Shortly After I bought my '95, I had a leak in a brake line that the
dealership said wasn't assembled right at the factory. Well, a few days
later, on my way home from work, I discovered my brakes were almost
completely gone. The truck barely stopped with the pedal all the way to
the floor. The next morning I got up early before much traffic was out,
and drove the truck a few blocks to the dealer. I didn't have to say a
word when I pulled in the service area and squealed the tires stopping with
the emergency brake. They found another leak and I haven't had any
problems since. I got the 4WABS option because I didn't want to have
problems stopping, which was pretty scarry during rush hour on the freeway!
Downshift!
David Settlemoir
dsettlemoir@aristotle.net
'95 SLT V8 4WD CC 5sp 3.21
----------
> From: Karl Kromer <karlk@ssl.berkeley.edu>
> To: 'dakota@ait.fredonia.edu'
> Subject: Re: Ram/Dakota 4x4 and Consumer Reports + Toyota
> Date: Friday, September 05, 1997 11:12 AM
>
>
>
> >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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