1999 Dodge Dakota Club Cab from North America - Comments

Hum! Where to start? I own a 99 Dakota club cab, it has only 60K miles and it has been in the shop numerous times. The truck most recently is in the shop for a torque converter. This round of repairs cost me $1500. This was Easter when it blew out on me on the highway. The week before I tried to get an alignment and the service guy said he could not on the account that it needs new Tie rods…. I had them do the work and do the front brakes (rotors and pads) $400. Previous to that I’m on my 3rd set of ball joints. Mind you this truck only has 60K miles on it. They put in the second set, but replaced them with the same defective type of ball joints and I had to replace them again 1 year later when the warranty conveniently ran out. Even though they replaced them only a year ago they told me that I was on my own. Only when I went to a private garage did they put in the grease-able ball joints. Then I noticed that when going up hills the engine would knock and ping. I took it to the dealer and they said I needed a new intake manifold. They had to replace it, and then I had to bring it back to them to install the intake manifold gasket on separate occasions (very inconvenient). Still to this day I can’t use 87 octane or it will ping so I have to use the premium fuel for this Gas Guzzling pig. Which is currently getting an average of 13.5 miles / gallon. The solenoids in the door locks both went at the same time. The gas gage also died causing me to run out of fuel twice in 1 week. And the switch for the door locks works on an intermittent basis. I would say, that on an average this hunk of metal costs me approximately $2500/year to keep it on the road. And that is not including oil changes and brake pads or any other typical maintenance. I suggest to any prospective buyer to steer clear of the Dodge name and the Daimler Chrysler corporation.

I can't seem to keep it out of the repair shop.

I suggest to any prospective buyer to steer clear of the Dodge name and the Daimler Chrysler corporation.

I own a Dakota 5.2 V-8. I bought it new and it now has about 63,000 miles. The only time it has ever been to the shop is for routine brake service, tires and scheduled maintenance. I love it and would definitely recommend it.

I had a 1991 Dodge Dakota 3.9 v-6 and all I did was change the front oil seal around the crank at 120,000 and regular maintenance. Brakes I do myself,very simple. Never have replaced alternator or starter. Put new water pump on at 160,000. My son has it now and it has 185,000 on it.

I now have a 1998 Dodge Dakota 4 wheel drive 54,000 and it has been a good truck also. It also is a 3.9 Auto. I learned along time ago to do my own servicing. I get ripped off less that way and learn much about my vehicle.

I too own a 1999 Dodge Dakota "sport" extra cab V6. I only have 68,000 on her. I have replaced 3 water pumps, and 3 fan clutches so far. My headlights also flicker off sometimes when I switch from high to low, or low to high beams. As for the water pumps the dealer tells me they can't find anything wrong that would cause this to happen. Just a fluke, they say. If anyone has ideas about what my be causing this, email me randy.bergen@yahoo.com.

My boyfriend owns a 1999 Dodge Dakota, extended cab 5.2L V8, 5spd. He just recently purchased it with 89,000 miles, a lot, yes I know. he's been having problems such as a ticking/knocking in the engine (very slight) and it bucks. if you're going downhill, with your foot off the gas, its bucks like crazy, until you put your foot into it. anyone know what this could be? he's replaced the intake manifold, new oil change and both O2 sensors. Any ideas?

I have a 99 Dakota X-cab SLT 5.2L auto. I purchased the extended warranty at 36,000 miles. For what my truck has been through it has done very well, never replaced ball joints (they need it now) at 68,000 miles and I need rear wheel bearings. But the truck has 33" mud terrains and has seen the mud. On the other hand the motor was replaced at 58,000 miles, but the warranty covered it, motor spark knocked bad enough to blow a piston. Gas mileage is HORRIBLE, but it's a truck.

Also own 1999 dakota sport 5.2 5 speed, slight knocking from time to time at an idle, seems to me there is a little to much noise transfer from engine compartment to the inside of cab. or am I crazy?

Attention! Those of you who hear a slight knocking noise from your engine compartment there is a good chance it is your purge duty soleniod a.k.a. evap. soleniod . It is mounted on the firewall to the left of the brake fluid resovior. It creates a knocking sound when doing what it needs to do, perfectly normal. If it drives you nuts, like it did me, just slide it off of its mount and zip tie it to something else close by. your knocking will go away, if you don't have other engine problems.

Thanks for your comment. I've heard that sound in my Durango for 9 years, been annoyed for 9 years--and now I can fix it.