# Thinking about buying a Dodge Dakota **URL:** \ **Category:** Buying/Selling\ **Created:** [April 5, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/thinking-about-buying-a-dodge-dakota/137983 "2019-04-05T19:45:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KregerVXC\_143438](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5ac83/32.png) [@KregerVXC\_143438](https://community.cartalk.com/u/KregerVXC_143438)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/thinking-about-buying-a-dodge-dakota/137983/1 "2019-04-05T19:45:39Z")
So I’m thinking about buying a new truck. In particular a 2002 Dodge Dakota extended cab with a 3.9L V6 and a manual transmission. Anything I should be aware of or check? It has 160,000 miles. Im gonna be using it as a daily driver and to occasionally haul things. Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/thinking-about-buying-a-dodge-dakota/137983/2 "2019-04-05T20:00:16Z")
Just the usual, pay an independent mechanic to thoroughly inspect the truck. It is 17 years old. Probably have a few maintenance and/or repairs required. Cooling system, exhaust system, brakes, clutch, ignition. ---
**Author:** ![KregerVXC\_143438](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5ac83/32.png) [@KregerVXC\_143438](https://community.cartalk.com/u/KregerVXC_143438)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 8:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/thinking-about-buying-a-dodge-dakota/137983/3 "2019-04-05T20:02:44Z")
What do you know about the 3.9? Is it a reliable engine? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/thinking-about-buying-a-dodge-dakota/137983/4 "2019-04-05T20:14:24Z")
As @Purebred said, it’s 17 years old. Whether it was maintained well is far more important than whether it was considered reliable when new. Reliability now is a direct function of maintenance. ---
**Author:** ![COROLLAGUY1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/corollaguy1/32/7575_2.png) [@COROLLAGUY1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/COROLLAGUY1)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/thinking-about-buying-a-dodge-dakota/137983/5 "2019-04-05T20:14:48Z")
> [@KregerVXC\_143438](#): > > What do you know about the 3.9? Is it a reliable engine? See for yourself [2002 Dodge Dakota Engine Sputters: 6 Complaints](http://www.carcomplaints.com/Dodge/Dakota/2002/engine/engine_sputters.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/thinking-about-buying-a-dodge-dakota/137983/6 "2019-04-05T20:14:55Z")
Off the top of my head, with proper maintenance, generally reliable. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/thinking-about-buying-a-dodge-dakota/137983/7 "2019-04-05T20:21:12Z")
[allpar.com](http://allpar.com) is a good for info and discussion of Chrysler products. There’s lots on these trucks and engines. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 9:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/thinking-about-buying-a-dodge-dakota/137983/8 "2019-04-05T21:53:29Z")
It’s 17 years old and has 160000 miles so making a list as to watch for is easy . Everything. ---
**Author:** ![vipergg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/50afbb/32.png) [@vipergg](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vipergg)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2019, 3:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/thinking-about-buying-a-dodge-dakota/137983/9 "2019-04-06T15:57:04Z")
That engine is a chopped off 318 v8 . They don t put out a lot of power and were known to be quite thirsty gas wise. 318 was a good engine .