One thing I would like to see is a gripe list. I don't know if anyone here has any input into Dodge, but their website doesn't seem to have a simple feedback from owners section, so maybe we can "invent" it for them (as a matter of a fact, their web site has a job opening for someone to analyze this kind of input, but from the requirements of the job - MS or PhD in stats/math: which makes it sound like they expect to send out mass-market surveys then come up with a bunch of "actionable objectives" from them based on statistical analysis- sigh whatever happened to just listening to people and using your experience to evaluate what was useful?)
Anyways, in the spirit of trying to help these guys get it right for my next vehicle, here are my attaboys and gripes.
Attaboys:
Flex fuel V8 - This is one of the major factors in my vehicle choice.
QC/shortbed size - The size of the cab and bed is about the best trade-off I think they could have made.
Interior feature dimensions - My truck's interior was obviously tested by someone who had to do things like change radio station and activate the lights, heating fan, etc while wearing winter gloves. I REALLY appreciate this in the winter.
Towing capacity - I have not yet needed this, but the Dak is pretty much best in class here, so any future boat or trailer purchases/rentals are much more open for me as a Dak owner.
No Geostar (ie my car is not wired-up to spy on me) I love the lack of this "feature." The day Dodge decide to add remote spying and disabling technology to their vehicles is the day I drop them from my list of acceptable makers.
Gripes:
No diesel engine available - Can't they do something simple like have Cummins make a smaller version of the engine they make for the Rams or did the new EPA rules kill this?
Transmisison/torque converter issues on a cold morning - OK, this isn't a Dakota only thing, but I am SO sick of having my Dodge vehicle (my wife's '05 Durango did this too) run like a frozen slug for the first block or so after I put it in drive (I can hear the engine rev, but either the tranny or torque converter is just barely passing any of that to the wheels) when the weather gets cool outside.
Automatic AC on when in defrost. This drives me crazy. Why is there no way to switch-off the AC when the defroster is on? I know it helps suck the moisture out of the air, so it makes defrost more effective, but sometimes I just want to have the air directed to the windshield and not run the compressor.
Can't lock the doors when one of the front doors is open and the keys are in the ignition. - If I am in a unknown area at night, I want to get those doors locked ASAP and not have to wait for them to be closed (although I think you can cheat and use the key fob to bypass this.)
4 wheel anti-lock brakes are not standard. If airbags are standard, why on earth is something that can keep you out of a wreck in the first place not standard?
Cheap springs - No, I don't mean the ones in the suspension. I mean the ones in the interior, like the parking brake release and the ignition key turning to the start position. Maybe its just me, but my '07 seems like the feel of these is much less "crisp"/more "mushy" than any other vehicle I've ever owned.

Growlor

 

Link me to that job opening, I didn't see it there..

 

cheap springs? how about mine with 27,500 on them and need replaced because they are both bent in the rear?

 

http://www.dodge.com/en/owners/

Owners section at Dodge.com

 

but you also have had alot of weight in there too




and +1 on the diesel.

 

I kind of like the idea of this. If we can gather a list and get it to dodge and hope they listen that would be great. I love my 05 but I had to spend a lot of money on mods to make it better and its still lacking in some areas. Plus the aftermarket support is horrible.I do enjoy working on my truck but some things just should be already on the truck from the factory. I don't want to buy a japanese truck but the more I compare the dakota and the nissan frontier, the more I like the frontier. I hope with the new ownership dodge really starts making better products. For the most part the styling is fine with mejust work on the other stuff.

 

Gripes:
[ul][*]Front shocks are the worst I have ever seen on a brand new vehicle (3 blown shocks replaced under warranty already and it hasn't seen ANY off-road). Even when they're not blown the truck rides like a waterbed.[*]Rear wheel ABS base with 4 wheel ABS as an option??? This is 2007, get with the times already, my 1994 integra came standard with 4 wheel ABS and 4 wheel disc for god sakes!! (Also seems that particular option was very rare, my local dealer in Maine told me the vast majority of Dakotas they got were rear wheel only)[*]Unpainted front bumper on the SLT trim? Come on... (They may have fixed this already, not sure)[*]Not a big deal but would like more interior storage[*]OEM front rotors are terrible quality, warped after 12k, seems this is a common problem for dodge...[*]Again not a big deal but it would be nice if the power windows were faster[*]We need Mopar and aftermarket support[*]"Fat lip", tuck that front bumper![*]Sway bar end-links are poor quality, extremely easy to snap them when working on the suspension due to cheap metal[*]Would like to see LSD as standard equipment
[/ul]Attaboys:
[ul][*]Seats are comfortable and the YES fabrics seem pretty tough, much nicer than normal cloth.[*]Love the illumination of the gauges, ought to add oil pressure and amperage though.[*]170 degree hinges for club cab doors (wish I had these on mine but at least they did it eventually)[*]Truck tows great, no complaints there.[*]Size is perfect, for me at least.[*]Interior controls are intelligently laid out, everything is easy to access and adjust while driving.[*]6.5' box on the club cabs is large enough to put a 4 wheeler in and close the tailgate.[/ul]I know I know my gripes list is bigger, I DO like the truck, just that it could be much better if Dodge had done it right from the start

I'll add to this if I think of more.

 

just about all vehicles have a really loud engine roar and are like sluggish for the first block or two.

 

Rich...they started painting the front bumpers on all non-STs in '06. The rear bumpers started getting painted in '07. I agree with ya on most of your list, too...I've not had a problem with the brakes, thankfully (knock on wood)...but everything else, yup. My biggest gripe is the lack of storage...the glove box is way too tiny. Can barely fit anything in there aside from the registration and manual...maybe a pen.

 

OMG I did this way back on my early postings. I was off the wall with complaints on Garythang 1 but still I listed a bunch of stuff that would have made the Dak. a much more marketed entity by simply adding so many things that use to standard on vehicles in that price range but where eliminated with the Gen IIIs. As I said I would rather have the options or pay a bit more for things that should either be standard or optional than not be able to have them at all. Adding things later is a pain. I rather have the factory install things while the unit is being built. The way I see it the factory does seem to listen to some things since I’m seeing items and designs being implemented in the 08s.