8. 2000 to 2006 Dodge Dakota
As you may already know, there are full-size trucks like the Ford F-150 or Chevrolet Silverado and there are compact-size trucks like the Toyota Hilux or Ford Ranger. However, during the late 80’s and 90’s, there was also a mid-size class of trucks led by Dodge Dakota. As one of the industry`s leaders, Dodge noticed the buyers of full-size trucks often didn’t need all that power and space. They also observed that buyers of compact-size trucks often needed more power and usability. Their solution was a mid-size truck.
They conceived a model with smaller dimensions than a full-size Dodge Ram, but with optional all-wheel drive, as well as an impressive towing capacity and payload. They priced it between the big and small models, so it would appeal to a wider audience. Dodge was right and in 1987, after they introduced the Dakota, sales went up significantly. It was the first mid-size truck on the market, so it hit the spot because it was affordable.
It was also highly functional and came with better fuel economy than the bigger models. Up until 2011, the Dakota was in Dodge’s truck lineup until they discontinued it. This means you will find a lot of Dakotas on used car lots, but there are some potential problems with models from the early 2000’s.
First, the V6 engine proved to be unreliable and thirsty. Second, it drivers failed to perform regular maintenance, there would be an oil sludge build up and eventually, it caused engine failure. Third, the most dangerous problem was how the brakes would lock up at random, which could cause a crash. Although they sold it with replacement brake calipers and rotors, it could be an expensive fix. Despite the cool design and affordability, you may want to skip the 2000 to 2006 Dodge Dakota built.