The 1999 Dodge Dakota is a solid mid-size truck platform undermined by transmission failures, plenum gasket leaks on the 3.9L/5.2L Magnums, and front-end component wear. The 46RE/47RE automatic transmissions are the Achilles' heel—expect failure between 80k-150k miles if not maintained religiously.
46RE/47RE Automatic Transmission Failure
Common · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Delayed engagement into reverse or drive, Slipping between 2nd and 3rd gear under load, Burnt transmission fluid smell, dark brown or black fluid, Complete loss of forward gears, stuck in limp mode
Fix: Rebuild or replacement required. Factory units had weak overdrive clutches and governor pressure solenoids. Expect 12-16 hours labor for removal, rebuild, and reinstall. Upgraded rebuild kits with better clutches add $200-400 to parts cost.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800
Intake Plenum Gasket Failure (3.9L V6 Magnum)
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough idle that smooths out above 1500 RPM, Coolant loss with no visible external leaks, White smoke from exhaust on cold start, Oil looks milky or has coolant contamination in severe cases
Fix: The composite plenum gasket deteriorates and allows coolant into the intake runners. Requires upper intake removal, gasket replacement with updated metal-core gasket, and thorough cleaning. 4-6 hours labor. Critical to do before coolant gets into cylinders and damages bearings.
Estimated cost: $650-1,100
Ball Joint and Tie Rod End Failure
Common · high severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking noise over bumps from front end, Wandering or loose steering feel, Uneven tire wear on inside or outside edges, Play in wheel when lifted and pushed/pulled at 12 and 6 o'clock
Fix: Lower ball joints and outer tie rod ends wear rapidly, especially on 4WD models. Upper ball joints less common but check them too. Plan on doing both sides simultaneously—labor overlap saves money. 3-5 hours for complete front-end overhaul including alignment.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Crankshaft Position Sensor Failure
Occasional · high severitySymptoms: No-start condition with cranks but won't fire, Stalling at operating temperature, restarts when cool, Intermittent dying while driving, no warning, Check engine light with P0320 code
Fix: The CPS mounted on bellhousing fails due to heat. Sensor itself is cheap ($40-80) but access is horrible—requires removing starter or working from underneath. 1.5-2.5 hours labor depending on engine. Always carry a spare in the glove box on high-mileage Dakotas.
Estimated cost: $180-320
Rear Brake Line Corrosion and Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 100,000+ mi or salt-belt trucks at any mileage
Symptoms: Brake pedal goes to floor with poor stopping power, Visible brake fluid leak along frame rails near rear axle, Rust perforation through steel brake lines at mounting clips, Soft pedal that doesn't pump up
Fix: Factory steel lines rust through where they contact frame-mounted clips, particularly on rust-belt trucks. Replace entire rear section with pre-bent nickel-copper lines. 3-4 hours including bleeding and testing. NHTSA recalled some for this—check if yours was covered.
Estimated cost: $450-750
Fuel Pump Failure
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: No-start with no fuel pressure at rail, Stumbling or dying under acceleration when tank below 1/4, Whining noise from fuel tank area, Starts then immediately dies, won't stay running
Fix: In-tank pump wears out, particularly if owners run tank low frequently. Requires dropping fuel tank—access is tight on 4WD models. 2.5-3.5 hours labor. Replace fuel filter at same time as it's rarely been changed and is difficult to access separately.
Estimated cost: $550-850
Dashboard Cracking and HVAC Blend Door Failure
Common · low severityTypical onset: 80,000+ mi or sun-exposed trucks
Symptoms: Large cracks across top of dashboard near windshield, Heat only blows from defrost, won't switch to floor or panel vents, Clicking noise from behind dash when changing temperature, AC blows warm on one side, cold on other
Fix: Dash cracks are cosmetic but universal on survivors. Blend door actuator arms break—plastic part that controls airflow direction. Requires complete dash removal to access properly (8-12 hours), though some techs cut access holes. Aftermarket metal replacement doors available.
Estimated cost: $800-1,600 for blend door, dash covers are $150-300 alternative
Buy one if the transmission has been rebuilt or replaced with receipts and the plenum gasket has been done—otherwise you're buying someone else's $4,000 problem waiting to happen.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.