Same problems with shutting down without notice. After reading the letters that have been posted there is nothing we can do. The mechanics can't find the problem and the Dodge company could care less about our problem. Not until someone dies. the whole thing comes down to money. Dodge doesn't want to lose any money by taking responsibility for their product. This problem must have been going on for over years because I have a 98 dodge Dakota and most of the cars are newer. So this is a problem Dodge has had for a long time and not corrected. We did have a Chrysler car that did the same thing.

I am scared to drive my truck for fear it would stop running while going into traffic. Now I have a truck I fear to drive or sell. I wouldn't want the next person to get hurt. I can't believe there is nothing we can do as a group to force Dodge to finally fix their problem. It is a shame because I really like my truck. But I will never buy another Dodge/Chrysler again. I will also advise everyone I know of this problem and this web site so they can read about this before they buy.

Driving down road truck seemed to downshift on its own. engine started to run rough. I quickly turned into a parking lot where it died. Tried to start, engine cranked but would not start. After about 20 minutes it started.

I had already called AAA for towing. I did not want to take a chance driving in traffic because it might repeat the problem and we would be stuck in traffic and possibly cause an accident. Towed it to Repair Shop they did extensive checking to determine the solution we agreed to try replacing the Crank Sensor. this did not solve the problem. the other alternative was very expensive and may not have solved the problem. The truck is now sitting in my driveway and has a good battery crank but won't start.

Started off rough idling and/or stalling at idle or when you take foot off the gas before coming to a stop. then it began stalling while driving down the road or frwy, with no warning, RPM would drop to zero and while coasting to side of road sometimes RPM would jump back to normal and it would take off again, other times I coast to side of the road because it completely shut off and I had to re-start it. Months ago when this first started it would start right back up, but after a few months it became hard to start back up. It would crank strong, but wouldn't start. If you let it sit for about 5 minutes it would usually start. I replaced Idle/Air Control Solenoid, (did not fix) and I have a brand new Battery. Alternator charging at 14 volts continuously. Today I barely made it to the dealer, and it had a new symptom...surging/bucking before the RPM dropped and/or shut down.I have found through Dodge Forum on-line and other dodge owners/consumers this is a common issue with Dodge. When I dropped off my dodge I met a couple people in lounge who had same problem and diagnosis was a bad ECM, that's when I found out there was a recall on the ECM's for the 2000 model dodges, so I know there has to be one on mine.

I have a1998 dodge Dakota that i bought used.I can't believe that the lady i bought it from did not know about this problem when she sold it to me..It dies all of a sudden sometimes it starts backup right away sometimes it takes a few minutes.I've learned that if i pull the last plug on the pcm out and plug it back up it will start right up.This is a problem that is all over the Internet alot of people are having the same problem.why dose Dodge not recall these trucks before somebody gets killed.As for the lady in Robinson TX that sold me this truck GOD will get you for this.

Update from Apr 4, 2011: I have since put a new IAC sensor on my 98 and that did not help.I took the PCM off and sprayed all the connections with a electrical spray and put a tie down on the last connector and so far I've put 150 miles without problems.Im keeping my fingers crossed on this.