Finally had time to put some photos up

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Dayum! Sorry your truck is giving you such a hard time. I understand your frustration.

 

Well, my truck didn't come with a lifetime powertrain warranty. I know about big and small issues. I've been driving all kinds of rigs for the better part of 40 years. I have never had so many problems with one truck with zero support from the factory or dealer.

I've looked for the issue. It starts where the rubber hits the road and goes up.

Front suspension sucks. Three or four times having the tie rods replaced. I've had rigs that have 200K and have never had this done.
Brakes are mediocre at best. I can get lifetime on the front but not the back?
Transmission rebuild at 116k. Actually looks like it was because of the location of the ECM. Yeah, in the engine compartment next to the AC. Um Computers and moisture don't mix.
My front right fog light will burn out faster than the left every time. Left one hardly ever burns out. I still replace both at the same time. I did the right one once, and it still burned out before the left one did.
Oh, back to the transmission and ECM. the temp light for the transmission, even though it reads at normal operating temp, the light still comes on.
This thing, even with the towing package, can't tow it's own weight. What a dog.

This isn't a truck. It's a toy meant to pull toys. Heck, the local hardware stores had to get rid of some lumber racks because they were too heavy for the truck! Couldn't put any loads on them with the racks. Ain't that a hoot!

 

I won't even post much of anything here. We've covered this so many times, from several of the same people.

 

I never under stand posts like that. I you don't like the truck, sell it and go buy something else.

Reminds of the union guys I used to work with. Bitch and whine about how awefull the company was but still worked there away.

 

So true. I have owned two Dodge, two Ford, and one Pontiac. Not one has given me significant problems. Neither my Dodge Dakota nor my Dodge Diplomat have ever needed anything more than an oil change. My Pontiac has only ever had the ignition control module replaced (very simple fix). The only fix I ever made on my Ford LTD was a power steering belt. My Ford Ranger needed the 4x4 repaired, new leaf springs, and new brake drums. Nothing that cost me ridiculous amounts of money or time. **** happens. Sometimes you get a lemon.

 

I've had a few of the typical front end issues with mine (and to be fair I did have a leveling kit on it for a while) and a seized caliper but that's it. The truck is quite capable towing and mine's even been rolled, held up pretty damn well considering. The shop that fixed it told me I could have driven it around like it was, looked like hell and the body was all banged up but it was all body work to fix it. No mechanical issues.

I'd say mine has treated me pretty well.

 

I am in love with mine..the engine and drive-train don't fail (knock on wood) only replaced the TPS. The one thing I don't like is how the suspension rides over bumps anytime you're going under 60 mph. Yes, I know it is a truck and how it should feel but Dodge did mess up on this one. My buddies with Chevy 1500's trucks ride so much smoother than mine. One of my friends is rolling on 22's and it still feels a hell of a lot better than my Dakota. I have new struts, shocks and tires btw. Sure, I probably need a ball joint or two but it is what it is. When the guys ride with me and I hit the gas they will admit how much quicker and responsive my truck is before I even open my mouth. This thing flies when I want it too

 

I would love to be able to trade my truck in on something else. I've tried a few times. But with the trade-in value being half what I owe on it, or worse, I'm pretty much stuck with it until either the wheels fall off or it's 100% paid for. Or both. I figure it'll happen about the same time.

So I will complain about it. I'll try and make it better. But because of it and the way I've been treated by the dealership and the factory rep, there will not be a MOPAR product in my driveway after this one.

My only saving grace is full coverage and GAP insurance. Sheesh, I tried trading it in when it was below 100K and the dealer even said, "You really want to trade this in before it hits 100K. The value goes to almost zero after that."

I currently have 155k on it. And about 2.5 years before it gets paid off...

 

I respect the comments and experience of someone like Eimer. I also question my own purchase of this vehicle when someone says it's time to bail out. I have managed to repair many things from knowledge gathered from this forum. There is only so much any "reasonable" person can and should take when it comes to repairs. To those that say Chrysler is the best thing since sliced bread and that they are loyalists...then good on ya mate. I'm a realist and it would be an insult to my intelligence to continue to pour money into something that has proven to be less than what we have come to expect in terms of reliability in a North American built truck. I have believed for some time that these 3rd generation Dakotas are the red headed orphans of the truck world. When my girlfriend was looking for a new car...I pleaded with her not to buy the Chrysler 200...but she did anyway. I was speaking from experience with Chrysler dealerships and products. Sure, the car runs okay now....but I know it's just a matter of time before it starts to show it's flaws. I hear that now is the time to unload used vehicles, especially trucks, as the lack of used vehicles from the financial meltdown period created a shortage, which will soon be filled by all the off lease vehicles coming onto the market now.