I LOVE this truck. It does it all! I tow with it, I plow with it and I have driven it cross country many times. I currently have 99,000 miles and it is going strong. i could not ask for any thing more! Not too big, Not too small.

As many other have expressed, the gas mileage is not great. But what can I expect from a 318 4x4 truck? The only other issue is rattles from the bed and the bed is lower on the drivers side then it is on the passanger side.

I have pulled a Travel Trailer down to FL, hauled a piano to Chicago and a motorcycle and camper (at the same time) to SD. This truck did not skip a beat. I have a 6'5" Western Plow and I have halled 1800 lbs of salt. I really work this truck hard and it gives me all that it has every time I ask it to. I do not know much about the new Dakotas but if they are at all built the same as mine, I would recomend looking at a Dakota. I am pretty comfident that my next vehicle will be a Quad Cab.

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I have not owned any other pick-up trucks, however, ther have been many in the family. Most of the others were full size (F-150, Ram) and I like the Dakota much better.

the 5.2 POWER, ride quality, and transmission performance

brakes are underpowered

this truck hauls: 142000 miles no problems, towing is effortless, acceleration is very impressive

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1990 astro 4.3, there is no comparison DAKOTA ALL THE WAY

been a very dependable truck 2wd extended cab. its a very basic trunk. no electric windows or locks. bought with 58k miles, 3.9 v6, auto, ac. crusie control was an add-on. added clarion stero. been on trips with it and travels good.

paint is terrible. it is constantly peeling. gas milage could be alittle better but its not bad at avg 17-18

been real pleased with truck. like the styling of newer ones. will strongly consider another one.

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nothing recently, 77 datsun king cab, 78 chevy van

Great off the line time with great towing ability
light weight make 4wd outstandng performer in snow over 4 in.
Better gass milage than 1997 4.3L v-6 Chevrolet

retainers for sun visors kept falling out
after 130 thousands miles this vehical became a maintainance nightmare
a tendancy for the truck to over heat at tepmetures over 90 Deg. F

Despite The mintainance problems at the end it was a great truck. I had prsistant over heat problem I was unable to fix it and even baffeled sevice peole. Over the entire time I owned the vehical it never let me down or left me on the side of the road. The 5.2L V-8 was powerful enough to out run a Mustang in 1/8 mile and provided plenty of interstate passing power. With good speed rated tires this truck will do speeds to fast for comfort, safty, or to admit to for fear of legal retribuiton.

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1978 Dodge 150, 1992 Chevy C1500, 1997 Chevy Extended C1500

Engine has much power. Looks good. Decent trucks for the money.

Gas mileage again. If you get a lemon though, you'll be sorry.

I have owned 3 DAKS. I am listing my experiences for all three.

1989:
Blue. Single cab. 5-speed. I4.
Great truck. Kinda peppy. Better than average gas mileage. the only problem I had with it was a tranny cratering at 76K miles. I traded it for my '94.

1994:
Bright White. Extra cab. 5-speed. 318. SLT.
Nice truck overall. Wiring harness by firewall corroded at 10K miles. Tranny cratered at 15K miles. All I had was 4TH gear. I could shift into the other ones...even reverse...at highway speed. Made a whining/grinding noise. Fixed under warranty. They had "no clue" as to why.
At 24K the radiator leaked. At 46K the water pump leaked. Shortly thereafter, the heater core gave way. Oh, the Bright White paint job peeled like a rotten grape too.
Fixed under warranty though. Tranny always had a small leak.
About 48K miles, the tranny crapped out again. Same symptoms. Overall I loiked the truck as long as it had warranty. Traded it for 1999.

1999:
SLT 4X4. Loaded. Maroon/Red on Slver/Gray trim. 318. Automatic. Had a small tranny line leak. Fixed under warranty. Battery crapped out at 2 years. Runs great. Hauls great. With the stock 31" OWL's, I can go thru some pretty nasty gumbo mud. Climbs rocks well in Moad too. Pretty decent space inside for a mid-size truck too. Overall, I love it. I wish the extra cabs came with a "third door". I don't need 4 doors on a truck. I would own another Dak.

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1989 Dak. 1994 Dak. !999 Dak.

bigger then most single cab pickups, lots-o-power,a truck worth tricking out, trip computer (DTE), bed size, looks, performance, style.

gas gas gas gas gas. I also have a slight rattle in my front end when driving slow

I have had no problems with my Dakota sport. 61000 miles and not one thing has gone wrong with her. Has never missed a strat. The 4x4 is fantastic. Ive lived in the mountains for about 9 years and this is the best truck i have ever owned. Ive added a bunch a stuff to it-brush gaurd, piaa lights, rear light protectors, topper, big o x/t studded snow tires+american racing rims, gibson exhuast, performance air intake, kenwood CD+6 stock+8in subs+ 650 watt amp, tricked out pedels+gear shift knob, yakima rack/basket. I once had 6 kayaks and a canoe on top. My truck is my home for 6 months out of the year while I work as a raft guide, so Iam pretty attached to my betsy!

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None

It's got balls...318 V8. Good interior room and nice layout. All the power options. Full length 8 foot bed. Can pull almost anything.

Gas mileage sucks. At high revs the engine noise is kinda loud. Could be higher off the ground

This was the truck that I always wanted. Good power, 4X4, and smooth highway ride. I have beat other trucks off the line as well as some rice rockets (civics). A dam good truck for the money.

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1990 Dakota SE 4X2 V6

I like the power that the truck has. The 3.9 v-6 impressed me a lot. It has great acceleration and handles very well. It has a comfortable interior .

The instrument panel sucks. It is always going out. I cant seem to get it fixed. The dash lights dont want to work but half the time. Exhaust problems( had a new flowmaster exhaust put on, so its better now) not good on gas.

over all the truck is very dependable. If the dash wasnt so screwed up, i would reccomend it to any one. Im mostly using it as a project truck, so Im doing a lot of work to it anyways. But all in all, I enjoy the truck.

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None

Nice ride for stock suspension, good power, nice rims, unique color, responds to mods well, great aftermarket parts, full size R/T spare, non-truck like interior.

Paint is poor quality, brakes are terrible, dealership states brakes need to be adjusted every 10K and replaced every 25k. Transmition troubles, many strange clunks and noises from front end. Some interior noise. bad gas milage (I knew this before purchase)! Transmition whine, batteries last about 6months to a year. stock computer is weak. I think that covers it.

Despite my negative comments, I like the truck. It's a blast to drive, very fast when performance mods are added. I have added Mopar cold air induction, Mopar PCM, Mopar (Leach) headers, F&B billet 50mm throttle boddie, MSD 8mm wires (stock 6mm for a V-6, what a joke came with it), toneau cover, bed-rug, etc. etc.. Several issues with truck. Brakes are terrible dealer only covers to 12k, my rotor's are warped, pads are toast. Dealership knows about issue, will not fix due to the fact I have 26k on truck. Front end noise, dealership say's normal, no big deal. Watch out for worm bushings! I have taken the attitude that I will not let Mopar fix the issues I have complained about. I have replaced the parts myself with the quality Mopar should have done in the first place. This attitude I have taken has cost me around $1500 to rectify the short commings of this truck. I am happy though I doubt I will purchase another one in the future. The problems with this truck has caused me to learn more than I really wanted to about it. Oh well, It is FUN!!! It's adictive and has no cure.

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1995 Ford Ranger-no comparison what so ever!

engine power

Transmission: jerks hrrshly when takin off easy. Under hard acceleration makes loud sqeeling noise when shifting from first to second and second to third. Has been to dealership 5 times still not fixed.

I would not recommend this truck to my worst enemy! Also numerous problems with brake rotors. If you own one of these trucks try kicking down to second gear and holding until truck shifts on its own without lifting accelerator, does it make squeeling noise? If so please email me at jefjes1983@hotmail.com I would like to know if I am the only one having this problem.

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I sold a 1997 Toyota Tacoma to buy this truck, BAD MISTAKE!!!! This truck is pure junk...