My dakota that I bought has presented challenges, like many of ours here. I have had issues since the day i bought it with filling it with fuel. I would have been lucky to get a gallon in before the pump would shut off and it would spit gas at me. Not to mention it took forever to put 20 gallons in.

I called Chrysler to see if there were any recalls (none) only a lowly TSB

so I thought I could live with it until that first cold day where the wind was blowing hard at a brisk 10º outside and it took 15 min to fill the tank. I said enough and called 2 dealers to see what the issues were. Both of them said on the phone that it probrably was that the fuel tank was bad and would run to the tone of $950-$1000 to replace.

GEEZE how does a fuel tank go bad? especiallly on a truck with less than 100K miles?

So I wrote a 2 page letter displaying my disgust in that fact that Chrysler expected me to replace a fuel tank that was poorly designed at my cost ( as well as I highlighted the struts and ball joints issue- just to add another tick on the board at Dodge HQ for bad designs they regret)

Chrysler called back, and long story short, I brought it in got it diagnosed. Now I will be paying $200 bucks for a $971.00 fuel tank replacement job. I would rather pay nothing; but I know that a used tank from a junkyard is at least 125-175; so I figure it is worth it to me.

not happy? write a letter

 

Hmmm that makes me want to get my tank fixed. I drove 26 miles over the weekend on highway and I went from half a tank to under a quarter and the next day I got in the truck it was back up to 3/8's. So I definitely have an issue with that.. but I'm glad you got your problem fixed for cheaperr than normal!

 

That's great! Yea now that they are almost out of the crapper financially, we may see more willingness for them to do courtesy work. Did they say anything about the struts and ball-joints?

 

Good to know I'm not the only one with the tank sending unit issue

 

I get the same issue with the gauge. It floats when you turn the truck on and off. One time I can have a quarter sitting then shut it off turn it right back on boom. Fuel light. Takes about 15 minutes for the gauge to register properly again.

 

cchrysler is VERY good about courtesy work

 

Thats good business right there DM. If they would take care of my issue, I'd remain loyal but as things are I will probably go with a different make next go around...... aw hell who am I kidding - my pay keeps going down and the price of trucks keeps going up.

 

They will only pay half most of the time and will not take any fault for anything. I delt with a rust issue and they told me it was something I has to do to cause it. Which made absolutely no sense and wanted me to pay 400 bucks to split the cost with them to repair it. I told them where to go and cut out the lower radiator support which is where it was and put a new rail back in. For a truck that only lives in a garage that was some real bs. I'm glad you were able to get a good deal out of it I spent numerious hours on the phone with Chrysler and supervisor after supervisor I just gave up. Hope everything works out for you and the tank. That's a good deal for something like that!

 

Just curious - where do you live?
The reason I ask is because I had bought a brand new 1995 Volkswagon Gulf and 3.5 - 4 years old I had a lot of rust on it. Same story, the dealership would come near it. I asked about the rust protection warranty and they told me that it had to be rusted completely through. My Gulf was washed regularly - as one tends to do when they've spent that much money on a new car and I parked it in a garage every night.
I wondered after it was gone if it might have something to do with the ice and salt being on it and melting off in the garage and then repeating the process of getting more ice and salt on it everyday. I wondered if it would have been better to just leave the crap on it so it wouldn't keep getting attacked by "fresh" salt.
I live on the Atlantic coast in Canada.

 

Yeah I'm on the atlantic coast also new jersey. They told be that bubbling through the paint would be covered which what was the problem. They then still would not cover it. Made no sense and pledged to them i would never to own another chrysler product again. What's sad to say my frame on my 51 dodge truck has no rust on the frame and sat outside for 60 years