Four problems related to manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe have been reported for the 2005 Dodge Dakota. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Exhaust manifold bolts broke causing exhaust fumes to filter into the cabin. The filtration of exhaust fume occurs whether the vehicle is in motion or stationary. According to dealer it is a common problem with this type of vehicle.
Mine is the 2005 Dodge Dakota extra cab and the exhaust manifold bolts breaking/shearing at the engine block. This can cause (and it has) a ticking sound that gets louder as you accelerate. Once you hear the ticking sound, both sides of the engine are affected. This results in poor mileage, overheating, engine will stall at low idle, ultimately allowing exhaust fumes to enter the cabin, potentiallu, poisoning the occupants with carbon monoxide fumes. I took this vehicle to the dealer to have then replaced. The 1st dealer said it wasn't repairable. 2nd one said, 1400 $ per side to extract broken bolts at the rear of the exhaust manifold on both sides of my 4. 7 . 3rd repair shop told me this very common on the 4. 7 and he does about 10 a week. His price was 350 $ per size plus gasket and doughnut gasket at the collector. Hey! if this is such a common problem why are we Dodge owners being hostage by having to make this repair ourselves and pay for it? it is an emmisions engineering underdesign that needs to be fixed and a recall needs to be issued. It is a design defect. Please investigate and get this situation corrected before some innocent child dies from carbon monoxide entering the cabin. Not to mention other potential hazards that may occur because the driver is overwhelmed by carbon monoxide and runs down 78 people because they passed out from the carbon monoixide filled cabin while driving. Please. Do. Something. Time is running out. Before somebody is killed.
Ticking noise from exhaust manifold. Exhaust manifold bolts & studs prematurely broke! leaking exhaust fumes are able to enter passenger cabin & cause a safety hazard! this issue needs a safety recall to replace exhaust manifold gaskets, bolts & studs that are of an improved grade to correct this factory installation safety issue on both left & right hand exhaust manifolds!!.
Ticking noise coming from exhaust manifolds! exhaust manifold bolts & studs are breaking prematurely allowing exhaust gases to enter passenger compartment! new better grade exhaust manifold bolts & studs plus gaskets need to be installed on both left & right hand side manifolds with a recall to correctly repair this dangerous factory installed defect!!.