Five problems related to power train have been reported for the 1999 Dodge Dakota. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Vehicle stalls intermittently in a unpredictable pattern. Vehicle restarts after stalling 7 out of 10 times. When it wont restart immediately after stalling it will take upwards of 10 minutes to achieve engine operation. I've replaced the crank position sensor, as well the cam position sensor. Vehicle continues to stall intermittently.
The nut came off the pinion.
I got the '99 Dakota about 7 months ago and liked it drove pretty good even through the week when it was all single digits no problem. Then once it started to warm up into the mid to high teens and up to then 60s and 70 it would shake at least twice a week. It always seemed to start at about 45 then once the engine warmed up it would stop. That stopped now that its in the 80s and 90s. Now I barely have power steering and looking at it, it seems to be the intermediate steering column shaft which looking at all the complaints I'm surprised you haven't looked into it for it to be recalled by now along with the tie rods, ball joints, etc. These things seem to be falling apart at the front. I just hope nobody dies before this is fixed.
TSB#030299a, sounds like my truck is going to fall apart.
Upon starting my 1999 Dodge Dakota, it immediately went full throttle and lurched forward, brakes would not hold the vehicle. Was placed in reverse and vehicle immediately went backwards in full throttle. Still unable to stop the vehicle with brakes, hit an oak tree which totally wrecked the truck. Note: the transmission was still in "park" when truck went forward. Things happened so fast that my wife, who was driving the truck, did not think to turn off the ignition.