My 96 Dodge is at 116,000 miles. 1 Ton Cummings. I'll have to lean towards the after 100,000 the truck has problems. Mine in particular started about 88,000 miles. This truck hauls, and hauls, and hauls, no recreation driving for the most part.
So far Engine Trouble = None, except for getting it started. Once started it is a Gem. But starting well I have been fighting with that for the last 10,000 miles and $1,600 dollars. Always something different. Havent even bothered with the latest round of dealer opinions.
The interior fell apart at 50,000 miles (3 or 4 years ago). The radio has worked since then. The turn signals and brake lights are fried. I finally had my brother look at it and he ended up replacing all the wiring in the truck, including controlers, and other little boxes. So far so good. Dodge, couldnt find problems. My brother handed me a lump of melted wires. (Note: I had a 1 ton GMC do this as well.)
All in all my standard motto when people ask me about this truck is "Runs Great" if I could pull the engine, and trans and place it in my GM I would be happy. Although I do feel the trans starting to act up....
I might mention that my Brother is a GMC mechanic for 25 years now at a GMC dealer. He has one of the top 5 few return rates of vehicles he worked on in the state (did you know they tracked this stuff). He has a lift at home and more tools at home than most the kids do at dealerships and repair shops. He knocks off 5-10 cars a week in his evenings from Trannies to engines, to door pins.
Given all this, he wont touch my dodge in most cases. Electrical was an exception. He has worked on two previous dodges recently under duress. Needless to say in both cases everyone involved lost. Not becuase he doesnt care, but because it seems once these trucks take a turn for the worst the are gone.
Instance 1) was a trade in that Dodge wouldnt take so the guy traded it to a GM dealer. The GM dealer spent 5000 in parts and sent it to the Dodge Dealer who hit them for another XXX (high figure I dont recall). In the end the dealership lost its tail on this thing.
Instance 2) Was a friend of his who bouth a 3/4 ton diesel cummings. My brother has replaced over $3000 dollars in parts alone in the last 15,000 miles.
My Conclusion: My brother shouldnt work on Dodge /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif but in addition, probably like many things there is a point were bad is bad. I think it all compounds. A domino effect if you will.
So the toughest decision in life is always where to cut your losses and when to push through. Now where did I put my Oracle?
