Its the front end you have to worry about on these trucks. The rack and pinion steering seems weak and underpowered, ball joints go fast for some, struts from the factory are terrible, people break the sway bar links left and right because there terribly weak.

Large tires and heavy wheels accelerate these problems.

Dodge Automatic transmissions have always been below average for reliability. Thats not from personal experience, just numbers and facts.


Is that honest enough for you?

 

thats perfect as far as honesty goes. im glad you guys can say the faults of your truck and not take it personally.
so given the problems these trucks commonly have. would you recomend that i still get this truck, or should i look for something else? im looking for a truck that isnt going to need a lot of repairs, but i also cant spend much over 10,000 and would like a half way new truck.

also someone mentioned checking out the truck and taking it to a mechanic...
do all dealerships let you do this? ive never bought from a dealership before but this doesnt seem like something they would do, just let you borrow the truck for a day...? if i cant do this, is there much a mechanic is going to look at that i cant look at at the dealership? im fairly mechanically inclined.

any other tips on things to look at? besides all the front end parts, basic dents, um.... and everything else that has been posted that i cant think of off my head..

the dealer did say that carfax showed one owner no accidents, but he said he can tell they painted the side of the bed, he is thinking to cover up scratches.

 

Is there any warranty coverage being provided by this dealer? If you get it writing before hand and check it over and compare it the the items that everyone listed. If there is something wrong after you buy it, then they have to fix that covered item.

 

i haven't heard of a warranty yet but, the ad didnt have much info, and we only talked on the phone for a few minutes. hopefully when i go look at the truck we will discuss a warranty

 

FYI guys. You can get an extended warranty from Good Sam Club for alot less than the dealership will give you and has a better coverage. It will cover up to a 7 year old vehicle with up to 120,000 miles. It even covers the struts which i'm having changed as soon as i get some time off. i called and got a Quick response with no hassle. go to there web site and get an instant quote. and also can be payed monthly, quarterly or annualy.

 

good sam club? is this different than sams club?
more info please...link to website?

 

http://www.goodsamclub.com/benefits-...-warranty.aspx Membership is less than $20 a year. Lots of other benifits

 

that seems like a good deal, ill look into that if and when i get a new truck.
im still torn between buying this truck or not. my choices right now are a dakota, frontier, or something fullsize, probably a four door chevy.
just cant decide.
im used to a full size, and not sure if im ready to downsize.

 

ok i know this thread has gone on and on, but one more question. how can i test the four wheel drive? is it safe to put it into 4 hi and then 4 lo, trying them on dry pavement?

i just want to be sure the 4x4 works right, and im not going to find out this winter that it needs repaired

 

After owning my 06 Dakota for over 50,000 miles, I say run away. Honestly, mine has been nothing but trouble and expense. I don't like to hate on this site, but you asked for honest opinions more than once. That said, Dodgeforum.com has been great.