2001 Dodge Dakota Consumer Reviews

4.7 engine bad Tranny worse

Written by: mike on 02/14/2009

Vehicle

2001 Dodge Dakota 2dr Club Cab SLT 2WD (3.9L 6cyl 5M)

Review

Truck has only 52000 miles on it. Has electrical problems and the tranny slips and jerks like there is no tomorrow. With mileage this low I should have no problems, I take very good care of my vehicles. I was extremely disappointed. I traded it in yesterday!

Favorite Features

Looks good

Suggested Improvements

Redesign power train and electrical

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Get up N Go

Written by: Rob on 09/13/2008

Vehicle

2001 Dodge Dakota 4dr Quad Cab SLT 4WD (3.9L 6cyl 5M)

Review

I just got rid of my 5.7 04 Tahoe which was slower than a slug. I am so impressed by my 4.7 in the pickup that I added a cat back dual exhaust to help it breath. This truck flies and handles great. I do a lot of highway driving and noticed over 15 mpg. I will add a cold air box to see if I can improve this. The interior is comfortable to me. I have wanted one of these for years and am so delighted I bought it. The rear drive window did not work but the dealer fixed it. I noticed the pass door window not working at times, seems to be a very common problem on these trucks.

Favorite Features

A mighty V-8 and 4 doors to fit 5 people in.

Suggested Improvements

Besides fuel economy,automatic headlights would have been nice...

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Love my RaiderMobile

Written by: DaveG on 08/12/2008

Vehicle

2001 Dodge Dakota 2dr Club Cab SLT 4WD (3.9L 6cyl 5M)

Review

I have had nothing but good luck with my truck. She's never broken down and always taken me wherever I asked her to go, I'll keep this truck forever!

Favorite Features

I really do like the trip computer/thermometer

Suggested Improvements

Better stock speakers, I've worn them out already.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Good first

Written by: Evan V on 07/01/2008

Vehicle

2001 Dodge Dakota 2dr Regular Cab Sport 2WD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)

Review

We got this with 29k miles for $7700 because it had blemishes in the hood paint from overwaxing and engine heat, and had a crappy bed cover. The computer that ran the lighting system broke the day we got it, and the passenger's window button didn't work. But those were easily replaced. This is my first vehicle, I like it because it is as big as the car I trained in, and has a bed for my fishing stuff. I had to buy new tailgate cables, as someone cut them. I also bought a locking gas cap for $15 and it fits, never too careful with gas at 4$ a gallon.

Favorite Features

Bed length, engine, brakes, steering

Suggested Improvements

standard locking tailgate, better air intake, heat shield for hood, and lighter colored controls, its hard to see the controls in an all black interior at night.

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Still happy after 7 years

Written by: bluedak on 06/29/2008

Vehicle

2001 Dodge Dakota 2dr Club Cab SLT 4WD (3.9L 6cyl 5M)

Review

Bought truck new in sept. 2001, at current have 61k on it. Love the looks, comfort, and power of the truck. It has had a small share of problems: currently on it's third set of rotors for warping and corrosion, also has had its share of electrical glitches and a power steering leak etc, but has never left me stranded. Current issues occurring now are: vib/ noise from pass front wheel, and a sticky caliper. Just problems develop as a a vehicle ages. Still love the truck, and would keep it indefinitely but I need the passenger space of a crew cab.

Favorite Features

Looks of the 97-2004 body design,comfort, and overall power/mpg of the 4.7 v8 (16 mpg avg lifetime)

Suggested Improvements

Need to improve quality of rotors, chassis parts: ball joints,wheel bearings, etc. and electrical.

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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good truck ( except for mpg )

Written by: norsmn on 06/11/2008

Vehicle

2001 Dodge Dakota 4dr Quad Cab Sport 2WD (3.9L 6cyl 5M)

Review

I have been very satisfied with this vehicle, up until now when the fuel prices have gone sky high. Mileage not bad in summer highway driving, but in cold winter temps it is poor. One power window motor quit working at about 40k miles. Had 2 factory recalls for the ball joints and a shift lever block problem. They were easily taken care of by dealership.

Favorite Features

4 door with ample room in the back seat. Good stereo system with cassette & cd player.

Suggested Improvements

Definitely needs better fuel economy.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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careful of 4.7 engine

Written by: disappointed on 05/25/2008

Vehicle

2001 Dodge Dakota 4dr Quad Cab Sport 2WD (3.9L 6cyl 5M)

Review

I liked the 4.7 until I found out that by the time the check gauges light comes on, it is too late. My Dakota is sitting in the driveway with a blown motor. This all-aluminum engine is VERY prone to overheating, which will quickly ruin it. Turns out the water pump is very fragile too. Not sure whether the water pump or the head gasket went first. This is with only 76,000 miles on it. Suggest carefully looking at the 5.9 engine, even though it has a little less power and less mileage.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

4 out 10 people found this review helpful

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Great Truck

Written by: Dan on 05/15/2008

Vehicle

2001 Dodge Dakota 2dr Club Cab SLT 4WD (3.9L 6cyl 5M)

Review

Great truck with great reliability and power. Very fun to drive with great handling, only downfall is fuel economy. I get around 12 to 13 mpg, but other than that this is a great truck. I drove a standard cab Dakota 2wd 3.9 L V6 than upgraded to this 4wd 2 dr ext cab with a 4.7 L V8 and love it. Does very well in the snow too.

Favorite Features

Power and acceleration

Suggested Improvements

Improve fuel economy

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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my truck

Written by: wayne on 05/06/2008

Vehicle

2001 Dodge Dakota 4dr Quad Cab SLT 2WD (3.9L 6cyl 5M)

Review

Great riding truck, with the v8 magnum 318, has lots of power. We put an energy cell on the fuel pump and we get 20 miles to a gallon average. We are not getting rid of this truck, has lots of miles left on it

Favorite Features

power on the v8 318

Suggested Improvements

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200,000+ still going strong!

Written by: chevyman on 01/05/2008

Vehicle

2001 Dodge Dakota 2dr Regular Cab SLT 2WD (3.9L 6cyl 5M)

Review

Passed CA smog at 183,000 with flying colors. No squeaks or rattles at all. Same mileage as new(crappy) I still love this truck. At 300,000 I will call Dodge and at 400,000. No leaks. As a precaution only, I changed the tranny at 189,000 to prevent any problems driving in the desert. People still tell me they like the way it drives. I own a 2001 Corvette so I know power, but this little truck gets up and goes.

Favorite Features

Torque.

Suggested Improvements

None.

7 out 7 people found this review helpful

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