Scott Kilau
Dodge Dakota
1/05/2002
00:45:00
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 Subject: 98 Dodge Dakota - Heat Shield Corrosion
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Message:
I have run into a rather troubling issue (flaw?) with my Dakota, wondering if there are others out there that have already ran into this.
I have a 98 Dodge Dakota Club Cab SLT - 57000 miles.
About 2 months ago, I started hearing a rattling whenever I accelerated. At the time, I wrote it off to maybe my tailpipe was loose or something, and I would look for it later.
About a month after this problem, my engine started running rather rough, so my concerns started to rise.
Well, I took it to a shop that I trust, they couldn't believe what they saw...
The Heat Shield on my right side of my engine had
completely rusted/corroded off, and in fact was sitting in there completely detached, just rattling away. The left side 1 of the 2 bolts was corroded off, the other bolt was/is about to have the same fate.
I couldn't believe this could occur on such a new truck, so I took it to my dealer, thinking there MUST be some sort of recall or SOMETHING...
I talked with the head mechanic first, who seemed VERY familiar with the issue, and in fact, explained that Dodge had extended the warranty period for this exact problem... But before we could go further, the manager walked up and jumped in and said that Dodge withdrew the warranty, so...
As you might expect, the repair costs are going to be quite spendy, ($1300-$1500 or so), as the bolts have completely broken off, so they will have to redrill new holes and everything.
Now, I am in Minnesota, so I expect rust to happen, but not to be able to eat away at the bolts to the point of breaking them in 4 years.
I am curious whether any other Dakota owners have run into this problem? What have you done? Just eaten the cost?
Needless to say, up until this point I was very happy with the truck, but its obvious that (up in Minnesota anyway), they are hiding a serious flaw in design here.
Thanks for any comments or suggestions!
Scott Kilau
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