Ownership Cost for 1996 Dodge Dakota (Sport Club Cab 4WD)
Estimated: $39090 over the next 5 years
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Total
Depreciation
$984
$472
$413
$374
$335
$2578
Insurance
$1451
$1502
$1554
$1609
$1665
$7781
Fuel
$2438
$2511
$2598
$2702
$2824
$13073
Maintenance
$2763
$2190
$978
$556
$2291
$8778
Repairs
$977
$1138
$1298
$1417
$1627
$6457
Taxes & Fees
$286
$286
$286
$286
$286
$424
Total Ownership Costs
$8898
$7845
$6883
$6684
$8779
$39090
Body Class: Pickup
Brake System Type: Hydraulic
Displacement CC: 3900.0
Displacement CI: 237.99260196945
Displacement L: 3.9
Engine Configuration: V-Shaped
Engine Cylinders: 6
Fuel Type Primary: Gasoline
GVWR: Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)
Make: DODGE
Manufacturer: FCA US LLC
Manufacturer Id: 994
Model: Dakota
Model Year: 1996
Note: Cab Type: Club Cab,
Europe: Eurowagon Short Wheelbase (GS-53) 3 dr.
Other Engine Info: Electronic fuel injection
Plant City: Detroit
Plant Company Name: Dodge City Assembly
Plant Country: United States (USA)
Plant State: Miami
Trim: Sport/SLT
Vehicle Type: TRUCK
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
1997
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER BOLTS TO THE STEERING KNUCKLE ON A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA, 4WD. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE DESIGN, THE THREADS THAT HOLD THE BRAKE CALIPER MOUNTING STUDS CAN STRIP OUT, THEREBY LEAVING THE CALIPER TO FLOAT ON THE KNUCKLE. UNDER PROLONGED USE, THESE STUDS CAN BACK OUT, LETTING THE CALIPER FALL OFF, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE, THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR THE THIRD TIME NOW, ONCE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND TWICE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE THREADS STRIP OUT, AND THE MOUNTING BOSS SECTION IS SO SMALL THAT A LARGER THREAD CANNOT BE RETAPPED WITHOUT DANGER OF BREAKING THE HOLE OUT. AUTO PARTS SUPPLIERS SELL SLIGHTLY OVERSIZE, SELF TAPPING STUDS, BUT THESE DO NOT LAST LONG. THE STEERING KNUCKLE IS A VERY PRICEY PART (ON THE ORDER OF $600 JUST FOR THE PART) AND CONTINUING REPLACEMENT IS COST PROHIBITIVE. MY VEHICLE IS APPARENTLY NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, AS A SEARCH OF SALVAGE YARDS REVEALED NUMEROUS STRIPPED OUT THREADS ON VEHICLES WHERE THE STEERING KNUCKLE WAS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE. *TR