Faults:

Replaced EGR valve 8 times, 5 under warranty; turns out it was a PCM fault, not an EGR valve issue.

Radiator under warranty.

Water pump at 100,000 & 169,000 under warranty.

Clutch at 106,000 only because the throw-out bearing went bad, not the clutch itself.

U-joints at 150,000.

Cat-converter at 168,000 for $130.

Front brake rotors about every 30,000 miles; they're too small for this truck!

A/C evaporator & heater core replaced due to a stupid mistake by a body shop after accident repairs.

General Comments:

Even with the EGR issues and normal wear items, this is the best vehicle I have ever owned, and I have owned many different ones by most manufacturers.

I'm 6'3" and the stock bench seat was comfortable, although I replaced it with bucket seats and stock floor console, and added an overhead console when I replaced the carpet & headliner last year. Much more comfortable than my Ford Ranger with lots more legroom.

Gas mileage when new was 16 MPG; now with headers, Magnaflow exhaust, Fastman throttle body, K&N air filter and Royal Purple oil, gas mileage is 23-24 MPG.

Has used a pint of oil between changes since new, and now has 170,000 miles! Tires last 75,000 and I have never needed an alignment!

Faults:

Bought the car for $200 with 85000 on it with a blown transmission. Got the trans rebuilt for a cheap price of $500. But you get what you pay for. I had to bring it back 4 times in order for them to get it right. I blame the transmission shop, not Chrysler. If the trans didn't go out the first time, then I wouldn't have bought it, ha.

After that was taken care of, I blew a u-joint 40 miles from home at 3am. Later found out that the trans shop broke my bolts for the strap kit on the u-joints, and just threw a couple welds on it.

Again, trans shop ^^^.

A dealer fault is the timing chain. Every single Dakota has a sloppy timing chain (that I've heard). It sounds like hell and is mistaken for a rod knock. Never fixed it. Dealt with it.

Replaced plugs, wires, cap and rotor for the hell of it at 100000, along with front brakes, rotors and pads (rotors weren't cheap).

Alternator started acting up on me the other day, but I blame my sound system that's pulling 100 amps peak out of my Optima battery. Wasn't made for that.

General Comments:

It's been a good truck to me. Nothing broke out of the ordinary that I didn't see coming. I put the truck through electrical hell. The transmission doesn't like me all that much, but I'm dumping it and putting in a Mopar 383 motor, and I don't know yet on the trans, but I'm sure getting a new one.

I reupholstered the entire truck black rather than gray. The gray is disgusting.

It has the necessary power, but not from 0-10 or 60+. In between is good.

I don't exaggerate when I say NO TURNING RADIUS. It's embarrassing.

Faults:

Had many, many issues with the truck. Was very glad I bought the extended service plan.

Items replaced: engine (twice!), radiator, steering box, ball joints, trans oil leaks, rear diff leak, PCM, and fuel pump - all by around 85K miles.

The paint was flaking off at only 4 years of age, and was really flaking off badly at 6 years of age. It looked like a 15 year old truck!

General Comments:

Too bad that truck pushed me away from Mopars. I loved Mopars when I was younger, as I owned many examples from the 70's & 80's. They seemed rock solid, and I learned to perform basic maintenance and performance upgrades on Mopars. But that 90's Dak put me over the edge, and haven't owned a Mopar since (in 10 years)! Although I'd love to have a 60's era Mopar musclecar. '69 Dodge 383 Dart GTS comes to mind, LOL.