Dodge Dakota Trucks | Vans
Dodge Dakota Trucks | Vans
[Sep 17, 2003]
Ted Coulter
Model Reviewed:
Dakota
Strength:
The styling is great and the ride and the noise level is better than anything I have driven
Weakness:
None I love this truck (my first pickup). The ride and noise level is better than any car I have ever owned (and got even better when I replaced all terrain tires with road tires) I am spoiled by the smooth ride and cant find anything that even comes close. I also have a 2001 Durango and I hate the rough ride and the milage. No major problems with this truck. Certainly one of the best cars I have ever owned, I have 75,000 miles on it and not one rattle or sqeek (this really surprised me for an an American car...my Durango rattles with only 25,000 miles!) Similar Products Used: Porsche 911, Durango |
[Sep 07, 2003]
J L Wolf
Model Reviewed:
Dodge Dakota Sport
Strength:
Best styling of any truck ever made. Great fuel economy and adequate power for all driving needs. Easy to service. Smooth ride rivals lots of cars and is better than most SUV's.
Weakness:
HORRIBLE dash layout. The steering wheel manages to hide the speedometer, tach, all guages, the turn signal indicators and high beam indicator. That really took some ingenuity!! I lucked up on this 2001 Dakota in October of 2000 right after the 2001's came out. Dodge was having a special sale on the base Dakotas. I wanted a 4 cylinder for fuel economy, and the styling is very important to me, as I am an artist and designer. I had looked at Toyota Tacomas (a cross between a toaster and an electric shaver) and Nissan Frontier (a cross between Godzilla and Megalon), as well as Ford Ranger, which has very boring styling but is a very high quality truck. Dodge offered me $2400 more for my '93 Ranger than Ford did, and that cinched the deal. I drove out in my brand new red Dakota with a note of $148 a month for 48 months. The basic design of the Dakota is the best of any truck made, and the addition of side moldings and multi-stripes at the belt line, with accent striping along the upper body (total $50), plus RT wheel flares ($300) and a set of 275-60 raised white letter tires ($250) turned it into a real head-turner. The 4 is great for all my needs and delivers 23mpg average. I long ago outgrew the grade school mentality of "my car's faster than your car". The 4 will exceed any posted speed limit within 1000 miles of where I live, and merges onto freeways just fine. I have not had one single problem with the truck in 3 years, and love the smooth ride. Sadly, Dodge has dropped the 4, so my next truck will have to be a Ford or Chevy because fuel efficiency and low initial purchase price are very important to me. I'm sure Ford and GM are happy that Dodge dropped the 4, as it has effectively eliminated Dakota as a low-cost competition for Ranger,S-10 and Sonoma. Of course, considering that I got 240,000 miles out of my last Chrysler product, I doubt I'll be trading soon. Similar Products Used: '92 and '93 Ford Rangers. Actually higher quality trucks than the Dakota, but Ford refuses to deal, and their service departments are apathetic to customer needs. |
[Sep 06, 2003]
Rob
Model Reviewed:
Dakota sport 4x4
Strength:
Love the power and 4x4 system.
Weakness:
sloppy stearing with oversized tires.(expected) I love this truck. I have 160,000 km on it and no major problems just basic maintance. |
[Aug 23, 2003]
gsjuice
Model Reviewed:
Dakota Club Cab SLT 4.7 AT 2WD
Strength:
Great looks, great motor, runs like a bat out of hell even without the mods, decent towing capacity and payload. Stock motor uses regular gas. Drives like a car on smooth surface.
Weakness:
Gas mileage not that good stock, back seat known as the penalty box, back end is twitchy in the rain, stupid 100mph limiter(Jet Module fixed that). Not only the best truck I've ever owned, but the best vehicle period. I've had this truck for three years with no problems. It just turned 58k miles. Changed front brake pads at 37k and tires at 56k. Flushed coolant every year and oil evey 5k. Replaced spark plugs at 35k with platinums. Installed a K&N cold air intake, Helix throttle body spacer, Thrush Super Turbo Muffler, and a Jet Stage 1 module. Modifications really helped the gas mileage and Horse power is up near 300, like it really needed it. Similar Products Used: 97 Dodge Ram 1500, 99 Ford Ranger V6 |
[Aug 21, 2003]
patrick
Model Reviewed:
dakota
Strength:
Great fuel mileage with the 3.9 V6 (25+mpg on the highway). A peppy vehicle that is a treat in town. Parking no problem. Mammoth glove box. Prefer to drive this vehicle over my 2002 liberty renegade due to fuel mileage alone.
Weakness:
Massive pillar next to windshield that blocks drivers view of the road particularly on long curves to the right on 2lane roads. Two wheel drive is far too light in rear for winter use. Typically carry 200lbs of sand for the winter months. Bench seating not comfortable for extended trips. A great truck if you like the bare essentials. Typical Dodge problems with brakes needing turned at 50000 kms, ball joints replaced, poor starting and idle prior to throttle body clean at dealer (once a year ) Similar Products Used: 1984 dodge 1/2 ton, 2002 liberty, 1998 cherokee, 1993 YJ (wrangler) |
[Aug 19, 2003]
Dave Walder
Model Reviewed:
Dakota Quad Cab 4x4
Strength:
I like driving the truck, the styling, and the size. The 4.7 V8 is great. The heating and air have been good.The 4x4 has been great in the winter.
Weakness:
After I hit 22,000 miles, everything seemed to fall apart. At present I am waiting for the following parts: ball joints, steering rack, tie rods, shocks, a dome light switch, and a new speaker (but I don't think that is the problem).I just had a complete brake job done today. This was my first (and possibly the last) Dodge product I have had. the truck only has 24,000 on it. As much as I like the truck, its roominess, power, and comfort, I am rapidly becoming disillusioned with Dodge.I am having way too many problems for a truck which is only 21/2 years old! By the way, I am not hard on it either. Similar Products Used: My last two trucks were Ford Rangers which weren't perfect, but I had fewer problems. |
[Aug 19, 2003]
quiksilvr
Model Reviewed:
dakota ext. cab 4x4 v-8 sport
Strength:
4x4 system is one of the best ive ever had, sound system is great, and the ride is smooth, that is until you have to replace the rotors again and again.
Weakness:
the whole brake system, the cooling system just really sucks.(truck has been in shop 6 times now for the coooling system and no one can fix it. the clear coat that dodge used is to soft and scatchs to easilly. i love the truck and always have but.... the problems that ive had are not worth my time. |
[Aug 05, 2003]
jOHN
Model Reviewed:
Dodge Dakota
Strength:
Engine mostly - Very powerful for a mid-size truck. They need this engine in a FORD.
Weakness:
Tie end rods and bellows boot need replaced. Steering constantly needs work. AC sucks. Doesn't cool down enough compared to other cars. Brakes suck. The anti-lock brake pump clicks evertime I brake hard. The truck seems like it isn't going to stop. The dealer sucked. Said they did a 100 point inspection, but at first oil change, 1000 miles after purchase, the air filter had more dirt on it than the FBI has on Bill Clinton. I will never purchase from Pat Clark Pontiac again. Engine and interior room-very good Rest of truck - sucks Similar Products Used: 1994 Ford Ranger 2003 Ford F150 |
[Aug 01, 2003]
pontiacman
Model Reviewed:
Dodge Dakota
Strength:
Loads of power. Good off road. Lots of room inside. Good sound system. Has the off road package which gives you stablizer bars both front and rear. Make for great handling.Came with spray in bed liner (highly recommend this). Once every thing has been fixed it is still a good runner. But get your wallet out if you plan on buying one.
Weakness:
Where do I start. Major blind spot where the pillar post is.I just bought this truck a little over a year ago. So far the AC has died, plememun gasket had to be replaced (factory defect, the bolts are to long), Front rotors and pads (ok normal wear and tear). The whole front end had to be redone. Both sides. upper and lower ball joints, tie rod ends,pitman arm, that cost about a $1000. If you have to replace yours DO NOT USE DODGE PARTS becasue they will just fail again. I used moog. The shop that did my front end told me the worst case he has seen on these. Was a dakota with only 20000km on it.And all the coponents had to be replaced. Front dif seals had to be replaced. I have put more money in this truck in a year than I did in the whole time I owned my previous truck which I had for 11 years. I should of stuck with Chevy. MY MISTAKE. Because I have put so much money in to this piece of @#*% I'll keep it until the wheels fall off (which might happen sooner than I care for). Great looks. 5.2 V8 w/5 spd. 4X4 club cab. loaded with options. Green w/ Charcoal interior. Not much more I can say but read the weaknesses. Similar Products Used: Chev full size pickup Chev S10 |
[Jul 29, 2003]
anne dorion
Model Reviewed:
dakota quad cab
Strength:
Looks good with the 2 tone paint. cheaper then buying a GM for the same performence.
Weakness:
Having to get faulty parts replaced. gone back to the dealer every 6 months or so for the warantie. Got rust protection done trough the dealership, found out 2 years later it was never actualy done. I am now waiting to see how they will set things strait with me. beautifull looking truck, the 4.7 v8 has lots of power and a smoth ride. All the room I need to fit bouster seats and adults. Customer service is a 2. They have reapared all 6 faltie parts under warantie with in a few weeks. I have too keep a close eye on my trucks performence. Similar Products Used: ford ranger 1994 |