Hi, this is my first time posting. I am finally in the market for my first Dakota. I have been looking at the 1998 - 2000 year Dakota sport V6 or the 4X4 V8, prefer the 4X4. What should I pay close attention to when buying a Dakota used? What are some of there main problems, if any, they have. Any help will be appreciated, thank you.

 

Back when I was shopping I read to watch the tranny and rear end. The rear end can leak some with nothing being wrong. Mine does it, but it's because they just have a rubber plug to close the fill hole off. Heater core's I guess are fairly common failure's, along with the belly pan gasket. Best way to check that is take the air hat off from the throttle body, open the throttle plates and look down inside with a flashlight. If you see a lot of oil, then the gasket is bad. Timing chain noise is common, and exhaust leaks from theexhaust manifold due to bolts breaking. I'm sure there's more, but those are what I hear or have experienced myself. A bit of advice though, get a V8. You're going to get about the same mileage on a V6, as long as you're comparing the same truck- just different engines.

 

Thanks. I am hoping to stumble across a 4x4 V8 with low miles and in good shape. Have had no luck so far but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

EDIT: As far as the tranny goes, what should I look out for. Leaks, hard shifting?

 

If you have any plans on lifting the truck I would go pre 2000. I have an 01 and I can only find one suspension lift (Rancho 3") and one body lift (PA 3"). Just something to consider.

 

No plans on lifting the truck, but thank you.

 

00 has the 4.7 v8 rather than the 99 and befores 5.2 my 4.7 gets about 17-21 in the summer and 15-18.5 in the winter 5 speed too. the 4.7 gets a lot better gas mileage more refined just not as many aftermarket things but still plenty i love mine. Its the auto trannys you have to look for and the 9.25 axle with lsd is the one i think with the most problems with the lsd going out. also 00 and newer daks have the floor shift 4wd which is better then the 01 ons that have the button that goes out. check ball joints and goto the dodge site and see if it has had the recall done for ball joints if you need a link let me know for that...um i looked around for 7 months and finally found mine it had 90k miles 102k now and no problems so far my mechanic that my dad and i have been going to for a long time said its a real solid truck and i second the definitaly going with a V8 thing more power and if u get the 4.7 better gas mileage than a V6 even a 5.2 V8 will get about the same unless you get into it all the time. just keep looking adn eventually one will pop up like mine did tell dealers to look for you thats how i found mine i test drove a 5.2 auto that i didnt want but a week later they called and had gotten my truck in. you may have to pay a little more but at least they will do everything that is wrong with it when they get it in. i got new tires and the pcm went out a week after i had it from there detail job so i got a brand new computer, shocks, tires like i mentioned and a few other things. good luck finding one but definitaly a solid truck you just gotta find one that hasn't been beaten or a lemon

 

there is alot out there for the 4.7 motor, just have to look for it. there is an HO motor that stock puts out 265 hp IIRC, parts are sold to upgrade the standard output motor.... pretty cheep to. IIRC, manifold & cams for about $300~350...

 

Which of the V8's is more dependable?

 

5.2 imo kinda a gas hog not as much acceleration as the 4.7, but ya cant kill it./.

 

5.2/3.9 is more dependable. they have roots going back to the 1950's.