Used 1994 Dodge Dakota Consumer Reviews

My first vehicle, wish it could be my last

My grandpa had this truck for I don't know how many years before me, and would still have it but he couldn't handle the clutch anymore for the arthritis in his knees. I bought it from him for $500 at 117k mi in 2007 as a poor 19 year old, and now in 2016 just about to roll over 200k I still can't imagine myself driving anything else. I do believe it will rust out from under me before that engine quits, Colorado's long salty-road winters are eating it alive. In 2010 I drove it cross country from North Carolina when I moved to Denver almost nonstop no issues, completely loaded down with everything I owned in the back. I swear it runs better loaded down than empty! I camp a lot and it hauls about 1000 lbs of gear in the bed up to over 9000 ft, steepest grade encountered is 15% and it doesn't break a sweat. It's just a 3.9L V6 5 spd manual but I get 19.5 mpg highway and 15-16 city. Hauling in the mountains it still gets 18! I don't really go offroading, just gravel and dirt roads, but even being only RWD, with my nice Michelin tires it handles snow around town no problem up to 16" deep. The interior is far from luxurious, but it doesn't mind getting dusty muddy salty snowy cleanup is easy. Electrical sucks, I have replaced every sensor it has and its now time for 2nd stereo replacement, but mechanically only major replacements are the clutch at around 150k, fuel pump a year or two later, the water pump and thermostat 4x but all under warranty, and just recently the radiator (with 4th water pump). Even with one rear fender almost totally rusted away, and the hood and roof not matching the rest of the green truck (rustoleum gray, to combat rust of course) I have had several people try to buy it from me for as much as $3k. KBB is under $250 LOL. Even bringing it in for oil changes the mechanics try to buy it because there's so much room to work under the hood. But I just can't part with it. It's too good a truck and I'll never trade it because it deserves better than to be scrapped. LOVE THIS TRUCK

Old reliable

This has been a reliable truck, with no major problems. Never had any engine or transmission work. It is a good balance between a car and a full-sized truck, especially if you don't need to pull a large trailer.

My Best Friend

I bought this truck a little over 2 years ago, and I've put over 40K miles on here without a hiccup. I've lifted it put 33/12.5 on here and have never got her stuck I call her my best friend for the fact it has never let me down, it doesn't matter if it is -40 or 110 degrees she still started. The only only thing I've ever had to do is change a rear seal in the tranny no big deal seeing that it only cost me 6 bucks. I'm gonna drive her till the wheels fall off and when that happens I'll probably just fix it. NUMBER ONE TRUCK

love this truck

i bought this truck from a friend for $800 the best money i ever spent it has a 318 5.2 V-8 Magnum and 298,000 miles on it and still will put u in the seat if i punch it. I drove it 1300 miles nonstop with no problems.

Surprised by high quality & performance

I bought this truck new in late 1993. It still just keeps going and going. Very few problems, quality higher than expected. Very good ride, more power than I need. Engine & transmission are still very smooth. I guess I'll have it another 10 years.

best dakota ever

My dad got the truck with 300 miles in 92, he gave it to me in 08, great truck, awesome to drive, its smooth n its a v8 and it's a Dodge it cant get any better than that, I got a dual exhaust, with a cherry bomb extreme sounds awesome

220,000 mi AC still works and still running

The engine and transmission were never worked on. The AC still worked. I bought it from a friend when it had 190,000 miles on it. I kept it for 10 years. I was the third owner I think. He had it for several years. The only issues he had was fuel pump and catalytic converter after 175,000 miles. Around 200,000 the gas gauge quit and I had to replace the water pump which was the original. Also the rear wheel cylinders were replace about the same time. Otherwise it was only maintenance. Oh yes, the overdrive quit working at some point late in its life. I believe it was either the solenoid or the overdrive switch. I only used it around town with few trips on the highway so being sort of lazy I never got serious about tracking down the problem. I sold it to Car Max recently as I was going to order a new Ram 2500.

Hard to let go when the time comes

This has been my favorite truck since the day I bought it. No 4wd, and it still kicks every day. The only thing I have had to replace on this truck for a major repair is the radiator. I love the kick in first gear. With a 3.9 Magnum V6, you just don't get any better. I have pulled people out, including my dad, and brought home my first deer with it. It get's us through thick and thin, and has saved our family a couple of times. She's a tough old bird, and part of the family. Wouldn't want it any other way.

best all around

This is a great truck. I've had it for almost for years, and the guy who had it before me babied it. I've had a little bit of trouble with the radiator, and have replaced at least one cv joint, but not too many more, and a wiper bushing. The air conditioner is excellent. I can push upwards of 320 miles to about 17 gallons, and have used this truck for work and play. The exterior is in agreable condtion, the only blemishes in the forms of dings and scratches. The headliner has been sagging, but I can live with that. I like it because it's in between the compact s-10's and the large f-150's.

Will never part with this truck

I got this truck for a steal! It was in horrible condition upon purchase, been in multiple accidents, and was badly beat on. But still ran! Parts are cheap and is easy to repair. Very dependable truck! The LE with the 318 is a powerful work horse. It can tow twice it's weight, no problem. It handles great, on and off the road. Fun to drive and quick. My truck has become my addiction. I love customizing this truck. Flowmasters 40 series sound fantastic, by the way.

Hard Worker

i traded my 1990 3500 service truck for this 1993 Dodge Dakota and it is one of the best trucks I've driven. It handles great, but needs some work like a new fuil pump. I've pulled over 25,000lbs with it and it worked it but it won't stop running. I love it

Old but strong

im 15 and this truck was my first car i bought it for 1500 on 11/12 with 156000 miles and counting. it has a pretty good sized rust hole in the passenger door and is kind of loud. the gas guage doesnt work and the paint is peeling on the roof but is no prob, this truck pulls like a fullsize truck and i average about 12 mpg in the city. it is faster than anything weve owned and is more roomy than our ranger or our old s10. i wouldnt get rid of it untill i die. if you are looking for a used truck for around 2500, this is what you should get! but dont get any of the second generation ones, there junk.

Work Truck

It really is a comfortable vehicle, rides well and mine has every option so it has neat toys. However the build quality is terrible (such as my headliner caving in, the paint falling off, the interior fading to 4 differant shades of grey plus my dashboard turning blue). It has been driven hard and it is almost 10 years old, so I do expect things to go wrong... it just seems to happen more often then it should. As for safety, it's built like a tank... I wouldn't even consider a 1997 or newer because they are like tinfoil with plastic bumpers. Overall, I will keep this truck until I can get a nice old Toyota Tundra Quad-Cab at a reasonable price...

dons' dakota

I've had dakota all up and down the west coast. On the road and off. I have "c" class 6ply all-seasons on factory mags. Other than a glass "Century" canopy,bed liner,$900.00 Aspen Stereo, my baby is factory stock. Maybe 2000 miles of my driving has been off road. I love to camp, hike and fish. Especially fly. I've never been stuck. I've never broken down. I've plowed through snow deep enough I couldn't open my door to get out.

Extremely reliable!

I bought my '94 Dakota (w/3.9L V6) with 120,000 miles on it about 3 years ago, and have had absolutely no major problems. I'm now up to 155,000 miles and still going great! I've been very pleased with how reliable this vehicle has been. I'm in Minnesota and have had it parked outside in well below zero temps and it always starts right up. I'm no great car expert, but it's been really solid for me. The paint's been fine, too, unlike some reports I've heard.

Ups and downs

The place we got it from was a rip off joint.We had to get the transfer case rebult twice and it had bad motor mounts.The exhuast crapped out about about a year and so on...........

a very good all around truck

I bought this car cheap and it's great. The interior design is good, with a large glovebox and wood panneling it's very large and comfortable. The infinity sound system is ambient with nice base for stock. The V8 is powerfull but a bit slow on the takeoff. It has a lot of pulling power for the size of the truck. The 4WD is great.It got me out of a ditch in two feet of snow.The extended cab is larger than one would expect.I've put 50,000 of it's 143,000 miles on it and I hav'nt had any engine or transmission problems with it yet.(just ware and tare stuff like hood latches and brake callipers.) One of the most comfortable and reliable cars I've ever owned for so low a price.

Love It

I fell in love with this truck when I first drove it. My dad bought it in '05 from a friend and he gave it to me in '08. Only had a few problems but those were just from constant break ins and worn cheap parts. Mine fortunately came with a 5.2L V8 but it is light in the back so all that horsepower is useless in winter. I've done just about everything with this truck from racing to towing and even further and this truck has proven itself tough even for its age. even though mine is starting to fall apart for lack of body maintenance, I'm gonna be sad when it dies or when I have to sell it. people off the street have actually offered me 15K for it but I turned them down, I'm keeping this truck

POWER

My Dodge Dakota is a very nice truck for off roading, burning out, and dragging lol. My Dakota has the 5.2l 318 Engine, and she has POWER! That thing can burn down the road if I get on it. Then again I have a K&N cold air intake, dual exhaust, brand new fuel injectors, brand new 2.5l fuel pump of the lower Dakota engine, and platnum tip spark plugs(VIPER SPARK PLUGS). And she maybe makes 300 horsepower. The 2.5l fuel pump can't really keep up with the rpms and some times starves the engine at high rpms. and my fuel mileage is maybe 20 mpg.

Awesome truck

1994 Dodge Dicota

My Grandpa left me a 94 Dodge Dicota & I like it its a good runing truck & iam never going to let it go iam going to keep it for ever & ever. hope you all are happy with your truck.

Short life

Purchased my 1993 Dodge Dakota new. Because my old truck had a trailer hitch with electrical plug and the new Dakota already had a trailer hitch, the dealer installed a plug for my trailer lights. After just 4 months and 2600 miles, my wife was driving the truck to town when the truck quit. She got out and went to the nearest house to call me at work and when she was returning to the truck, the cab of the truck was in flames. The woman in the house where my wife called me, saw the fire and called 911. By the time I arrived, the firemen had put out the fire and the tow truck from our dealer was there to take the truck to the dealership. I went to the dealership and explained the situation to the dealer. He explained that the regional manager would have to make the call about the truck being covered by warranty. A week later, I was at the dealership with the dealership owner and the regional manager for the evaluation. The regional manager made one trip around the truck, noting that only the cab had burned and there was only smoke damage to the very front of the bed. He stopped at the back of the truck, asked me who installed the electrical trailer plug. The dealer stated that one of their qualified technicians installed the plug. The regional manager then opened his copy of the truck owners manual to a marked page that stated that any modifications to the vehicle electrical system voids the warranty. The dealer told the regional manager that because his qualified technician installed the plug and that there was no fire damage at the back of the truck bed, the truck should be covered by the manufacturer warranty. The regional manager just pointed to the page of the truck owners manual and said it was not covered by warranty because the modification was done after the truck left the factory. After the heated argument between the dealership owner and regional manager, the regional manager just held his had up and said the conversation was over, the truck would not be covered by warranty and drove off. The dealer then turned to me and apologized for the truck not being covered by warranty, and that he felt personally responsible for the truck not being covered by warranty. He said that he would offer me a new truck from off his lot at no cost to me. Because this was a Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep dealership, I explained that due to the poor support from Dodge, I would prefer the have a new Chevrolet Silverado truck and that I would be willing to pay for the price difference. The dealer gave me the Chevy truck (with trailer hitch and wiring already installed) for free with full warranty coverage. Needless to say that has my only dealership ever since.

stick with ford or toyota

that was the worst 1000$ ive ever spent. this is the worst driving truck ive ever owned. it skips in reverse or 4L. it seems to be one problem after another, and i plan to sale this truck and get a 90's model F150 or a '86-89 toyota 4x4. i will never buy another dodge.

1993 Dodge Dakota

My Dakota is a 4x4 extended cab with a locking shell over the bed. It is the 3.9L V6 and 5 Spd manual tranny. I have used it as a work truck for my Handyman business and as a 4x4 to explore reasonably tough 12 to 13000' Rocky Mountain 4 wheel drive passes. We have also used it to pull a 1500 lb poptop camping trailer over 7000 miles. That was a breeze! It has also been used in the business to pull heavily laden utility trailers. I once pulled our 3600 lb travel trailer for about a hundred miles to get it repaired. That was about 120% of what it could do well. that means that we were down to 2nd gear on a 3 mile 7% grade at about 25 MPH... Not fun...

The most reliable truck

Solid, no hassle truck, and it still gets 18 MPG with 151k+ miles. Rock soild, super reliable, mid sized truck. To give an idea of how reliable it is, I've owned it since it was new, and the first repair was at 90,000 miles (serpentine belt broke) I get 50-60k miles out of front brakes, and changed the rear at 125k. Total mechanical repairs over 12 years, radiator, thermostat, wheel cylinders, and one caliper. Still driven daily

A sad ending to twins

Dad bought this red truck used with 100,000 mi when I was in High School. I took it to school b/c of bad weather and ended up totaling it. bought a matching one in blue. and that lasted under very stressful driving including some unexpected offroading that required be to buy a new bed and replace a couple windows. I loved the V8 in that truck great fuel mileage for a v8 pick-up. but alas fate has it's marker. She died b/c my father flat-toed her. :( she would have lasted forever and a day if it wasn't for that.

Great Old Truck

I purchased it with 165K miles two years ago. Truck had been neglected and vandalized prior, but has never failed us in 14K miles. 3.9 L still uses no oil, drives fine, just a great, dependable truck. It has lived a hard life before I bought it, and has some rust. But here in Michigan, most of the '93 S-10s and Rangers are rusted away, and the '93 Japanese pickups were rusted away and worn out years ago. Where does JD Power get these "2 of 5" mechanical ratings? These trucks are bulletproof--at least all four of mine have been. One more reason to Buy American--or at least try something other than GM junk before you send your hard earned GDP to Asia.

Great reliable truck!

I bought my Dakota in 2002 with 40K and it has dependable since the day I purchased it. It now has 108K and I still love driving it. It's had minor repairs only in the last year or so and they have been easy and inexpensive fixes. My only complaint is the clear coat is pealing in some spots, but clear auto spray does the trick to protect the paint. Great size inside (love the back bench seat!)Great size outside, perfect for hauling my hay and grain or furniture, no blind spots like the new Dakotas, great drive, good on fuel for the size.

Midsize Truck......Large Size Usefulness

This vehicle used by me and family members as a 'nice' work truck. Bed is large enough for all our needs, including carrying a 42" riding mower. Paint still shiny after 10 years. Love the pep of the V8...dislike the gas mileage! Can't have it all! Trim and power functions make it a comfortable, if rougher, ride than desired. The truck has done its job and more.

Great Truck!

I have owned this truck since I bought it new in 2/94. It originally cost around $15,000 and I have gotten so much value for that expense. Aside from replacing tires and the battery, this truck has been amazingly reliable. I have had NO major problems. I will continue to strongly endorse this truck and believe my recommendation has caused the purchase of at least 10 Dodge trucks among friends and family.

quality

I bought this truck to haul my lawn mower and to do cleanouts for my business. I wanted some thing that had enough power to haul a fully loaded trailer with the bed full as well. This truck has not let me down. Its big enough not to be to small and small enough not to be to big. With a V-8 and 4wd there is little this truck will not handel. The only negitave aspect is the gas mileage but I guess you cant have it all. I now have 207k miles on it and have only had to preform general mantinence. I will buy another when, I mean if this one ever wears out.

BEST VEHICLE YET

USE THE TRUCK FOR FIELD SERVICE. BEEN UP AND DOWN EASTERN COAST. TOTAL OF 210,000 MILES AND COUNTING. PERFORM REGULAR MAINTINENCE RELIGIOUSY. NEVER LEFT ME STRANDED BY THE ROADSIDE. HAVE THE MAGNUM 3.9L V6. MOTOR KEEPS ON TRUCKING!!

It Depend On The Truck!

All Depend On How Much You Baby It.

Old Faithful

I purchased this truck in march of 08. Its the best $900 ive ever spent. The 318 gives you power on demand but does get about 12-14 mph. The 4x4 gets you anywhere and out of anything. Interior styling does show it age but ive seen alot worse. Im six foot tall and having a regular cab does cramp me against the steering wheel. Having the tilt wheel option does offer some additional leg room. Exterior design is good. Typical truck style for the mid 90's. The ride quality is great. Very smooth over speed bumps and rail road tracks. This truck will make the ford 150 guys jealous.

It keeps going and going

I bought this truck new in 1995 after it sat on the lot for 15 months. It has the 3.9L V6 which has performed flawlessly. It has not had any major problems in 7 years. The only minor problem that I've had is the transmission started only in neutral until the neutral safety switch was replaced. Other than replacing tires and batteries, no other maintenance has been performed that isn't routine, preventative maintenance. I would recommend that other consumers buy the limited slip differential if buying 2WD to help traction in the rain and snow.

Dakotas for life

Fun to drive and the most reliable vehicle ever built I haved owned an 87 Dakota and ran it for 396000 miles it was still running when it crashed but not worth saving so I moved on to a 94 Sport with extended cab and have had no problems in my 45000 miles.

It will do what a truck should

I bought my Dakota off a lease in 1996 with 24k and still drive it everyday (14 years, 130k). It is now pretty old but overall has held up fairly well. Many problems with drivetrain seals leaking and the ball joints only lasted to 80k. The biggest problem has been the paint, it started falling off in 2004 and now one side of the box is missing most of it's paint. Also lost paint along the roof line. Turns out this was a defect from Dodge in the primer, but they would not warranty it. The poor paint will likely be the reason I sell it in the near future, it still has a lot of miles left, but it is no longer anything to look at. No MAJOR problems, besides paint in 14 yrs of ownership.

93 4x

Bought car used, had 2 initial, under warenty problems that were corrected satisfactorly. At 125K miles had engine replaced due to bad oil consumtion, rear oil rings and cam pitted. New long block ok, but bad MPG's. Truck has been really great none the less. Have fun on the 4x trails, and she keeps ticking.

Nine years with Dodge Dakota SLT Ext. Ca

Nine years ago, I bought a new 1994 Dakota SLT Extended Cab with the 3.9L V6 engine, auto transmission, power windows locks and mirrors. The truck has never failed me during cold winters (Chicago)and scorching summers---except once when I let the battery run out. No major problems ever, just minor irritants: radio ground wire disconnected, transmission sometimes starts only in neutral, and the gas gauge sensor quit after 7 years. I recommend the Dakota highly.

Better than I expected

This truck gave us good service for a long time, with only a few glitches along the way. It gets 15+ mpg in metro area driving, closer to 20 on highway. The Dodge paint job was the shabbiest I've ever had on a vehicle, and began to chip off 2-3 years ago. And I had a plastic radiator split at under 50K miles on the vehicle. I liked owning it but wouldn't get another Dodge truck-- my sense is that it might be rolling the dice one time too many.

The medium truck that could

I bought this truck about a year ago. I am very pleased with the truck overall, it really can haul with the Magnum V8. The only problems I've had was a wire that wore through to the transmission, but I fixed that no prob, and a transmission oil leak. The factory sound system was pretty much shot, so I replaced it. It has a silly slide out cupholder on the passenger's side of the dash, and the center console is poorly made. If you have one, put at least 30 inch tires on it, it looks like it's been lifted two inches for a few bucks.

94 Dakota SLT V8

Vehicle has been extremely reliable since buying new. Chrysler repainted vehicle due to paint peeling after warranty expired, but had to work through dealer and regional rep to get it completed. Gas Gauge sending unit has been replaced 4 times, still doesn't work sometimes, A/C won't hold charge, Chrysler can't find problem. Radiator leaked less than 2 years after owning, finally replaced after 6 years.

Excellent truck

I bought a '93 Dakota in '03 as my first vehicle. I used to love Chevy trucks but now I love Dodge. Being in college my money is a little tight, and with this truck no money goes into repairs. The 3.9 V6 is tough and very reliable. I have towed many of my buddies when they have broken down. Despite my truck being a 2WD it still performs well off road. I spend a lot of time hunting and fishing. I put this truck in bad situations and she still pulls out. I could not be happier with this truck!

Best Truck

Truck could haul a 2 bedroom apartment from Austin, TX to Waterloo, IA. Very dependable. Nothing major breaks down.

Great vehicle

I have owned the vehicle since new over 9 years ago. Other than routine maintenence I have not had any problems or expenses with the vehicle. The most reliable vehicle I have ever owned.

Best Truck Ever Purchased!

Best truck I ever baught. Very Reliable with over 100000 miles this year.

This thing has POWER !

This is my second Dakota. Drove the 1st one 130000 miles it was my best vehicle ever ! Bought another. The V8 has unbelievable power. Feels like the most powerful truck on the planet. 60/40 bench seat is very comfortable. A/C is very strong. 6 passenger but only if they are small kids in back.

Needs some fixing

My vehicle has many miles and has gotten me through some deep mud. I live on a farm and I always have to drive through the mud. Even though I don't have four wheel drive it manages well in the mud and snow with sand bags in the back. She runs excellent.

DAKOTA

Quality is good. Repair is moderate. But it runs good and has power and a smooth ride.

IRON HORSE

I bought this truck NEW in 1993 and have owned it ever since. This Dakota is powerful, fun to drive and comfortable. The drivers seat is without a doubt the most comfortable seat(or chair) I own. I once drove this truck virtually non-stop from Taos New Mexico to my home in north Texas and I was pain-free & comfortable all the way (I have back problems). The Dakota has a deep throaty sound and has always had all the POWER I ever needed. About a year and a half into ownership, the rear end went out. The dealership replaced the rear end and U-joints---no charge. This is a GREAT TRUCK!