns and operates a killer repair shop in my area and hosts a weekend car talk show, reported the results of a study that showed American consumers were much more likely to ping a US manufacturer for a defect than a foreign manufacturer. Why he did not know. Pat's experience from his shop is that the foreign cars have just as many, if not more problems, than domestics. From listening to his shows, I don't think he is merely a homer for US manufacturers becuase he drives a Mercedes in addition to his Corvette.
Another aspect is that most car design is done in the US under subcontract to foreign manufacturers. In fairness, all production refinement engineering for foreign cars is done in Germany or Japan, where ever the final assembly point is. But most overall vehicle and component design is done in the US. It is starting to migrate off-shore, but for years it was done here.
I think your comment over-generalized and is misleading.
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Red01QC
Dodge Dakota
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1/02/2005
16:52:46
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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I also hate my dakota. Every other truck I've owned - 3 Chevy's and 3 Fords- all fullsize, have been excellent used vehicles making me a satisified consumer. However, this Dodge is a different story. I've owned this truck for a little over 3 months, and during that time-ball joints, headlight switch, swaybar bushings, transmission all need replaced. BTW it is 4X4, 4.7, o1, QC, 55,000 miles. I knew the previous owner, and this truck was well taken care of and maintenanced on schedule. Simply equates to poor engineering and even worse product. I only buy used vehicles, and have never had the trouble in such a short period of time that I'm having with this one. Too bad I have to put so much money into it just to sell the junker. Never again Dodge!
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Keith
Dodge Dakota
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1/02/2005
19:00:18
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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Yeah im just fed up with it all and my dad said hed sell me his 02 F-150 extended cab with every option. Looks like ill be making that deal here in Febuary. Its an newer vehicle with less than 50k so itll last me way longer than the Dodge will. Also weve lined them up and the Ford kills the Dakota any time any place lol. I love the looks of the dakota but engineering is just terrible. I guess that means i wont be welcome at this site after Feb. but everyone has been a great help, i hope theres an F-150 site as good as this. (by the way my dads getting a Magnum R/T so we will have a Mopar in the family)
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Dougfather
Dodge Dakota
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1/04/2005
09:46:44
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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Me too!!!
I bought my 2001 Dakota QC 4.7v8 auto 4x4 NEW!!!!!!
I have record of all oil changes and even had the transmission fluid, transfer case, and differential fluids changed at 30k miles.
Here it is 51k miles. I had to replace the steering pump $245 (would be $287 if I dod not know anyone). Then to add insult to injury, two weeks later the valve body needed replace (supposedly a chunk of metal broke off - sounds like a poorly made casting). That was $700!! Bottom line, I have owned 5 GMs and the only transmission problems I had was with my 83 Chevy truck (167k miles - who can complain) and my 84 Grand Prix (100k miles, can't complain either). This is my first and will be my last Chrysler vehicle that I will own.
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The Warpster
Dodge Dakota
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1/05/2005
19:22:43
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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Statistically the Daks have been somewhat troublesome. I've had my 98 Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed for three years, 30K miles and it's been fine. Sitting at about 70K miles now. It's a little cold blooded, grawnches going into second gear and I expect to replace the ball joints at some point. But so far it's been a cheap ride. I picked it up as a repo even. We've had four Daks in the extended family. One had to be ball jointed at 40K miles, the others have been fine.
Your solution, Keith, is probably to dump the truck and take your licks. You'd probably do okay with the Ford if you can stand the looks of it.
---The Warpster
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Jag
Dodge Dakota
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1/06/2005
07:09:12
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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JoeK, I am so sorry for confusing you with facts. Don't spout off 2nd hand information from JoeBlow the weekend car repair man until you get a dose of a reality check yourself.
Consumer Reports, Dealer recalls, Warranty work...where would you like to start.
Asian imports are more reliable then domestic. This isn't a recent idea but a know fact.
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Jag
Dodge Dakota
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1/06/2005
07:21:58
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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You said..."Another aspect is that most car design is done in the US under subcontract to foreign manufacturers. In fairness, all production refinement engineering for foreign cars is done in Germany or Japan, where ever the final assembly point is. But most overall vehicle and component design is done in the US. It is starting to migrate off-shore, but for years it was done here."
...and you are incorrect again. All engineering and vehicle & component designing for imports is done in the base country, with the exception of Saab, Mazda, Volvo who designs GM & Ford have their fingers in. America is only home to import assembly processes.
Be happy your Dakota was made in Mexico ;-)
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ZZ
Dodge Dakota
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1/06/2005
21:05:42
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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Dodge Dakotas are assembled in Warren, Michigan using globally-sourced parts.
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Jag
Dodge Dakota
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1/06/2005
22:18:26
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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assembled...ok.
Glad to know the trucks are patched together from all over the world. Isn't outsourcing beautiful?
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ZZ
Dodge Dakota
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1/08/2005
18:29:41
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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Outsourcing has been going on for decades. Why did many people just notice in the past year?
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JaH
Dodge Dakota
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1/09/2005
14:08:31
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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I have a 2000 Dodgedakota with 66,000 and i love it. Not a single problem with it, and the only thing that sucked was the stero system.
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Jag
Dodge Dakota
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1/09/2005
15:04:45
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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ZZ, because outsourcing has increased at a substantial rate over the last decade to the point that nothing is american made.
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JasonB
Dodge Dakota
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1/09/2005
17:49:03
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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Nothing is American made?
Mom's fried chicken and my paycheck will always be American made. What else matters?
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Vic
Dodge Dakota
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1/09/2005
19:17:45
|  RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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I have a 97 dakota Sport w/ 81,000 miles.I used to Love it and never had any problems with it (bought brand new and always maintained) until this year, it wont run! spits sputters and dies, had it hooked on to the computer at a friends shop and nothing came up, no body seems to know what the problem is, all dodge says it "it could be anything" BIG HELP!!problem is it wont stay running long enough to dump it off for a truck that runs
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JasonB
Dodge Dakota
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1/09/2005
22:53:50
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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Get a manual fuel pressure gauge and keep it handy...I wouldn't be surprised if your fuel pump is playing games with you.
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Jag
Dodge Dakota
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1/09/2005
22:56:07
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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Vic - what repairs/maintenance has been done so far?
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Lifesasong
GenI
1/11/2005
11:19:46
| RE: Im starting to hate my dakota
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Oh come on folks. Have you ever driven a Tacoma? And I drove a Ford for 6 years. Would have driven it into a tree but it was so blasted reliable--it wouldn't die! It was reliable but ran rough, was loud and had a lot of road noise. Besides, it was the ugliest thing on the road.
I have a 2001 4X4 QC. Considered all the others and have been pleased with the Dakota. There are always lemons and it sounds like you've gotten a whole bunch of them.
Keith said that the girls do love the Dakotas. You're right! I love mine and at my age I may not turn many heads, but the truck does!
Kat
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