Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Dodge Dakota (anyone own one?)

I ought to save the extra money to get a Toyota, but am seriously thinking of getting a Dodge Dakota. I don't want to get a new anything but constant repairs on my 20 year old junkers is driving me crazy.

So... Anybody out there got a Dakota? Any problems? I am interested in them because you can put in some 2x4's and build a shelf over the wheel fenders and haul a full 4x8 sheet of whatever in the truck, and yet it is still a small truck.

Any comments appreciated

Nope don't own one, I am still fixing junkers myself! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Dixie:
I once had a '95 that treated me real well. Use 2x6's for that bed, they won't shift around like 2x4's.
I was especially happy with the 7/70 warranty. I was in for a routine oil change at 67,000 miles, waiting in the business center, when the service manager came to me. He said, "We changed your transmission fluid last time and it's all burnt up. We better get you a new transmission". Eight weeks later, when I was up to 72,000 miles or so, they swapped my tranny free.
The only problem I had, which was common to early Dakotas, was that the brakes wore out fast. I think the truck's capacity was too heavy for the brakes and they got overworked. Newer ones have larger wheels for that reason, I think.
Get the V-8. You won't get good mileage, but it won't shift in & out of overdrive on every little incline like the V-6 I had did.
It was my first Dodge, and now I'm on my fourth. Still happy.
Best regards,
Sourmash

Had one in 1989, before it got stollen. Wasn't even a year old! Never had any troubles with it. Was probably the sharpest small (mid-size) truck I've ever had. It was the sport model with 3.9, deep gloss black with grey/silver pin striping, and red interior. Did everything but give it a name. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Phil

Is the Dakota and the Durango on the same drivetrain?

I watch a thing on the durangos last week where they are having ball joints fail.

My Dad has had both a Dakota and the Tundra, he says he will never go back to dodge. He loves his 4x4 Tundra.

I have a 1991 Dakota that has 150,000 miles on it. It has not given me any problems. I have the V-8 in the ext cab 2x4 version. I have just one spot of rust just starting to show behind the drivers side front bumper. I think that is pretty good for a midwestern truck. I've been very happy with it and will sell it to my son here shortly. Bought another Dodge last week. I always did like the fact that it was bigger than a small truck and smaller than a big truck. 757

Most of the folks that I know that have had a Dodge have had some sort of transmission issue, or engine issue in the case of the Magnum series motors. Sure there are those that go plenty of miles without incident, but those that I have personal relations with that have had Dodge trucks aren't too fond of the mechanical reliability.

You may want to consider an extended warranty for them.

The same can be said of just about any vehicle out there.

I sold my 98 Dakota extended cab last year. I had bought it new paying 24.5K. It had the 318 motor, got 13.8 miles per gallon and was something of a hot rod. It took me a while before learning not to spin the tires when making a turn. I used it off road a fair amout and it performed very well although it was light in the rear end. It would flat out fly on dirt roads. It was nice that it was narrower than a full size rig when driving our narrow forest service roads.

The brakes were just fine although I did experience a pad separation that resulted in a warranty replacement of the brake rotor. The rotors also got a little warped while hauling a heavy trailer but recovered with out needing replaced. No trouble with my transmission during the 75K miles.

I did replace the shocks with some top of the line Monroes and the handling improved significantly. Front end required realigned once and then repaired once but I'll accept the blame there.

I replaced the truck with a Chevy Silverado, 327 motor, and 16.8 miles per gallon. The ride is much better and it climbs better but it is more difficult to get around off road.

Well they are not Dakotas, but I have a 2000 Ram 1500 4X4 with the magnum 5.9 V8 and an automatic tranny. Have pulled my 35 foot fifth wheel travel trailer with it quite a bit and my boat even more. I currently have 140,000 on it and it has performed flawlessly. Not problems at all.
My oldest son has a 96 Ram he bought new and it has over 275,000 on it. He has had to replace the water pump but other than brakes and things that are made to wear out he hasn't had to touch it.
Up until I bought my 2000 I had always driven Fords. I decided to try the Dodge mainly because of the track record on my sons truck. I hasn't dissappointed me yet other than the gas mileage. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
Drop

i have a 95 dakota xcab 4x4 v6 engine it has 156000 on the clock. had tranny rebuilt at 134000. other than that nothing but routine maint. plugs wire's distributor cap. change oil every 4000 miles. still get 21 mpg it has been a good truck. looking at a new 4 door dakota now. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

those old dakotas in the 94 to 96 years were some of the best trucks every made, nothing fancy but they were dependable long life trucks, the automatic trannies were slightly weak.

then then later they redesigned the dakota with the new body style and they were more problems, but I hear the 2002 models and newer are getting better

my dad is on his second. a 95 and a 2000 no problems with either. my 94 ram 2500 4x4 diesel will pull hell up by the roots if you ask it to. one problem with vacuum pump and the fuel gage. over ten years. no complaints

I have an '01 extended cab 4X4 with the 4.7 V8 and auto.
Highway mileage is a shade over 20 when the tach is at or under 2000 RPM. Around town I get 13-15 if I keep my foot out of it. It is pretty quick. I tow a 23. trailer with it. The trailer has a tongue weight of 865 lb. dry. This required me putting a set of airbags on the truck, but there is no lack of power. Off road it does pretty well, but I have yet to really test it in serious conditions. So far (3 years and 50k mi.) I'm pretty pleased with it. The only beef I have is that you can not find a used canopy for it. It is the only truck made (that I'm aware of) with its bed size, unless the new mid-sized Chevy / GMC's are the same.

I have a 2002 Dodge Dakota Quadcab SLT 4X4. It has the 4.7L V8 engine, four speed automatic transmission, 9 1/4 inch rearend (same as the Ram 1500) with 3.55 gear ratio. It also came with the a/c, cruise, power window's, power lock's, tow package, heavy duty cooling, heavy duty electrical system, larger tires (265/70 R16). I have just over 20,000 miles on it and just had to have front brakes put on it. I get 10 (winter) to 12 miles per gallon, most of my driving is in the city. I also drive to get to where I'm going, not to save fuel if you know what I mean! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Like I said most of my driving is in the city so brakes and gas mileage isn't gonna be good anyways.

I think the 4.7L V8 has plenty of power in the Dakota. I tow a 8x14 foot trailer with four ATV's on it with no problems at all. My friend has a full size Ram 1500 4X4 with the 4.7L engine, I think its "to much truck" for the engine, but its great in the Dakota.

My wife has a 2003 Dodge Durango SLT 4X4. It has same opinions my truck has except the transmission is a five speed auto instead of the four speed that mine has. I like the "four speed" better. It just seems to be in the "right gear" more often the the "five speed" does. The gear ratio is closer together in the "four speed" or so it feels, it doesn't shift as much as the "five speed" does. It fits my driving habit's better. My wife likes her Durango better then my truck. We haven't had any trouble with either of them so far! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ah it's so good to see a DODGE Family Happy together and liking their respective vehicles. I will assume you're a MOPAR guy... I totally am but my wife isn't as discriminating <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

We have a 98 Dodge 3500 Diesel, 99 Durango, 2000 Dakota Club Cab, 93 Wrangler.All are 4x4.
The 3500 hauls our 11 ft. Lance and tows the Jeep or our 16Ft boat. 14.5 mpg.
The Durango is the wifes daily driver( she still works to pay for our toys) It has the 318 cu in engine and gets 13.5 mpg in town and 17 mpg highway. 50,000 miles,two fan belts and a fuel tank sending unit.
The Dakota is my daily driver, 4.7 engine, AT. It gets 15mpg in town and 20mpg highway. 40,000 miles , gas and oil. Both the Durango and the Dakota still wear the original tires.
I traded a 96 Dodge 1500 Club Cab 4x4 with 360 engine and 86,000 miles on in on the Dakota. Loved that truck, plenty of power rode and drove nice but needed brakes and front axle ujoints that I couldnt find time to replace. Wife said swap it, so being her obediant servant By-by 1500.
I really like the Dakota It drives like a car, gets great mileage, and fits between the trees better than the 1500 did. It has noticably more room in the cab than a (gasp) Ford Ranger. Just a little more truck all the way around.
The Durango is protected underneath by skid plates, the Dakota does not have them, wish it did. Look before you buy.
The 4.7 with 355 gears gives it the same snap as the 1500 with the 360 had.
A "tow package" entails conciderably more than bolting on a frame mounted hitch. You need an aux.trans.cooler so you are less likely to fry the trans.,and proper trailer tow wiring harness that includes relays for the trailer lights. Headlite switches wont handle the added amp load for long without relays.
Somebody mentioned "weak Transmissions". IME most transmission problems are driver induced. Usually by pulling more than the truck was designed for, and doing it in too high a gear. That applies to all trucks, all sizes. Its sort of like trying to make a 300 win mag out of an 06 by going three grains over published max load. You might get away with it a few times but sooner or later............
Uncle Rupe.

Dixie,

I have a 2000 Dakota, 4.7Liter V-8 with an automatic overdrive transmission. It has 78,000 miles and so far it has been very dependable. It is the only new vehicle I have ever owned that did not need a warranty repair.

For a mid size truck, the seats are comfortable. I have driven it from Texas to Wyoming with two 12 hour days behind the wheel.



The only drawback that comes to mind is the rear ends seem very light, and traction can sometimes be a problem.



On the road, I usually set the cruise on 78mph and I will get about 17 mpg.

If the traffic is sort of heavy, and most of the trip is at say 60 to 65 mph the mileage will go up to about 22 mpg.

My in town mileage is a bit better than another posted, mine usually gets around 16 to 17 mpg possibly because a good amount of driving around Houston is on freeways.

I�m on my second Dakota, I bought it new last year. It has the 4.7 liter V8 & 5 speed auto. I had a 98 before that with a 318 V8. It reminded of the 50's. Very easy to lay rubber. I got over 80,000 miles on the Goodyear tires. This 4.7 has just as much power, if not more. Better gas milage also. 15 highway with the 98 & up to 19 with the 2003. Both are extended cab 4x4's . Both are red in color.
I tow it behind my motor home. Just put the transfer case in neutral, put the key to the off position & tow as fast you want!

I have a 2000 Dakota 4X4 EX-Cab. Great truck. It has less than 32K on it. Mostly drove it from Ft Bragg to Minnesota and back when I was stationed there. Excellent on the highway with or without a trailer. Tows the boat around really nice and still get about 21MPG on the highways. Had to get a new oil cap and I broke the handle on the seat hide-out box. They don't just repalce the handel, they replace the whole armrest/console. It doesn't see much driving time. I got a unreal deal on a 95 GMC 4X4, and I'm having fun rebuilding/customizing it.