1995 Dodge Dakota Extended Cab 3.9 Magnum V6
Summary:
Not a Caddy, but not a lemon
Faults:
This thing burns gas. When I first got the pick-up, I was getting around 20-21 mpg highway, however in the past 4 or 5 months, that number has dropped to 14-15 mpg. I have ran injection cleaner through it, replaced the spark plugs, and even ran higher grade gasoline in it, but to no avail. The fuel filter I would check, and probably change, but it is in the gas tank!
Now other than that, there are minor wear issues; it takes a while, and sometimes a try or two, to turn over on colder mornings, and the pick-up is losing its get up and go quickly.
General Comments:
It's really not a bad little work truck. It can be a bit hard headed, but it does go. You won't arrive in style or class, but it has never left me stranded!
I can tell it's in the last stages of its life. I don't expect it to reach 200000 miles. The low windshield washer fluid light stays on. It rattles badly while stopped and in gear. The speedometer is off; working, but off. The gas gauge wiggles about aimlessly. It doesn't like to downshift, however when it does shift, it's smoother than other 15 year old pick-ups I know.
It rides smoothly... for a truck.
I don't regret buying it.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 12th December, 2010
1st May 2013, 21:42
I too had problems with the fuel economy, or lack thereof. It fared pretty well until I started putting on about 550 miles a month. At that point it decreased to the pre-teens at 60 or 65 mph, and an unmentionable single digit in town. I knew Dodge's weren't the easiest on gas, but I would have expected better from a '95 3.9L V6 with new plugs, wire, distributor cap and rotor, countless bottles of injection cleaner and octane booster. (And no! I never ran the A/C.)
I mean heck, the '87 D-100 with a 318 V8 did better.
15th Oct 2012, 13:02
Sounds like the bearings are going out. I had this problem at 115K miles - I hate the learning curve. Good truck otherwise.