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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

206 reports
6 miles · Aug 17, 2004
Electrical System

FROM DAY 1 WHEN I PULLED OFF OF THE DEALERS LOT, THE TRUCK WILL STALL AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP OR RIGHT AFTER ENGINE HAS BEEN CRANKED UP. WILL NOT SHUT COMPLETELY OFF BUT WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A STOPPED POSITION IF WOULD ACT AS ONLY ONE PISTON IS FIRING. HAVE CARRIED THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 8 TIM…

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FROM DAY 1 WHEN I PULLED OFF OF THE DEALERS LOT, THE TRUCK WILL STALL AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP OR RIGHT AFTER ENGINE HAS BEEN CRANKED UP. WILL NOT SHUT COMPLETELY OFF BUT WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A STOPPED POSITION IF WOULD ACT AS ONLY ONE PISTON IS FIRING. HAVE CARRIED THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 8 TIMES THE FIRST THREE MONTHS. ONLY AFTER DIAMLER CHRYSLER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE DOWN THEY DID A TEMPORARY FIX BY REPLACING THE O2 SENSORS. THAT WORKED FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS. NOW THE PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10087044

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.…

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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

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2004
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrash

CONSUMER WENT OFF THE ROAD. THE FACTS WERE UNKNOWN. CONSUMER HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. CONSUMER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED DEPLOYED. INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT CAUSE OF CONSUMER'S DEATH WAS SUFFOCATION BY EITHER THE SEAT BELT OR THE AIR BAG.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10087400

2,323 miles · Aug 2, 2004
Suspension

WE JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. WE HAVE JUST OVER 2000 MILES ON IT, MOSTLY EXPRESSWAY MILES GOING TO WORK. A FEW WEEKS AGO MY GIRLFRIEND (WHO IA A DAIMLER-CHRYSLER EMPLOYEE) PULLED OUT OF HER PARKING SPACE AT WORK TO GO HOME AND GOT ABOUT 20 FEET AND THE DRIVERS FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF IN FRONT OF THE OTHER EMPL…

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WE JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. WE HAVE JUST OVER 2000 MILES ON IT, MOSTLY EXPRESSWAY MILES GOING TO WORK. A FEW WEEKS AGO MY GIRLFRIEND (WHO IA A DAIMLER-CHRYSLER EMPLOYEE) PULLED OUT OF HER PARKING SPACE AT WORK TO GO HOME AND GOT ABOUT 20 FEET AND THE DRIVERS FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF IN FRONT OF THE OTHER EMPLOYEES GOING HOME. THERE WAS NO NUT ON THE UPPER BALL JOINT, BUT THE PIN WAS STILL IN PLACE. AND THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY AFTER THE INCIDENT SHE FOUND THE NUT (NOT BROKE) LYING ON OUR GARAGE FLOOR, RIGHT WHERE WE PARKED THE TRUCK. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING TO WORK THAT DAY, OR KILLED SOMEONE ELSE. AFTER THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER GOT THERE AFTER 4 HOURS (HE GOT LOST), HE PULLED THE DAKOTA UP WITH CHAINS ON THE FLATBED TOW TRUCK WHILE THE TRUCK WAS IN PARK. THEN WHEN HE GOT TO ADRIAN DODGE IN ADRIAN MICHIGAN (WHERE WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK) HE BACKED UP TO ANOTHER TOW TRUCK, HOOKED UP THE DAKOTA WITH CHAINS AND PULLED IT OFF WHILE STILL IN PARK. ALSO HE DID SOME DAMAGE TO THE FENDER FLARE. WE TOOK PICTURES OF THE TRUCK BEFORE IT WAS TOWED. THERE WAS NO BODY DAMAGE. WE WANTED A NEW TRUCK, BECAUSE WE ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT AND IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT, BUT ADRIAN DODGE SAID THAT CHRYSLER SAID NO, THEY WOULD REPAIR THE DAMAGED ONE. THEY SAID IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT, AND BECAUSE WE BOUGHT IT WITH A EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT THEY COULDN''T DO ANYTHING FOR US. WE ARE VERY ANGRY ABOUT THIS. I THINK IT WAS NEGLIGENCE ON THEIR PART, BECAUSE SHE DROVE TO WORK WITHOUT THAT NUT ON THE TRUCK. AND BECAUSE THEY TOWED IT ON AND OFF THE TOWTRUCK, IT COULD POSSIBLY MESS UP THE TRANSMISSION. THEY FIXED OUR TRUCK AND WE HAVE IT BACK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10083168

3,100 miles · Jul 26, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

TOOK DELIVERY OF 2004 DODGE DAKOTA SLT ON MARCH 5, 2004 WITHIN ONE MONTH, NEEDLE PEGGED AT HOT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON UPON FIRST START UP OF DAY. COMPUTER RESET ITSELF WHEN TRUCK WAS SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. NO FURTHER PROBLEMS REMAINDER OF DAY. HOWEVER, PROBLEM PERSISTED. TOOK TRUCK INTO FRESNO DODGE FOR SERVIC…

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TOOK DELIVERY OF 2004 DODGE DAKOTA SLT ON MARCH 5, 2004 WITHIN ONE MONTH, NEEDLE PEGGED AT HOT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON UPON FIRST START UP OF DAY. COMPUTER RESET ITSELF WHEN TRUCK WAS SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. NO FURTHER PROBLEMS REMAINDER OF DAY. HOWEVER, PROBLEM PERSISTED. TOOK TRUCK INTO FRESNO DODGE FOR SERVICE-1ST TIME, MARCH 23: SENSOR WAS RESET; 2ND TIME IN SHOP, APRIL 10: SENSOR REPLACED; 3RD TIME IN SHOP, MAY 19: COMPUTER REPLACED-VEHICLE IN SHOP FOR 17 DAYS. 4TH TIME, JUNE 6: FRESNO DODGE PLACED DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER COPILOT IN DASH; WE PUSHED BUTTON ON DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER WHEN PROBLEM PRESENTED AGAIN ON JUNE 27. HAVE NOT HEARD ONE WORD FROM FRESNO DODGE. PROBLEM PRESENTED AGAIN ON JULY 26.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10082717

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2004
Equipment

CONSUMER INDICATED THAT TIRE PRESSURE STICKER PROVIDED WRONG INFORMATION. ALSO, THE MANUAL INSTRUCTION DID NOT PROVIDE THE RIGHT PSI PRESSURE ON THE FRONT AND REAR TIRES. DEALER ADMITTED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10075569

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

450 miles · Apr 27, 2004
Power Train

TRANSMISSION,DAY 1 LEAKING,REPLACED REAR TAIL AND SEAL, STILL LEAKING,THEN REPLACED THE YOKEAND UNIVERSIL,PROBLEM WITH LEAK SOLVED,NOW TRANSMISSION SHIFTS IREGULAR,HARD THUMPING NOISE COMEING FROM TRANSMISSION,LOUD CRACKING CRUNCHING NOISE COMING FROM SOME WHERE, DEALER SAYS ITS IN TRANSMISSION,DEALER DONT NOW PROBLEM, WANT TO L…

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TRANSMISSION,DAY 1 LEAKING,REPLACED REAR TAIL AND SEAL, STILL LEAKING,THEN REPLACED THE YOKEAND UNIVERSIL,PROBLEM WITH LEAK SOLVED,NOW TRANSMISSION SHIFTS IREGULAR,HARD THUMPING NOISE COMEING FROM TRANSMISSION,LOUD CRACKING CRUNCHING NOISE COMING FROM SOME WHERE, DEALER SAYS ITS IN TRANSMISSION,DEALER DONT NOW PROBLEM, WANT TO LOOK IN TRANSMISSION, ALSO WHENRESUMEING TO SPEED IN SET CRUZ CONTROL,VIOLENT DOWN SHIFTING 5 MILES PER HOUR BEFORE SET SPEED,GOIG TO DEALER TO HAVE A LOOK AT AGAIN . *AK

NHTSA ODI #10067906

441 miles · Apr 20, 2004
Tires

WHEN ROLLING OVER A PIECE OF WOOD IN THE ROAD RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. NO INJURES REPORTED. *AK CONSUMER ALSO LEARNED THAT HE COULDN'T PURCHASE TIRES ON VEHICLE , ONLY PASSENGER SIDE TIRES ARE AVAILABLE. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10063524

5,000 miles · Apr 19, 2004
SuspensionTires

PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WOBBLED WHILE DRIVING. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10067357

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.