8.7

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
3,078 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Dodge Dakota engine problems

engine problem

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1998 Dodge Dakota Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #23

Oct 222003

(reported on)

Dakota

  • 70,798 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving engine was making a loud pinging noise. Took vehicle to dealer, and dealer said engine was not getting enough fuel.

- East Stroudsburg, PA, USA

problem #22

Apr 262001

Dakota

  • miles
Engine check light came on while we were on a trip to palm coast, fl on Thursday, April 26, 2001. The oil pressure dropped from normal to 0. we pulled off at the next exit. The truck was still running, however we called Chrysler and they said they would tow it to the nearest Dodge dealership. We told them to take it tallahassee as we were in madison. After one week being in the shop they told us the engine was blown due to non-maintenance (oil changes). We did not understand that because we had the oil changed. It was not every 3000 miles but it was sufficient. They told us that the oil had never been changed in this truck. This is totally untrue. We gave them receipts where it was changed and they said the inspector from Chrysler had to check it out. We had to pay russell Dodge over $200 to break it down just for an inspection. The inspector for Chrysler came after 3 days and said it was not covered under warranty. So my husband works for prestige infiniti dealership in tallahassee and we had it towed to their garage to look at. They told us the engine was gone and they had never seen anything like it. We are going to have to replace the engine. We believe there is a defect in the 6 cylinder 1998 Dodge truck engines, because we can prove that the oil was changed, therefore something in the engine was not working and caused a back up of oil or something was not functioning properly. The funny thing is that when we called to get a replacement engine, the person we ordered it from said they had sold 17 engines for 1998 Dodge 6 cyclinders in the last month. Now come on 17 in a month, what is wrong with this picture"??? a 1998 is only 3 years old and our engine had 42,000 miles on it. Should not an engine last more than 42,000 miles without being totalled???" I think there is definitely something wrong here. Also the Chrysler corporation will not send us a copy of their inspection report do they have something to hide.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #21

Sep 011998

Dakota 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
No summary listed for abov evehicle.

- Terrebonne, OR, USA

problem #20

Sep 232000

Dakota 4WD

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This trruck has been a lemon from beginning and Chrysler service center told me to get a lawyer and they do not care help me!! I have only drive my truck 1/2 the time that I have had it, because it always has broken down.

- Hudson, WI, USA

problem #19

Sep 202000

Dakota

  • miles
Loose clunking eminating from the steering wheel and brake pedal. This occurs when turning, accelerating and applying the breaks. Appears to be a loose fitting in the steering wheel colom or the mid shaft. Getting worse all the time. Only 21K on this truck. Also, truck slides all over the road when surface is damp or wet. This happens even at low speeds. Antilock system does not appear to work. Truck also burns up tires after 15K miles. Engine miss-fires and utilizes way to much fuel. Aprox. 12 mpg. Overall, my two main concerns are the steering and brakes. Problem. This is most certainly an unsafe vehicle which should be looked into before someone looses their life. The time is now, not later. I have been in contact with several owners of this year and model. They too report the same sittuation with respect to the steering and brake system.

- Ventnor City, NJ, USA

problem #18

May 011999

Dakota

  • miles
Engine knock, poor gas mileage, rough idling, stalling, transmission clunk when shifting.worst truck I've ever owned!!!

- Cuyahoga Falls, OH, USA

problem #17

Feb 011999

Dakota

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine failed.

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

problem #16

Dec 281999

Dakota

  • miles
This happened 1 day after an oil change. A qualified mechanic should have noticed this. No safety defect mentioned in the summary.

- North Canton, OH, USA

problem #15

Mar 261998

Dakota 4WD

  • miles
Engine has intermittent stumble/detonation problems. Computer flashed per tsb. Oxygen sensor replaced per engine data readout. Distributor reindexed per technician's seat of the pants. Still occurs, but so infrequently dealership can't duplicate.

- Coatesville, PA, USA

problem #14

Sep 011998

Dakota

  • miles
No summary

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #13

Jun 081999

Dakota

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Since the 8th of June 99, I have had a continuious sound of engine knock, I understand the owners manual says you'll have a faint engine knock noise. What I have continues at all speeds and is worst at higher speeds. Example is on the highway with the radio and A/C on you can here the engine knock. Vehicle has less then 11,000 miles on it. Every time the vehicle goes in for a check the service manager, technicians and upper management says yes there is a problem, but comes time for the work they are unable to find the problem, then they tell me there is nothing wrong. As I leave the dealership the problem still exsist, excesive engine knock and exshaust sounds. I don't drive the vehicle that much due to the excessive engine noise. The engine noise tells me that of a problem does exsists, which could lead to the destruction of the engine.

- Wichita Fall, TX, USA

problem #12

May 121999

Dakota

  • miles
When running the A/C and stopping at a red light, then attempting to restart, and car just quits.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #11

Oct 081998

Dakota

  • miles
While driving. Vehicle cuts off. Also while idling, giving vehicle gas or stopping at intersections, vehicle also cuts off.

- Baltimore County, MD, USA

problem #10

Dec 161998

Dakota

  • miles
Continued spark knock. Has been in shop 4 different times. Dealer not sure how to fix it.

- Cornelius, NC, USA

problem #9

Aug 171998

(reported on)

Dakota

  • miles
Vehicle would shut off, total electrical shutdown, at any given speed. Multiple brake failures. No cause determined for either problem.

- Clinton Twp, MI, USA

problem #8

Mar 261998

Dakota

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Engine continually backfiring, unable to rectify.

- Paso Roble, CA, USA

problem #7

Jun 011998

Dakota 4WD

  • miles
The vehicle has been making a preignition"knocking noise" coming from under the hood since the day I purchased it.I have had it in numerous times and they can not correct it.the dealer has told me this is an emissions knock and will not damage the engine as they can't fix it yet.I am under the impression that any preignition is not good and will eventually damage the engine.it knocks considerably at first start up when it is cold and quiets down when it warms up.

- Albany, NY, USA

problem #6

Oct 011998

Dakota

  • miles
This truck jumps around in the rear end when it is empty. Does not seem to be safe in bad weather.

- Granite City, IL, USA

problem #5

Oct 171998

(reported on)

Dakota 4WD

  • miles
Engine failed.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #4

Jul 301998

Dakota

  • miles
Upper ball joints wore out. Also experiences oil leaks and ignition system malfunctioning.

- Burlington, WI, USA

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