Used Dodge Dakota Engines
Used, remanufactured and rebuilt engines for the 1987–2011 Dodge Dakota — tested before they ship and covered by warranty. Tell us your truck and we’ll match the exact engine.
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Engine Options
Which engine does your Dakota have?
The first Dakota (1987–1996) started with a 2.2L four and a 3.9L V6, moved to a 2.5L four for 1989 and added a 5.2L V8 for 1991, two years after the V8-powered Shelby Dakota. The V6 and V8 were reworked as Magnums for 1992, and the AMC-designed 2.5L four from Jeep replaced the Chrysler-designed one for 1996.
The 1997–2004 Dakota ran on pushrod engines — the 2.5L four and the 3.9L, 5.2L and 5.9L Magnums — until the overhead-cam 4.7L PowerTech V8 arrived for 2000 and the 3.7L V6 for 2004. The 2005–2011 truck used only the 3.7L and 4.7L, and the 4.7L itself came in standard, High Output and revised 2008-on forms.
The table below sets out the engines generation by generation. The 3.9L and 5.2L each came in pre-Magnum and Magnum forms, and the 4.7L changed twice without changing its name, so we confirm the exact engine from your VIN before we quote.
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2.2L four-cylinder | Base engine, 1987–1988. | |
| 2.5L four-cylinder | Base engine, 1989–1995. Chrysler’s own overhead-cam four, from the same family as the 2.2L. | |
| 2.5L four-cylinder (AMC design) | 1996. The Jeep-built pushrod four, which carried on into the next generation. | |
| 3.9L V6 | 1987–1991. The earlier LA-series engine, before the Magnum. | |
| 3.9L Magnum V6 | 1992–1996. | |
| 5.2L V8 | 1991, and the 1989 Shelby Dakota. The earlier LA-series engine, before the Magnum. | |
| 5.2L Magnum V8 | 1992–1996. |
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5L four-cylinder (AMC design) | Base engine, 1997–2002. | |
| 3.9L Magnum V6 | 1997–2003. | |
| 5.2L Magnum V8 | 1997–1999; the 4.7L replaced it for 2000. | |
| 5.9L Magnum V8 | R/T only, 1998–2003, two-wheel drive. | |
| 4.7L PowerTech V8 | 2000–2004. | |
| 3.7L PowerTech V6 | Code: EKG | 2004, its first year in the Dakota. |
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3.7L PowerTech V6 | Code: EKG | Standard engine, all years. |
| 4.7L PowerTech V8 | 2005–2007, in standard and High Output forms. | |
| 4.7L PowerTech V8 (revised) | 2008–2011, with new heads carrying two spark plugs per cylinder and a new intake. |
Not sure which one is yours? Request a quote and we’ll work it out from your VIN.
Before You Order
What to check before you order
Pre-Magnum or Magnum
A 1987–1991 3.9L or 5.2L is the older LA-series engine. The Magnums that took over for 1992 have multipoint fuel injection, new heads and a new intake, so one is not a straight swap for the other. Give us the model year so we quote the right one.
Which 2.5L four
The 1989–1995 2.5L is Chrysler’s overhead-cam four; the 1996–2002 2.5L is the AMC-designed pushrod engine from Jeep. They share a size and nothing else.
Which 4.7L
The 4.7L came in standard and High Output forms, and the 2008–2011 engine has different heads and ignition from the earlier one. The size alone does not decide it; the model year does.
Magnum or PowerTech
The 3.9L, 5.2L and 5.9L Magnums are pushrod engines; the 3.7L and 4.7L PowerTechs that replaced them are a different, overhead-cam design. Match the family as well as the size.
R/T is its own truck
The 1998–2003 R/T’s 5.9L was two-wheel drive only and paired with the 46RE automatic. Tell us if your Dakota is an R/T.
Have your VIN ready
Your Dakota’s VIN tells us the engine and model year it left the factory with, so we can check the replacement against both before we quote.
Common Problems
Common Dakota engine problems
Timing chain wear — 3.7L and 4.7L
The PowerTech V6 and V8 drive their overhead cams through chains, tensioners and plastic guides that wear, most of all when oil changes are neglected. A rattle at start-up is the warning, and a chain that jumps a tooth on these interference engines can bend valves.
Overheating damage — 4.7L
The 4.7L does not survive overheating well. Running hot blows head gaskets, cracks heads and loosens valve seats, and a seat that drops into a cylinder wrecks the piston and head with it.
Intake plenum gasket — Magnum V6 and V8s, 1992–2003
The 3.9L, 5.2L and 5.9L Magnums have a steel pan on the underside of the intake manifold, and the gasket that seals it fails. The engine then pulls oil from the lifter valley into the intake and burns it, so a Magnum that uses oil should have this checked before the engine itself is blamed.
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FAQ
Dakota engine questions, answered
Which engine does my Dakota have?
From 1987 to 1996 it has a 2.2L or 2.5L four, the 3.9L V6 or the 5.2L V8. From 1997 to 2004 it could be the 2.5L four, the 3.9L V6, the 5.2L or 5.9L V8, the 4.7L from 2000 or, in 2004, the 3.7L V6. From 2005 it is either the 3.7L V6 or the 4.7L V8. The eighth character of the VIN identifies it, and we confirm the version from the full VIN.
Will a 4.7L from a Durango, Ram or Grand Cherokee fit my Dakota?
The 4.7L was shared across Dodge and Jeep, but each vehicle has its own version and the engine was revised for 2008. The donor has to be from the same side of that change, and your VIN lets us confirm the rest.
Did the Dakota ever come with a Hemi?
No. The largest Dakota engine was the 5.9L Magnum in the 1998–2003 R/T. From 2000 the 4.7L PowerTech was the V8 in every other trim, with a High Output version offered for 2005–2007.
Is the engine covered by a warranty?
Yes. Every engine we sell is covered by warranty, and extended cover is available at extra cost. The full terms are in our Warranty Policy.
Ready to replace your Dakota engine?
Tell us the year and have your VIN to hand — a specialist will confirm the right unit and send you a quote.
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