Like everyone else. On any given morning or afternoon or evening it choices, it will lose power and back fire when initially starting, until you stomp on the gas pedal. It will then back fire and power returns. Replaced every part on the engine and the ECM twice with no permanent success. Problem started at 120,000 mile. At 162,804 miles installed a Jasper rebuilt long block (3.9) and replaced every components again: 4 oxygen sensors, distributor, crank & position sensors, fuel pump, MAP, water pump, thermostat, every component you can think of.. .Ran fine for three weeks and then the issue returned again. But no fault codes. Previously would have a misfire for cylinders 3 and 5. Someone must have an answer. And if he or she does and shares the answer they can become very rich!!!

Well 3 weeks ago I had my truck in to get a axle bearing replaced.. Plus both lower an the flex shaft in the lower end towards the front psnger wheel. Due to them seizing right upp an taking out the bearing.. While it was in I had them try to figure out the random throttling up issue every time I press the clutch down. They cleaned out the throttle an cleaned the sensors there.. Low an behold it worked great. Till today it's starting up with the same issue again

Update from Jan 8, 2012: The random throttle issue with a bad carbon build up. I switched my truck to use 89% octang an so far the issue has faded away. Plus I'm getting a better mileage since the change of fuel..

My 2002 Dodge Dakota is sick....it sputters, backfires, and belches. It happens when the engine is cold, warm, and hot, and it happens sporadically. It never happens when the mechanic is on a test drive, only when you're trying to merge onto the freeway in front of a fully loaded big rig carrying a load of logs to the mill.

When I walked into the mechanic's business, they looked at me funny and asked why I was there...I replied "I'll give you three guesses". This is the 4th visit to have the same problem diagnosed and fixed.

So far, they've replaced the fuel pump, o2 sensors, spark plugs, ignition wires, distributor cap, and several vacuum hoses. The truck is still at the shop - and when I get it back, it better work well enough to get a halfway decent trade-in tomorrow.

Just bought the vehicle from a Chevy dealer and experienced the rough idling problem immediately. 3 days later the check engine light came on. As it was just before Christmas, the Chevy dealership was closed. I took it to Auto Zone who did a free engine analysis and said that I had a bad oxygen sensor. (1 of 4 on the truck)

Chevy dealer referred me to Dodge who serviced the truck in September with full tune up and 2 new oxy sensors plus more.

I had my appointment with Dodge service today 12/28/07 to find out that the catalytic converter is bad (1 of 3 on the exhaust system!) and needed to be changed out. I was ready for a fight with the Chevy dealership who sold it to me when the Dodge service person told me that the parts were already ordered and it would be changed FREE under the 80,000 mile Dodge emissions warranty. They are supposed to call me when it gets here to schedule replacement.

the truck onlly has 56,000 miles on it.

My Dakota sounds like it sputters along when cruising. It has no issues accelerating to a steady speed if I give it plenty of gas but I can hear the sputtering sound especially when I am accelerating up hill, it almost sounds like it has an after market muffler. When it idles its fine but I can hear the sputtering slightly. It has gradually begun to lose fuel economy averaging 13-15 mpg in town and about 16-17 mpg on the highway and that is driving at 65mph. And it get worse when I tow my boat or my small trailer, it goes down to 10-11 mpg. In addition, it acts as if does not want to shift gears when I am going 45mph and need to accelerate. It acts sluggish. It eventually does however but it takes me pushing way down on the pedal and at times the transmission shifts a bit hard. I have had the spark plugs changed, the coils checked out ok, had the O2 sensor switched out, and had the transmission serviced but nothing has helped. Hope you all can help.