1998 Dodge Dakota Review
Consumer Ratings & Reviews
Nothing but problems
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 8 | Build Quality: | 5 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 6 | Reliability: | 1 |
| Fuel Economy: | 5 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
1998 Dodge Dakota 2 Dr SLT 4WD Extended Cab SB
Review
Trucks look great, but lack performance and reliability. Bought the truck 1 1/2 years ago with only 48,000 miles on it, today I have around 66,000 and have had to replace the transmission twice, the radiator, brakes, ball joints, heat. I bought the truck with high expectations and have been nothing but let down ever since the day I drove it off the lot.
Favorite Features
Exterior look and power.
Suggested Improvements
Poor reliability and terrible gas efficiency.
0 out 1 people found this review helpful
Nicest Dodge Ive Ever Driven
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 9 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 7 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
1998 Dodge Dakota 2 Dr SLT Extended Cab SB
Review
I have never driven a 5 speed standard 318 before this truck. I have to say its got some jam. And the throttle response is great. The body has great flowing lines that are arrow dynamic, unlike the new Dakotas that seem square. If i ever decide to buy another truck, it is gonna be a Dakota.
Favorite Features
Comes nicely equipped with all the options i need. 5 spd stick, 5.2 ltr. Trl towing package with trans temp. Well what can i say its fully loaded.
Suggested Improvements
Not sure what the dealer was thinking for a clutch, but I've found the pedal if not moved in a smooth motion, the truck likes to jerk back and forth, till u try again. Hydraulics? Better fuel economy would be nice as its only a mid sized truck.
We love it!
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 8 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 8 | Exterior Design: | 8 | ||
Vehicle
1998 Dodge Dakota 2 Dr SLT Extended Cab SB
Review
We have 175,000 miles on it, have driven it fairly hard, pulled trailers with it, towed a large trailer with a bulldozer on it, etc, and we have no complaints. We got our money's worth! 318 5.2L V8 should never have been discontinued. We have just (3 weeks ago) put a rear end in it, and that might have been damaged in an accident a few years ago. No engine/tranny trouble (no rebuilds or repairs on either). The only things that have gone wrong are the ball joint (and I hear those go bad regularly, but Dodge has made parts available so you don't have to buy a whole new assembly) and the AC evaporator. We tell people we're planning to give this to our first-born, who hasn't even been born yet!
Favorite Features
318 V8, solid build (was hit in the rear end at a stop light so hard that my seat broke and wouldn't stay up, yet the damage to the rear was less than $2000!), optional wide mirrors for towing, fuel economy not bad (15-16 mpg), all electronics and controls still work perfectly, except light switch.
Suggested Improvements
Ball joint redesign (little too late now), better headlight switch (same design since the 70's), better design for the electric window and lock panel/housing, separate the vent/recirculate function on its own knob. Sorry, these are petty, I know, but they asked.
Poor Paint
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 9 | Fun-to-Drive: | 8 | Build Quality: | 8 |
| Comfort: | 9 | Interior Design: | 8 | Reliability: | 8 |
| Fuel Economy: | 3 | Exterior Design: | 8 | ||
Vehicle
1998 Dodge Dakota 2 Dr Sport 4WD Extended Cab SB
Review
I ordered the truck with everything I wanted and was blown away when I went to the dealership to pick it up. So far, overall, it's been a very good reliable truck. The 318 V8 has plenty of power, but with any V8(and 4WD larger tires), fuel economy is poor. The interior is functional, durable and neat. Mechanically, it's been solid overall. I've had multiple ball joints replaced. No major problems with mine other than delamination of the paint which is very common for this Dakota. I've seen many others with the same problem.
Favorite Features
Love the exterior. Best looking Dakota yet. The newest Dakotas are unappealing. Hate the fuel economy at 13.6 mpg/hwy, but love having the power and durability of a V8. With gas t $3.00+, I'll eventually get a 4 cylinder car and keep the truck for home use.
Suggested Improvements
Chrysler needs to take responsibilty for the paint issue. They repainted problem areas when I still had an active warranty, but they declined any further repairs when the warranty expired. The paint problem started only 3 years after it was built and it continues to spread.
Flash2Speed
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 8 |
| Comfort: | 7 | Interior Design: | 6 | Reliability: | 9 |
| Fuel Economy: | 6 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
1998 Dodge Dakota 2 Dr STD 4WD Standard Cab SB
Review
The best mid sized truck I have purchased. Runs like a hot rod. Outside paint is a beautiful emerald green. When I turn the key on I can hear a deep thrum from the exhaust.
Favorite Features
I love the mean looking front end. It just tells you, look out, I can fly, here I come. It rolls like a fighter plane down the runway.
Suggested Improvements
You get and extra 4 miles to the gallon and increased horse power by 20% if you install a more flow catalytic converter and even more by installing lighter wheels.
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