Faults:

July 1998 - transmission blew $1,400 to fix.

September 1998 - whole rear end went out, $2,000 to fix and still paying on it.

October 1999 - bearing on the rear end went out, covered by warranty.

January 2001 - whole rear end went out again. Don't know the cost yet this time.

Meanwhile numerous small things broke down (to many to mention). Above all, to make things worse, when we had to find the parts to fix it with they were hard to find plus they cost more than any other vehicle brand in comparision.

General Comments:

Comfort is the only good feature.

Faults:

Trans has gone twice while pulling a boat within the towing limit, air conditioner keeps dying, not good at towing heavy things, like a truck should.

General Comments:

If you are not gonna tow anything pretty close to the limit, it is a great truck. It accelerates pretty quickly for a truck, and it is a comfortable ride. You can easily add new things to the 1991 Dodge also. Just about everything is interchangable. With tinted windows, and big tires, I can go anywhere in style.

Faults:

My Dakota is used hard because I am in a wheelchair. I like to hunt and fish in the Alberta outdoors. My major compaint is that from day one of owning my 5.2 litre automatic 4x4, I have had problems with my transmission. If I back my truck into the driveway I always have to put the truck into reverse when I go to leave in a forward direction again. That is, if after backing my truck up, when I want to use the truck again I cannot do so without either giving a lot of gas whereby a loud clank is heard followed by a lunge forward, or quickly putting the gear shift in reverse. The problem was never existed during the warranty coverage and I have since replaced the transfer case as well as numerous U-joints.

Other than replacing seven different outer and inner drive axles in the front end and replacing both the front and rear differentials, I have not experienced any engine problems. I fully expect the 5.2 liter to outlast the whole truck as it is my opinion that the engine is way too heavy for the rest of the truck.

General Comments:

I first bought a 1990 Dakota Sport and wanted the 318 when it came out. The major downfall despite going well below the speed limit is the fuel economy.

The truck is well maintained but has been equipped with custom bumpers, winch and also has a headache rack.

Faults:

Bought the truck brand new. Spark knocking started at 9K miles. Now has 112K miles and still knocking. Can't recall all the visits to the dealer and parts replaced. Should have considered lemon law.

Transmission was replaced at 23K miles. $100 deductible.

General Comments:

Kick myself for not getting the V8. V6 has been a real dog. Gas mileage is 16-17 mpg. I get better gas mileage in my wife's Impala SS. Wish I could swap engines :) May consider lowering rear end ratio.

On the plus side, I do love the size of the truck. Long bed has been used several times. Trucks with smaller beds never would have fit.

Faults:

Only routine maintenance has needed done on major systems. Currently the gas gauge and trip meter are touchy, but are still working if you know the combination. The truck bed rattles some which could probably be easily repaired if I would invest the money. I just recently turned 70,000 miles.

General Comments:

I bought this truck with 9,000 miles on it, as a factory buyback. It is the closest thing I have ever had to a "New" vehicle. It has all the goodies a gentlewoman farmer could want. It was purchased to pull a horse trailer and it has performed beyond my expectations although it has not been used hard.