>From: "Dick Campagna" <campagna@nothinbut.net>
>To: <dakota@ait.fredonia.edu>
>Subject: Re: Ram/Dakota 4x4 and Consumer (Reports)
>> From: Jane or Larry Elliott <elliott@serv.net>
>> To: dakota@ait.fredonia.edu
>> Subject: Re: Ram/Dakota 4x4 and Consumer Distorts
>> Date: Thursday, September 04, 1997 10:06 PM
>(stuff snipped)
>> I've also heard the same thing about Toyota V-6's, at about 60k miles
they
>> puke big time. Don't hear about that in Consumer Distorts do we boys
and
>> girls?
>You conveniently didn't mention that the '95 Toyota Tacoma Pickup 4WD is
>listed on page 69 of their 1997 Annual Auto Issue (April each year) as one
>of the '89 to '95 *Used Cars to Avoid.* And on page 71, there's a solid
>black mark, which means *Much Worse Than Average,* alongside the listing
>for the '95 Toyota Tacoma Pickup 4WD. There was insufficient data to rate
>the '96. If you weren't in such a hurry to rant on this newsgroup, you
>would've had time to read the whole magazine. What's the matter? Did a
>Toyota pickup driver steal your first girlfriend?
I looked at the Toyotas, and my major complaints were the harsh ride and
attitude of the sales people. Anyway, the pre-Tacoma V-6's blow head
gaskets around the 50-70k mark. The reason I heard was that the 3.0l v-6
came straight out of the Camry, and really isn't up to truck service.
I haven't heard of the Tacoma's V6 doing the same, but if someone knows
otherwise I'd like to know. I did hear there was a major problem with the
Tacoma coming from the Fremont plant out of alignment, as well as it
cracking the front spring mounts.
>To add insult to injury, guess what else is listed as '89 to '95 *Used
Cars
>to Avoid?*
>* '94 Dakota 2WD (major problems with automatic transmission and integrity
>(e.g., seals, weather stripping, air & water leaks, wind noise, rattles &
>squeaks));
>* '92-'94 Dakota 4WD (major problems with fuel system, automatic
>transmission, electrical, brakes, exhaust, paint/trim and hardware (e.g.,
>windows, doors, seat mechanisms, locks, safety belts, sunroof, glass,
>wipers). .
My 95 Dakota (5.2, 5spd, standard cab, 4x4) leaked very badly the first
winter I had it. I took it back to the dealer, and they spent 2 days taking
out the interior and caulking 3 body seam leaks that were defects from the
factory.
My 96 (purchased in 97, 3.9, auto, CC, 4x4) has 15k miles on it now. No
major problems, but it has a few rattles, the paint is flaking off the
windshield wiper arms, and when I changed the tranny fluid I noticed it is
leaking from the front torque converter seal, the transfer case is seeping
oil, and the front axle is doing the same. At about 30k, I plan on having
this stuff covered under warrantee. I spoke to a transmission guy, and he
said beginning with the 95's the auto tranny had larger needle bearings in
the OD section to solve the failures there. He said the rest of the
transmission is very good, with the exception of a weak torque converter
that sometimes pukes the lockup clutch.
>_Consumer Reports_ accepts no advertising and, as matter of fact, will
sue
>anyone who advertises that their product was *Rated #1 in Consumer
>Reports,* for example. Don't forget that I'm referring to _Consumer
>Reports_, only, not _Consumers Digest_
True, and I think they do a very good job. They pummeled Chrysler for the
infamous 4spd OD trannys in the Caravans, as well as the Bendix brake
problem. They have also been hard on most other auto maker when they
deserve it, so I don't think they are biased towards Toyota or Honda. They
make very good vehicles for the most part, and I think the big 3 are still
catching up some in the quality department (though they've made HUGE leaps
from the junk they were making 10-15 years ago).
-Karl
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