IllustrationEXHAUST LEAK ON 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Dakota years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
530–25K
2625–50K
4450–75K
1675–100K
20100–150K
9150K+
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
12 reportsDRIVING AT 35 MPH VALVE SPRING BROKE LOSING ALL COMPRESSION IN CYLINDER #1. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WAS TOWED TO THE DRIVER'S RESIDENCE. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A NEW ENG…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WAS TOWED TO THE DRIVER'S RESIDENCE. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.
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
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM KEEPS MALFUNCTIONING. THE FUEL GAUGE DOESN'T WORK RIGHT AND THE TEMPERATURE HAND SOMETIMES IS ON HOT AS SOON AS YOU CRANK THE TRUCK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON TOO. IT HAS BEEN WORKED ON 3 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT A YEAR AGO. *NM
I PURCHASED A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA SLT FROM ELK GROVE DODGE, ELK GROVE, CALIFORNIA, ENGINE STARTED OVERHEATING, FIRST TWO TIMES THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, THE THIRD TIME WAS A BROKEN RADIATOR HOSE AND THE FOURTH TIME REPLACED BOTH CYLINDER HEADS AS HEADS ARE CRACKED DUE TO OVERHEATING. THEY FOUND COOLANT ON SPARK PLUGS. *JB
CONSUMER STATES WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT THE VEHICLE IDLES LOW , 500 RPMS, AND ATTEMPTS TO STALL. DEALER STATES THAT THERE IS A DEFECT. *AK
NO ACCIDENT. *JB
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. SOMETIMES IT TOOK 10 MINUTES, SOMETIMES 2 HOURS BEFORE VEHICLE WILL RESTART. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP SIX TIMES. DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS DONE, BUT NO ENGINE FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. NO PARTS WERE REPLACED. THEY ONLY REFLASHED THE ENGINE, BUT THIS FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLE…
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VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. SOMETIMES IT TOOK 10 MINUTES, SOMETIMES 2 HOURS BEFORE VEHICLE WILL RESTART. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP SIX TIMES. DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS DONE, BUT NO ENGINE FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. NO PARTS WERE REPLACED. THEY ONLY REFLASHED THE ENGINE, BUT THIS FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *NM
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
Official recalls
104V216000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.