I have a whopping 34,500 miles on my truck. I have had replaced under warranty: both outer tie rods, both sway bar links on the front, both front sway bar bushings, transmission lines (twice), the upper cab corner on the driver's side above the rear window looks like its separating where the top and side come together, now I have a major vibration that I can't pinpoint yet, I have a popping or thumping sound which sounds like ball joints, the front end bounces like its head banging to my music (I'm thinking worn struts), and I also have to replace the rear sway bar links and bushings. I had my windshield replaced after a rock hit it and the glass shop said my windshield was not sealed properly from the factory and could have been very bad had I gotten into a wreck. I drive 8 miles a day round trip to work and back on a road that was repaved 2 years ago. I have done off-roading with other makes of truck in the past and had no where near the issues I've had with this Dakota. Not to mention that a retard designed the cross member that goes right under our oil drain plug.

Thanks Dodge for over pricing my truck for what a POS its been and then have it **** in my face every time I change my oil!!!!

Dodge, you wonder why you went bankrupt and had to be bailed out when you are selling a product that you know is faulty and will not fix it. The above mentioned parts and labor came out of YOUR pocket because you made poor decisions while building this truck. Next time they go it will be out of my pocket and will not make me happy. My next $30,000 or $40,000 for a new truck will be spent more wisely I can assure you. If you would spend a little money up front and build our vehicles with top notch equipment and design them to be used rather than looked at then maybe you would gather some more customers to pay for your investment. Making your vehicles with cheap parts and cheap design is not going to save your company money if you are having to replace everything underneath them because they are faulty (not to mention giving your company a bad reputation for having weak and unreliable vehicles). This just PISSES OFF people like me that spent $32,000 of my hard earned money (more than a year's pay for me!) on a piece of crap truck. We DO NOT have to shop Dodge, Ram, or Chrysler the rest of our life and we WILL go elsewhere where other companies have their act together. You should thank your styling team for your sales, because that's why I bought mine. I owned a 1997 Dakota with similar front end issues. I loved its appearance and that is why I bought it. Nice to see in 10 years you didn't fix any problems. I've learned my lesson with this truck!!!


That was the post I mentioned where someone told me I had a Monday Truck. lol I was obviously very frustrated, so maybe you can understand my apprehension for trying the RAM. Anyone feel like I will go down the same road I did with my Dak?

 

Get a Ford, they're perfect...

But seriously, I had a 1998 Ram 1500 RCSB 5.9 4x4 for six years and a 2004 Ram 1500 QCSB 4x4 for just shy of 11 years.

Only problem on the '98 was a blown plenum gasket at 68,000 miles, cost me a whopping $100 for the Hughes kit and a half day to install it in my driveway. Only issue on the '04 was the windshield washer pump went out this year - yep, in all seriousness is the only non wear component that failed!

Now granted, I did my homework and knew the Achilles Heels these trucks had and I was sure to replace the factory LSD when I regeared it at 19k miles BEFORE it became an issue. I did torsion ends but they weren't factory as they came with the 4" lift. I had to do CVs and ball joints this year but A) they are wear components and B) the rubber was about gone from all my intercoastal outdoor activities splashing salt water underneath allowing sand and dirt to get in. Can't blame Dodge for that.

YES, there are lemons out there, but 3/4 of the guys out there have problems and vent on forums because they NEVER took the time or spent the money to do some preventative maintenance...

 

lol....Hammer is right.

Listen, you had issues. Will your next one have issues? Who friggin knows but no one is going to sit here and tell you, "Yep, this sucks that sucks, Ram sucks, but I love mine and I recommend you buy one too!" No one brand is perfect sand no one brand has any major recurring, constant issue that has stopped them from selling.

You need to decide your needs: People mover or cargo mover mostly? Wknd Home Depot truck with a lot of commuting or long trips towing a big camper?

For max economy a simple 3.6 would be best. If you have everything you need in a Dakota size, then just that will be plenty.

 

well said

OP My 14' Outdoorsman (the crew with 3.92's) actually gets BETTER mileage than my father's 12' Big Horn (6 speed trans with 3.55's). Not by much, but its still a better!That 8 speed does wonders. I had an 04' Laramie with 3.55's and it was fine, id bet that most rams out there still have the 3.55 ratios

I have owned every generation or rams, from the Power Rams to the 90's rams to an 04' then an 08' (the 04' was a better truck) then the two 14's. These new rams are lightyears ahead of every past generation ram truck IMO the fit and finish along with quality are top notch.