I just bought a 2005 Dakota and I'm finding the radio does not receive some of the stations our other riggs get. Are the stock radios junk like the Jeep radios? Thanks

 

I had a 2002 Ram 1500 a couple of years ago. The radio didn't work very well. I eventually replaced it with an aftermarket. The older radios from the 1980's through 2000 were tough. We used them where I worked on fork lifts and while the aftermarket radios would last a year, maybe, the stock Mopar ones would last for years. Our lease cycle on equipment was 3 years. I put one radio on three different lift trucks.

When they are new, they are pretty good. They just don't last very long.

 

You might want to check if the antenna is plugged into the back of the radio, and conected all the way through. My stock radio received FM signals as well as any other radio, my current Pioneer radio is slightly worse for reception than the OEM radio. Fortunately I have an Ipod touch always connected, and no longer rely on the damn antenna anymore.

Of course my sub just quit on me today, 1/2 way through the day, hopefully that's just a connection or power issue. I need to check on that tomorrow, I need my bass!!!!

 

If you don't like your Jeep radios, you probably won't like your Dodge radios since they are the same stock radios. That said, I upgraded by 2011 Dakota's stock radio to a better stock radio. FM/AM seemed the same on both and on par with other vehicles. That said, I rarely use FM or AM. Mostly, I use XM, Bluetooth (streaming from cell phone), or the HDD.

 

ya I did check the antenna and could see or feel pretty much the whole cable. Rado is connected and no other problems apparent. I will keep checking for solutions. I just wasn't sure if the stock radio was known to be very poor quality. I had a newer jeep and the radio was terrible. After some research I found the radios in the jeeps were really well known to be junk. I may pick up a new antenna and try it. Maybe something is wrong with it. next would be a radio. I'm surprised how easy it is to access and remove the radio in this truck.

 

It's been decades since I dealt with an antenna that was bad and hadn't been hit. I'd say it's your radio. The newer ones just don't seem to last. When you replace it, please, please, PLEASE use an adapter kit. I work on cars I've bought then drove for a while until I find something else I like and sell it to buy the new one. Invariably, somebody has put a "system" in them and butchered the wiring. They will spend $800-1200 on a radio but not $25 on an adapter. They will also cut the wires short so you can't splice onto them.

 

Ya that sounds logical to me Grouch. I don't need a high end stereo, just a decent quality unit.

 

I need a radio but not a great one. I'm pretty well deaf as a post but the radio breaks up the drone from the road. My '96 Ram has a cheapie that has internal speakers. It takes two wires and an antenna. Everything else is self contained. It's not great but it breaks the road noise up so I don't go to sleep going down the road.