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2004 Dodge Dakota

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Dodge Dakota do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 166.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

168 reports with mileage · 38 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports6 fire reports6 injury reports

Power Train complaints

19 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2021
Power Train

Unknown the four wheel drive was out when I purchased it I didn't realize until later that day when I drove it and tried to engage it. It no longer works and it is a safety hazard to even try and turn on it doesn't engage and makes a noise and catches in some sort of way I believe it may have affected the transmission as well. M…

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Unknown the four wheel drive was out when I purchased it I didn't realize until later that day when I drove it and tried to engage it. It no longer works and it is a safety hazard to even try and turn on it doesn't engage and makes a noise and catches in some sort of way I believe it may have affected the transmission as well. My safety and the safety of others could be at risk if I try and use the four wheel drive and it's needed for hazardous road conditions in my area like snow and ice

NHTSA ODI #11440429

202,875 miles · Nov 4, 2020
Power Train

MY VEHICLES DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF WHILE MAKING A STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THE PINON NUT HAD COME LOOSE. IT WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC'S SHOP, MY DAD CAME AND REATTACHED IT. IT STILL MADE A WHIRRING SOUND, AT FIRST I WAS ON THE WAY TO THE MECHANIC FOR WHAT I THOUGH WAS A PINON SEAL LEAK.

NHTSA ODI #11373056

150,000 miles · Feb 13, 2020
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TRANS SHIFT SOLENOID CONTROL PACK CODE POPPED UP AND DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY AT ALL

NHTSA ODI #11309021

159,000 miles · Oct 6, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING DUE TO COST. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT UNPLU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING DUE TO COST. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT UNPLUGGED THE SERVO MOTOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.

NHTSA ODI #10780230

34,000 miles · Jul 21, 2009
Power TrainSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCKS WHILE DRIVING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. HE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE UNIVER…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCKS WHILE DRIVING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. HE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT THAT GOES INTO THE YOKE WAS BENT WHEN IT SHOULD BE STRAIGHT. THE DEALER FINALLY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT DOES NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,017. UPDATED 8/27/09 *CN UPDATED 09/09/09 *JB

NHTSA ODI #10277629

53,000 miles · Aug 12, 2008
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA SLT IS A PIECE OF CRAP. FIRST I HAD TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY AT 53,000 MILES, NOW THE TORQUE CONVERTER TRIES TO LOCK TOO SOON (AT 30 MPH), WHICH RESULTS IN THE TRUCK SHUDDERING BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH. IT ONLY OCCURS UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION. HEAVY ACCELERATION KEEPS THE CONVERTER FROM …

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THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA SLT IS A PIECE OF CRAP. FIRST I HAD TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY AT 53,000 MILES, NOW THE TORQUE CONVERTER TRIES TO LOCK TOO SOON (AT 30 MPH), WHICH RESULTS IN THE TRUCK SHUDDERING BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH. IT ONLY OCCURS UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION. HEAVY ACCELERATION KEEPS THE CONVERTER FROM LOCKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10237838

68,000 miles · Jan 29, 2008
Power Train

CLUTCH FAILED, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNLESS PUSH STARTED, WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AND SHIFT NORMALLY. VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY UPUNTILL THE FAILURE. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER. THE PEDAL ROD WAS BENT, AFTER TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER AND SLAVE "FELL APART IN THEIR HANDS" THIS IS A PART TH…

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CLUTCH FAILED, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNLESS PUSH STARTED, WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AND SHIFT NORMALLY. VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY UPUNTILL THE FAILURE. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER. THE PEDAL ROD WAS BENT, AFTER TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER AND SLAVE "FELL APART IN THEIR HANDS" THIS IS A PART THAT DOES NOT FAIL, SHOULD NOT FAIL. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 3.5 YRS OLD. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THERE ARE NO AVAILABLE PARTS TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE. TO QUOTE THE SERVICE MANAGER "THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A RUN ON THE PARTS" I BELIEVE THIS WARRENTS LOOKING INTO TO SEE IF THIS IS A FAULTY PART. *CN

NHTSA ODI #10216356

35,791 miles · Mar 3, 2007
Power TrainSuspension

VIBRATING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 50 MPH. SPOKE TO DODGE REFERENCE #15238936 THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR TRUCK AT DEALERS. TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED, THEN TIRES REPLACED, BRAKES REPLACED, SHOCKS REPLACED. SWAPPED RIMS. SERVICED TRANSMISSION, REPLACED DRIVESHAFT AND U JOINTS. PRESSURE BAL…

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VIBRATING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 50 MPH. SPOKE TO DODGE REFERENCE #15238936 THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR TRUCK AT DEALERS. TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED, THEN TIRES REPLACED, BRAKES REPLACED, SHOCKS REPLACED. SWAPPED RIMS. SERVICED TRANSMISSION, REPLACED DRIVESHAFT AND U JOINTS. PRESSURE BALANCE THE TIRES. REPLACED AXEL BEARINGS AND POSSIBLY THE AXEL. REPLACED RING GEAR AND PINION AND ALL BEARINGS. MULTIPLE ALIGNMENTS.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10184097

55,000 miles · Feb 24, 2007
Power Train

TRANSMISSION DEFECT, WILL NOT GO INTO FOURTH AND THIRD GEAR AFTER INITIAL COLD START, TRUCK JERKS AND MAKES NOISE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10183398

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS TO THERE 2004 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT. *KB THE RADIATOR FAILED AND RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE, AXLE SHAFT ASSEMBLY WAS WORN. ELECTRIC ENGINE COOLING FAN FAILED WHICH DAMAGED THE NEW RADIATOR. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10169116

Official recalls

1

04V216000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

May 5, 2004

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MOTOR MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER INTRUSION THAT COULD CAUSE INTERNAL CORROSION AND RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPING CAPABILITY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.