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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 →
206Owner complaints

Model-year median: 166

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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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

Electrical System complaints

21 reports
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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

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.