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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

12 reports
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239 miles · Dec 12, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CLICKING OR TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TRUCK RETURNED TO DEALER WITH NO SATISFACTION TO DATE. MECHANICS STATE IT MAY BE THE TIMING CHAIN AND SERVICE ADVISOR STATES THEY HAVE TO WAIT ON A REPRESENTATIVE TO COME CHECK THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEY CAN STATE WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THIS S…

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CLICKING OR TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TRUCK RETURNED TO DEALER WITH NO SATISFACTION TO DATE. MECHANICS STATE IT MAY BE THE TIMING CHAIN AND SERVICE ADVISOR STATES THEY HAVE TO WAIT ON A REPRESENTATIVE TO COME CHECK THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEY CAN STATE WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THIS SYSTEM HOWEVER THEY STATE THE REPRESENTATIVE CANNOT ARRIVE BEFORE AFTER THE NEW YEAR. A MONTH IN A TRUCK THAT I CANNOT TAKE ON CHRISTMAS VACATION. DEALER HAS INFORMED ME TO KEEP OPERATING THE VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF THE CLICKING NOISE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10049661

1,600 miles · Dec 4, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIES TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE REVSUP BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD TRY TO PASS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE, ONLY TO HAVE THE RPM'S TO INCREASE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST. THE DEALE…

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WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIES TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE REVSUP BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD TRY TO PASS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE, ONLY TO HAVE THE RPM'S TO INCREASE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST. THE DEALER TRIED TO FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO. THE MANUFACTURERS IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10050034

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.