01 dakota What issuses or common problems? (about to buy 1)

[JFought]

01 4x4 quad 120K i think a 4. 7l (v8)

$5K in north TX



what problems, or common issues? Or things to check.

My brother is about to pull the trigger. .

Jesse

TIA

 

[Bill Lins]

I had a 2000 Dakota 2WD with the 3. 9L V6. In 82k miles all I did, other than normal maintenance, was replace both front calipers and the water pump. My sister now has it & loves it.

 

[EDankievitch]

Only issue I had with my 02 was putting the wrong sparkplugs init anything other than Champion will cause running issues. Also check that the baffel is in the oil fill or you will get alot of wite sludge in it. The baffel just drops in and was not installed on the early trucks. My truck was alot of fun but the gas Mpg was not so great. They don't like to get as mne was the front end was never the same after.

 

[guldam]

I have a 2000 4. 7 V-8, 4x4, Auto Dakota since new. It's been very reliable, though we've had a few issues.

There are several recalls on these trucks. Clock Spring and Ball Joints are the two big ones.

Yep, gas mileage sucks. Around town no better than 12mpg. On the freeway best I've ever gotten was 16mpg.

It does haul fanny though!

Oh, and the truck got backed into a few years ago, and though we had the body work and condenser repaired, the A/C has never been the same. Reading up on the subject it seems as though the radiator is no longer properly cooling and will need replacement. So try running the A/C on a hot day in traffic and see if it still cools.


GulDam

 

[JFought]

okay great, thanks.
my brother is going to start an appliance repair business on the side, and still needs some room for car seats occasionally, till he can buy a sprinter van in a couple years.

(he drives a sprinter now for a company. they are way better in drive ability and mpg's compared to the ford econ vans they previously had. )

 

[rscurtis]

Nothing wrong with a Dakota that a 4BT wouldn't fix.

 

[fest3er]

Nothing wrong with a Dakota that a 4BT wouldn't fix.

Or a 6BT.

 

[jgillott]

We have an '04 Dakota Quad Cab here that my father runs. Nice little truck for what it is. Great leg room in the back for a truck its size. We have a car seat in the center of the rear seat for my daughter and she fits fine. The hip room on the outer seating positions with the car seat in the middle is a little snug, but it isn't that bad.



The 4. 7L is strong, it's easy to park (even fits in the parking garages down town) and does great in the snow. The only thing I dislike about it is the lack of space in the bed with the Quad Cab. But, for what it is, it does very well.