I'm finally getting to buy a Dakota and I see ALOT of '98's for sale. Is there anything up with this model year? I'm looking for a 4x4 V6
Thanks for your help

 

I like mine but its a v-8 and a little hard on gas. the only thing ive heared on the v-6 is the oil pump is a probem but that is here-say
Rick

 

My dads gotta a 1998 V-6 3.9l 2wd sport with nothing really in performance mods excpet a gibson cat back system. And hes got i thinck around 72,000 miles on it and not a singel problem with her. Except 1 but had nothign to do with drive ability. It was a computer related problem with the airbags cost about 350 to do hisself and pretty easy besides the fact if you messed up the airbags would go off. But i have yet to hear of any real problems with the 1998 model year.

 

I have a '97 v6, havent had it long but it seems fine to me... only issues that are common to all the mag motors are the plenum leaking and rear diff noise. throttle bodies get gunked up because of the plenum and need cleaning every once in a while...

 

A friend of mine has a '98 reg cab 4X4 318 and I have a 2001 QC 4X4 4.7. Things to look at are: Ball joints, if they haven't been done yet they soon will: If it is an auto with overdrive button on the lever, check it good, those buttons are weak(somewhat like the 3.9 v6.
I've seen a 3.9 with 300,000 kms still running fine but it all depends on maintenance right? Also, the fuel filter is attached to the fuel pump in the tank as one unit....$$$$$$(done mine so I know). Yes the 318 is thirsty but I'm very impressed with the 4.7 at close to 20mpg.

 

I have a 98 V6 2wd sport. 109K so far. Cant say its been "problem free" because it HASNT. Bought used with 16K. Lost first heater core at 45K in 2002. 2nd blew about a month later, 3rd at 60K, 4th at about 80K and been heater less since april this year. Yet to replace this one (has to be done this coming weekend since its getting into the 30's here) Have to have the cooling system yet flushed AGAIN since theres an electrolysis problem with this truck and the locla dodge dealer had NO IDEA that this causes heater cores to fall apart (ironically a 5 star dealer no less).

Has 2 bolts on the manifold that broke off. O2 sensors that go bad every 6K miles. Leak in the power steering that no one can find even with dye. Water pump is a bitch to replace and needs special tools (bright idea dodge designers. Much like putting the heater core in a place that you need to yank the dash out to get to it ). Bypass hose thats UNDER THE A/C COMPRESSOR BRACKET thats a nightmare to replace. Front bumper that rusts after teh factory plastic coating peels off.

Does this mean I am going to buy another one? Nope. Read some other dakota sites for even more issues people have had. Not talking basic stuff either. Theres a lulu in teh 3rd gen dak here on someones 05 and there is NO EXCUSE for a vehicle being that f-ed up. If I decide on another mid sized truck, I'm getting a frontier. Full sized a ford F250 (if I can swing it and since you cant get a stick with a v8 in a F150) new or get a used mid 70s- early 80's C/K1500, F150, D150 (only way I'll buy a dodge truck again is this older easy to work on model).

 

That particular 3.9 has been used since 92 its the same dimensions inside and out as the 5.2 just less two cylinders. Dakotas are pretty good trucks, basic system, not hard to diagnose. As for the oil in the plenum, the PCV valves have a little too much blow by sometimes but its not a big deal.

 

as long as you dont have oil pooling on the bottom of the intake, your plenum is sealed properly.