1998 Dodge Dakota engine and engine cooling problems

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SUGGESTED THAT THE AIR IDLE CONTROL SOLENOID BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE IDLE CONTROL SOLENOID BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AT 50 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE DEALER NEEDED TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED ONLINE THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.”

“WARM WEATHER CAUSES 98 DODGE DAKOTA 3.9 ENGINE TO STALL AT ANY SPEED, ANYTIME. ENGINE COMPLETELY DIES AND TAKES 20 TO 30 MIN FOR ENGINE TO COOL WHILE OFF. THEN ABLE TO RESTART, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS WITHIN 5 TO 15 MINUTES AFTER COOLING. CONSEQUENCES ARE I HAVE PAID TO HAVE PCM REPLACED, AS WELL AS FUEL PUMP. COULD CAUSE DEATH ON FREEWAY WHEN EVERYTHING DIES AT 70 MPH. ALMOST CAUSED WRECK TODAY. NO KNOWN FIX, HAVE SPOKE WITH CHRYSLER AND DEALERSHIP ON MANY OCCASIONS WITH NO ANSWER. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HEATER, HE SMELLED ANTIFREEZE. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, THE OVERFLOW FOR THE ANTIFREEZE WAS EMPTY; HOWEVER, ANTIFREEZE WAS STILL PRESENT IN THE RADIATOR. THE CONTACT PERFORMS HIS OWN REPAIR WORK AND STATED THAT THE HEATER CORES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 2/23/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING INTO THE HEATER BOX, WHEN THE HEATER WAS ON. UPDATED 02/26/09. *JB”

“MY 98 DODGE DAKOTA HAS HAD THE EXHAUST CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED 2 TIMES ALREADY UNDER WARRANTY, THE LAST ONE ABOUT 10 MONTH AGO, NOW IT RATTLES LIKE ROCKS IN A TIN CAN AGAIN, NOW MY MILEAGE IS OVER THE WARRANTY BY ABOUT 9000 MILES AND THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE UNLESS I PAY! OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM NATION WIDE WITH THIS EMISSION COMPONET. *JB”

“I HAVE A 1998 DODGE DAKOTA. I BOUGHT IT WITH 11,000 MILES ON IT. DURING MY WARRANTY AT ABOUT 20,000, THE TRUCK WOULD BACKFIRE WHEN SHIFTING UP A GEAR.TOWSON DODGE HAD MY TRUCK FOR A DAY AND SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND IT COST ME $75 ANYWAY. AROUND 45,000 MILES MY TRUCK WAS RUNNING REAL POOR WITH NO POWER. THE CATYLITIC CONVERTER CLOGGED UP SO BAD THE TRUCK STOPPED RUNNING. THE GOODYEAR PLACE WHERE I TOOK IT, CARNEY TIRE, DIDN'T TELL ME OF THE FEDERAL WARRENTY ON CONVERTERS AND REPLACED IT AND THE MUFFLER FOR A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS. AFTER MY LEARNING OF THE WARRENTY, CARNEY TIRE REFUSED TO REFUND 50% AS SUGGESTED BY THE CHRYSLER REP. ON THE PHONE. NOW AT 80,000 MILES THE MUFFLER RUSTED ENOUGHT TO LOOSE THE TAILPIPE, WHICH NOW RESIDES IN MY DRIVEWAY. THIS IS TOTALLY UNEXCEPTABLE FOR THIS TRUCK. I HAD AN '87 DAKOTA WITH 145,000 MILES ON IT AND NEVER HAD AN EXHAUST PROBLEM . I WAS GOING TO TRADE IT IN FOR A 2500 RAM BUT THIS AND OTHER COMPLAINTS WILL KEEP ME FROM EVER BUYING ANOTHER CHRYSLER. I WILL BAD MOUTH DODGE,ESPECIALLY TOWSON DODGE (SCHAEFER & STROMENGER), TO ANYONE WHO ASKES ME.THE SERVICE MANAGERS OVER THERE DIDN'T HELP A BIT. I…”

“FAILURE OF EQUIPMENT......MANUFACTURER DEFECT...REPLACED 3 CATALYATIC CONVERTERS ON MY 1998 DAKOTA RT.....VIN# [XXX]........COST EACH SERVICE $600..........NOW REAR END NOISES (PINIONS AND BEARINGS OUT)...DUE TO OWNERS MANUAL STATES TOWING CAPACITY 3 TIMES HIGHER THAN WHAT TRUCK CAN TOW....WAS A CHANGE AFTER MARKET. *AK *JS”