8.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$5,670
Average Mileage:
89,600 miles
Total Complaints:
9 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (5 reports)
  2. new engine (3 reports)
  3. DIY method ($250 to fix does not include time) (1 reports)
2000 Dodge Dakota engine problems

engine problem

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2000 Dodge Dakota Owner Comments

problem #9

Dec 212013

Dakota 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,527 miles

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

Just bought car used off of the lot as is… Vehicle has a clean car fax. Vehicle was kept in a garage and one owner until I purchased it.. Vehicle has metal shavings all in engine and oil.

- Ryan B., Madison Heights, VA, US

problem #8

Apr 072008

Dakota SLT 4.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 172,000 miles

To tell you guys and ladies the truth, I am a kid and my father bought me a car,well a truck for my first car.And it was a Dodge Dakota slt v8 4.7.To tell the the truth I got that truck at 164,000 miles and put like 5,000 miles on it.And to me it runs perfectly and did so many races in it,to tell you the truth I have won mostly all them.I have raced against scions,Honda,Chevy,and mustangs.And I that car had a very great engine when I had it,I also have another truck well two (2) more.One (1) a dodge ram 1500 slt pickup quadcab.The other a Ford explorer 1995 standard v6.The Dakota is long gone we traded it in for a dodge ram van 1500 conversion van very nice,would recommended to everybody for long trip.But just to make a long story short I had NEVER had a problem with it,maybe it was the maintenance I had on it.Just like to say I had very good memories in it.

- erickd, Atlanta, GA, US

problem #7

Dec 132008

Dakota 3.9L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

well lets see the oil pressure drop and wont recover i replaced the oil pressure sensor as my first fix didn't help next I thought it was the oil pump so i bought a new oil pump, and a new pick up tube and screen I went through the nightmare off replacing the oil pump upon pulling the old pump out i seen that the screen was completely blocked by sludge and theirs was about an 1/8 inch of sludge in the bottom of the oil pan clean all the sludge out put everything back together and the problem continues upon further research the design of the location of the oil pump is horse sh*t the screen basically sits against the oil pan so it will become blocked with sludge will not by another dodge

- Daniel F., Ephrata, PA, US

problem #6

May 232007

(reported on)

Dakota SLT V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,500 miles

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

I just had my oil changed and a complete check-up on my truck an hour before I started driving. Evertyhing was great.

I was making a trip from FL to PA for a new job.

Almost there, the oil pressure gauge started flipping from mid to zero with a bell ringing. There was plenty of oil, the temp. was fine, and the RPMS were normal to low. I made it into my sisters driveway figuring it was an indicator problem. The next morning I went to take it to a mechanic and the engine seized up.

They said it was sludge in the engine and neglect on my part!

(and of course they lost my records due to hurricane power outages... so they say! KEEP ALL PAPER COPIES!)

Dodge would not help me one bit! This was insane!! I ended up paying $6,000.00 for a rebuilt engine! (not to mention the mechanic tried to rip me off!!) Today... another light came on. They suspect the transmission! I will NEVER buy another Dodge!

- Diane S., Orlando, FL, US

problem #5

Apr 092007

(reported on)

Dakota Sport 3.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles

I bought my 2000 Dodge Dakota New. I think it's a reasonable assumption that I would get somewhere between 150,000 and 200,000 Miles, especially if I take care of it and change oil every 3'000 miles... W-R-O-N-G ! About 6 mos. ago I was driving in town when the oil pressure gauge fell to zero, and then came on again, then fell again. The first thing I thought of was the oil pump, so I put in a new high volume oil pump 25% increase in oil pressure. Well it didn't work, the problem was still happening. Long story short, I've found that a "Fram" oil filter get clogged quickly, about twenty miles. "WIX" filters seem to work much better. I now run 10w-30 oil, rather than 10w-40. The thinner oil runs through this P. O. S. much better and increases my oil pressure. It's running now but who knows for how long or where it will die. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED IT'S JUST PUTTING A BANDAID ON A TURD. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER CRYSLER PRODUCT

- Ronald L., Waynesville, NC, US

problem #4

Jan 232007

(reported on)

Dakota Sport 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

I have changed the oil on this engine regularly with synthetic and the vehicle is only driven by me and never hard. The pressure gauge dropped and the check gages light came on and engine seized. This truck has been a big piece of sh*t from day one. The worst lemon I have owned

- dmcintosh, Paris, Ontario, Canada

problem #3

Jun 272006

(reported on)

Dakota 4x4 Sport

  • 65,000 miles

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

I can't tell you how much stress this truck has caused me. The engine/oil/sludge problem has happened to me several times, not to mention the awful transmission (that won't shift properly when cold), all the recalls, the odd way it sits, the loud fan AND let's not forget the awful f-ing creaking/squeaking. Let's see... what else... the spare tire was padlocked, and after I cut the padlock away, the spare tire fell off when I was driving.. it loses anti-freeze but doesn't display any sort of leak.. the padding in the extended cab is pulling away... it handles like an old flatbed, to include nearly causing several accidents just by hitting a bump at 50-60 MPH. The only saving grace is literally saving - I took a full driver's side impact from someone running a red light and driving a large car - and I was basically ok. But back to the crap! Who has the time to constantly fight with the dealership and be running back and forth?

- buyadodge4stress, Minneapolis, MN, US

problem #2

Jun 222006

(reported on)

Dakota LE

  • 92,000 miles

Dakota with 90,000 + miles,

LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE BECAUSE OF A SLUDGE PROBLEM THAT DODGE IS TRYING TO HIDE. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES AND NEVER IN MY LIFE SEEN OIL PRESSURE GOES UP AND DOWN. DODGE DEALER DENIES IT'S A DODGE PROBLEM, BUT FOR $1100.00 THEY'LL FIND OUT?? HELP, RIP OFF DONT BUY DODGE.

- James E., Lesville, LA, US

problem #1

Feb 082006

(reported on)

Dakota

  • 90,000 miles

LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE BECAUSE OF A SLUDGE PROBLEM THAT DODGE IS TRYING TO HIDE. I HAVE SEEN 100 OF THESE CASES ON THE INTERNET ALL HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS. OIL PRESSURE GOES UP AND DOWN

- Shawn L., Berlin Hts, OH, US

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