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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

Steering complaints

74 reports
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6,000 miles · Nov 16, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

GOT DODGE DAKOTA 4X2 BRAND NEW. BRAKES SQUEALED AFTER 6,000 MILES, FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. AT 12,000 MILES THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHILE TURNING, TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, SAID IT WAS FIXED. IT WAS NOT FIXED. AT 14,000 MILES, BOTH TIE RODS SNAPPED WHILE MAKING A TURN FROM A COMPLETE STOP. FIXED UNDER WARENTY. NOW AT 15,000 MILE…

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GOT DODGE DAKOTA 4X2 BRAND NEW. BRAKES SQUEALED AFTER 6,000 MILES, FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. AT 12,000 MILES THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHILE TURNING, TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, SAID IT WAS FIXED. IT WAS NOT FIXED. AT 14,000 MILES, BOTH TIE RODS SNAPPED WHILE MAKING A TURN FROM A COMPLETE STOP. FIXED UNDER WARENTY. NOW AT 15,000 MILES, THE CLUNKING NOISE IS BACK WHILE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND MAKING TURN. THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10100058

125 miles · Oct 21, 2004
SteeringSuspension

2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4, PURCHASED 8/16/04. CURRENTLY 2,200 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED RATTLING OR CLUNKING NOISES IN THE FRONT END WHEN TRAVELING OVER BUMPS. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, AND PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN BRAKING. TIRE WEAR (ALTHOUGH VERY SLI…

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2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4, PURCHASED 8/16/04. CURRENTLY 2,200 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED RATTLING OR CLUNKING NOISES IN THE FRONT END WHEN TRAVELING OVER BUMPS. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, AND PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN BRAKING. TIRE WEAR (ALTHOUGH VERY SLIGHT @ 2,200 MILES IN NOT SYMMETRICAL BETWEEN LH FRONT TO RH FRONT TIRE). I WILL BE TAKING THE TRUCK INTO THE DEALERSHIP @ 3,000 MILES TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE FRONT END, AS WELL AS THE ALIGNMENT.

NHTSA ODI #10096148

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2004
SteeringTires

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE TOWING BEHIND A RECREATIONAL MOTOR HOME. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT TIRES TO DRAG SIDEWAYS WHILE BEING DRIVEN AROUND A CURVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10073649

1,500 miles · Mar 22, 2004
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

LOUD THUNKING NOISE COMES FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. REP FROM CHRYSLER STATED THIS WAS COMING FROM THE GAS TANK . THERE IS A VIBRATION BETWEEN 30-45 MPH COMING FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN. REP STATED THIS WAS "NORMAL".THERE IS ALSO A LOUD WHIRRING NOISE COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP. REP ALSO STATES THIS IS NORMAL.BEARI…

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LOUD THUNKING NOISE COMES FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. REP FROM CHRYSLER STATED THIS WAS COMING FROM THE GAS TANK . THERE IS A VIBRATION BETWEEN 30-45 MPH COMING FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN. REP STATED THIS WAS "NORMAL".THERE IS ALSO A LOUD WHIRRING NOISE COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP. REP ALSO STATES THIS IS NORMAL.BEARING NOSIE IS COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP. MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA SXT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES AND THE DEALER STILL CANNOT FIX. THE REP FROM CHRYSLER STATED THIS IS THE "BEST" TRUCK DODGE HAS EVER BUILT. I'D HATE TO SEE THE WORST! SO FAR THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AC CONDENSER, COMPLETE RACK & PINION STEERING SYSTEM, COMPLETE DRIVE SHAFT, REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING, REAR SWAYBAR LINKS, THE BRAKES SHUDDER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP , LEFT FRONT BRAKE SQUEAL, FRONT END NEEDED ALIGNING AFTER RACK & PINION STEERING REPLACEMENT . TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM TAIL SHAFT SEAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10063654

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.