Wife and I had another long talk. She hates the truck and decided that we can get my a newer lower miles, non-dodge truck. Although I have found some 03-04 Dakotas (4dr, 4.7L 4x4) with 30K miles for what I can afford to spend. I asked our "buddies" in the 2nd gen dakota area and no one answered my post for help. I was just looking to see if they have problematic issues like their big brothers do. No one really answered.

So I might skip the Dakota and get a 4.6L or 5.4L F-150. I need the full size to fit my family in it, so if i went mid sized i would need a 4rd, or a full sized quad cab type. I love V8's so that illiminates a Ranger, they are just too small. I would also like to get a colorado, but they are VERY pricey.

I am not a chevy fan, heard they tend to have just as much problems as the Dodges do. I know people are loyal to their brands, I used to be, then I started to make decisions based on price, so i wound up with the cheapest truck out there. I am not liking it at all. So, I will spend more. I know people call the F-150 a commuter truck. Well, thats all I am doing, going to work and back with the occasional trip to the home depot or dump, or whatever.

I have almost considered getting an Expedition fully loaded with the 5.4... tempting, but i know the minute I did thatI would need a truck. I am going to get one from a $tealer$**** because I will see about getting a warranty. I got royally screwed buying privately. NEVER AGAIN.

Anyhow, thanks for listening to me rant. I am sure the new dodges are better, and also sure that most of these problems are age/mileage related, but I have had enough. Its actually made me irritable, my wife and kids don't deserve that.

I looked up my BB Value (Trade in) and its $5200 if I am lucky I can get that. hope they don't notice the tranny is about to take a dump. but I think a dealership would just take the truck to auction, so they won't really care.

ugh. I like the truck, I do, I like the styling and the truck feel, I just hate the fact that I am literally waiting for the next issue. I make sure I take my cell phone with me in case i need to make "that call".

I need to stop, I don't need to subject you all to this rant... but wish me luck on my next purchase. I would like to get a dakota, but just afraid I am going to be getting a low miles mini-RAM that has its own seriese of Dodge Problems.

if someone out there has a 03-04 Dakota with the 4.7... I would love to hear some feedback...



thanks!

 

2004 Dakota 4.7. It has and has had steering issues. Resistor in heater had to be changed once for blower speeds. 4.7 has adaquate power. I get from 16 to 22 mpg between city and highway. This truck replaced a Ford F-150 with a 4.2 liter. It got maybe 8 mpg in city, 10 on highway. The truck had an ignition bank go bad while Iowned it, and the front end ate tires. The Dakota is fun to drive compared to the Ford, easier to maneuver. I was looking for better gas mileage when I got the Dakota, and was surprised to get double, even though t is a V-8. This is my first Dodge, I've always been a Ford person. I am glad I got the Dakota. Unless Dodge switchws the body styles, I will never get another one, as the 05 up to me are just plain ugly. I hate to give people advice on what to buy, as everyone's taste is different. They say the new F-150's are getting much better mileage ? You might want to check them out. Just myFeedback to your dilema.

 

I agree, the new body style on the new dakotas is horrible. I like the fact the dakota has a v8, and gets decent gas mileage. Steering issue? Is this a common problem or maybe it just happens to be yours?
My ram steers like its on ice. done all the DIY fixes and its better, but still not right.

Thanks for feedback, I wouldn't hold anyone to any advice, but I just need some feedback. had i gone here sooner before getting my RAM I would have never of gotten the dang blasted POS.

 

ram 3500 cummins, only way to go man

 

This is always a tough question. I think for every person that loves our trucks you can find one that doesn't and had nothing but problems. I have both a 2000 Durango 4x4 (5.9) and a 2002 Dakota 4x4 Quad Cab (4.7). Knock on wood, these have been wonderful to me.

Best to probably just surf bulletin boards and read some of the posts. You'llsee what the common problems might be with each vehicle.

Just try and figure out what might be the best style (SUV or truck) for what you need and test drive the crap out of them. Also keep in mind if the SUV is what you might like the best except for the occasional dump run, you can always pick up a small trailer for that.....

 

Well, from what I have heard about the 4.7's. they seem pretty good. The 4.7L engine is a good engine, no real problems. The tranny is a lot more solid. It's a 45rfe, and bandless. Thats were most of the problems came in on my dodge, and most other's a band would fail. The 45rfe holds up the 5.7L hemi which is about 100 hp more, so If you plan on any mods it will hold up.

just my 2¢

 

i have a 2000 4.7 stick and so far so good for me had it for 12000 miles common issues are the ball joints going out there is a recall for that so if you find one make sure or get that done that can also wear out other front end parts. the lsd 9.25 rear end has some problems with the lsd going out there are a few other things out there but overall a very solid truck im a mopar man and would drive nothing else only dodge and jeep for me. but all trucks will have there problems no matter what company it just depends on if you get a good one or a bad one. my mechanic that my dad has been going to for forever and i have since i started driving told me my truck is really really solid so if you find a good one for a good price i would jump on it. i got mine from a dealer and they did the whole jazz when they got it in which is nice because you never know what those used car places do when they get them probably nothing unless its someone one know and trust. so i would say go for it you get a V8 in a mid sized truck that gets better gas mileage than a full size and can do just as much and from what it sounds like for you would be plenty so good luck finding one if you decide to.

 

98Dodgeram1500, I had two steeringracks changed under warranty, and still felt there was a problem. The stealership stroked me until it was out of warranty, and rather than line their pockets,I took it to a front end specialist an hour and a half away, where we used to live. He has it straightened out pretty good, but told me to expect ball joint replacement and steering joint replacement around 50 to 60 thousand miles. I guess this is prettycommon in these trucks ?I have owned Fords all my life except for a Chevy LUV. He says that the rack and pinion steering takes a while to get used to when you've owned trucks with gear box steering all your life. As far as everything else, I love the Dakota truck.You are supposed to use the newer transmission fluid only in the steering, and I am now trying to find out from someone if I could use the synthetic version of the new transmission fluid in the steering ? You'd think it would help, but no one so far has answered my question if it is OK to use it. I may try emailing the manufacturer of the synthetic fluid to see if it is steering compatabile.