SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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.

About this comparison →
206Owner complaints

Model-year median: 166

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
678
2001678
2002296
2003206
2004470
2005285
2006144
2007
Compare all Dakota years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Steering
74Suspension
45Electrical System
21Service Brakes, Hydraulic
21Power Train
19
All reported categories
Air Bags
15Engine And Engine Cooling
12Visibility
12Structure
7Exterior Lighting
6Vehicle Speed Control
6Fuel System, Gasoline
4Seats
4Tires
4Unknown Or Other
4Wheels
3Equipment
2Visibility/wiper
2Fuel/propulsion System
1Parking Brake
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Air
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Suspension complaints

45 reports
Clear category filter
10,000 miles · Dec 26, 2004
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

BOUGHT DAKOTA NEW JAN,04 AT 10000,15000,AND 18000ROTORS WERE REPLACED FOR SHAKE IN TK WHEN BRAKING STILL HAS PROBLEM FRONT HUBS AND BEARINGS REPLACED HAS POPPING NOISE IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING SOMETIMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TRUCK PULLS TO LEFT FRONT DRIVESHAFT AND DRIVER WINDOW REGULATER HAS BEEN REPLACED ALSO 2 SENSORS IN TRA…

Read full complaint

BOUGHT DAKOTA NEW JAN,04 AT 10000,15000,AND 18000ROTORS WERE REPLACED FOR SHAKE IN TK WHEN BRAKING STILL HAS PROBLEM FRONT HUBS AND BEARINGS REPLACED HAS POPPING NOISE IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING SOMETIMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TRUCK PULLS TO LEFT FRONT DRIVESHAFT AND DRIVER WINDOW REGULATER HAS BEEN REPLACED ALSO 2 SENSORS IN TRANS REPLACED.TEMPERATURE GUAGE WENT ALL THE WAY TO HOT 1 TIME WHEN TRUCK WAS STARTED. WISH DODGE WOULD JUST BUY IT BACK.MY FIRST AND LAST DODGE EVER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10104512

1,000 miles · Dec 25, 2004
Suspension

I BOUGHT A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA 3/20/04 AND EVER SINCE IT WAS NEW IT HAS MADE A "POPPING" OR A "SCRAPING" NOISE WHEN I TURN. I MADE COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER AT THE 3,000 MI AND 7,000 MI OIL CHANGES BUT THE DEALER TELLS ME THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. NOW I SEE THAT 2003 AND PREVIOUS DAKOTA'S HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR BALL JOINT SERVICE I…

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA 3/20/04 AND EVER SINCE IT WAS NEW IT HAS MADE A "POPPING" OR A "SCRAPING" NOISE WHEN I TURN. I MADE COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER AT THE 3,000 MI AND 7,000 MI OIL CHANGES BUT THE DEALER TELLS ME THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. NOW I SEE THAT 2003 AND PREVIOUS DAKOTA'S HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR BALL JOINT SERVICE I AM WONDERING. I HAVE NOT DROVE MY DAKOTA SINCE OCTOBER CAUSE I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10104495

10,000 miles · Dec 23, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

I OWN A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA [XXX]. I NOW HAVE 40,000 MILES ON IT. MY FRONT BRAKES (DISC) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO PULSATING. THIS PULSATING IS ATTRIBUTED TO ROTORS WARPING. THE ROTOR WARPING IS CAUSED BY TOO MUCH HEAT FRICTION IN THE FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM. AS A RESULT, THE ROTORS WARP CAUSING A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS IN B…

Read full complaint

I OWN A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA [XXX]. I NOW HAVE 40,000 MILES ON IT. MY FRONT BRAKES (DISC) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO PULSATING. THIS PULSATING IS ATTRIBUTED TO ROTORS WARPING. THE ROTOR WARPING IS CAUSED BY TOO MUCH HEAT FRICTION IN THE FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM. AS A RESULT, THE ROTORS WARP CAUSING A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS IN BRAKING POWER. THE BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS WERE ALSO REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY WERE 'LOOSE' AND THEY MADE A CLUNKING SOUND OFTEN. SINCE THE PARTS WERE REPLACED, THE SAME SOUND STILL OCCURS LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE OEM PARTS ARE FAULTY. I DO NOT USE THIS VEHICLE FOR MEDIUM OR HEAVY LOADS AT ANY TIME; I DO, HOWEVER, USE THIS VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IN THE CAPACITY OF A PASSENGER VEHICLE.*AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #10104379

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2004
Suspension

I AM CONCERNED THE 2004 DODGE DURANGO AND DAKOTA ARE NOT BEING INVESTIGATED. THEY HAVE THE SAME BALL-JOINTS!!. ALSO DODGE KNOW ABOUT THE BALL JOINT PROBLEM IN 2003 BUT CONTINUE INSTALLING THE BALL-JOINTS DURING THE 2004 PRODUCTION RUN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10102994

500 miles · Dec 14, 2004
Suspension

STEERING SHOOK SEVERELY WHILE DRIVING AT 62 MPH, AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN GOING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10103747

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2004
SteeringSuspension

CONSUMER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION,AND BOTH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10103697

100 miles · Nov 27, 2004
Power TrainSuspension

TRANSMISSION SLIPS, RATTLING IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK THIS TRUCK BACK TO OUTTEN COUNTY CHRYSLER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX ANY OF THE PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10100605

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…

Read full complaint

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

2,500 miles · Sep 28, 2004
Suspension

I HAVE A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA CREW CAB WITH ABOUT 6,000 MILES ON IT. FOR SEVERAL MONTHS IT HAS BEEN MAKING A CRUNCHING SOUND FROM THE FRONT END ON TIGHT TURNS. I AM AWARE OF WIDESPREAD UPPER BALL JOINT PROBLEMS ON OTHER DAKOTAS. THE DODGE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, BUT THE NOISE IS PERSISTENT, AND THERE MUST BE SOMETHIN…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA CREW CAB WITH ABOUT 6,000 MILES ON IT. FOR SEVERAL MONTHS IT HAS BEEN MAKING A CRUNCHING SOUND FROM THE FRONT END ON TIGHT TURNS. I AM AWARE OF WIDESPREAD UPPER BALL JOINT PROBLEMS ON OTHER DAKOTAS. THE DODGE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, BUT THE NOISE IS PERSISTENT, AND THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10093237

32,047 miles · Aug 8, 2004
Suspension

ON 10/22/03 I HAD UPPER AND LOWER LEFT SIDE BALL JOINTS REPLACED DUE TO NOISE AND VIBRATION WITH MILEAGE UNDER 32100 MILES. ON 7/20/04 THE REAR UNIVERSAL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 37821 MILES. ALL REPAIRS 100% MY COST. HERE WE ARE AGAIN AT 38340 MILES; NOISE, CLUNKING, AND VIBRATION IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. BACK TO THE DEALER.…

Read full complaint

ON 10/22/03 I HAD UPPER AND LOWER LEFT SIDE BALL JOINTS REPLACED DUE TO NOISE AND VIBRATION WITH MILEAGE UNDER 32100 MILES. ON 7/20/04 THE REAR UNIVERSAL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 37821 MILES. ALL REPAIRS 100% MY COST. HERE WE ARE AGAIN AT 38340 MILES; NOISE, CLUNKING, AND VIBRATION IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. BACK TO THE DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10086407

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.