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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.

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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
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10141758

12,031 miles · Oct 24, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TOOK DELIVERY OF TRUCK ON 6/24/04 WITH 341 MILES AT DELIVERY. NOT EVEN SIX MONTHS LATER, 12/16/04 IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. THEY REPLACED BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS, MILEAGE 12,031. A LITTLE OVER SIX MONTHS LATER, 6/27/05 IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN, FOR THE SAME VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. AGAIN THEY REPLA…

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TOOK DELIVERY OF TRUCK ON 6/24/04 WITH 341 MILES AT DELIVERY. NOT EVEN SIX MONTHS LATER, 12/16/04 IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. THEY REPLACED BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS, MILEAGE 12,031. A LITTLE OVER SIX MONTHS LATER, 6/27/05 IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN, FOR THE SAME VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. AGAIN THEY REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS, MILEAGE 25,033. WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT WARRANTY THEM AGAIN, THIS WAS THE LAST TIME THEY WOULD WARRANTY THE BRAKES. ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, AT APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES NOTICED THE VIBRATION AGAIN. CALLED THE DEALER AND WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD HAVE TO CALL THE (800) NUMBER AND SEE WHAT THEY SAID. FIRST SPOKE WITH MATT, THEN WAS TRANSFERRED TO DON IN OUT OF WARRANTY DEPARTMENT (WHEN CALLING THE 800 NUMBER) I WAS TOLD THAT IF IT WAS CAUSED BY THE CALIPERS THEY WOULD PAY TO REPAIR THE CALIPERS AND ROTORS, HOWEVER IF IT WAS DUE TO THE ROTORS ONLY, WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THE REPAIR. ASKED ABOUT THE LEMON LAWS, AS THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN FOR THE SAME REPAIR SINCE OWNING THE TRUCK. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF SOMEONE HAVING THIS MUCH TROUBLE WITH BRAKES. THIS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, BRAKES SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 12, 0000 MILES. WAS FURTHER TOLD BY DON, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT MY STATE ATTORNEYS OFFICE TO DEAL WITH THE LEMON LAW ISSUE. IN LOOKING AT THE LEMON LAW BOOK THAT I WAS PROVIDED UPON DELIVER OF MY TRUCK IT STATES I SHOULD CONTACT CHRYSLER/DODGE IN WRITING BY MAIL OR CONTACT THROUGH WEBSITE. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST DODGE TRUCK, BUT AFTER THIS ORDEAL I AM STARTING TO THINK IT WILL BE MY LAST, WITH THE PROBLEM I'VE BEEN HAVING WITH THIS BRAKE ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10140596

18,000 miles · Aug 28, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 19,000 MILES. BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED BEYOND REPAIR. BRAKE PADS STILL LOOK BRAND NEW THOUGH. DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEMS WITH SEVERAL OWNERS COMPLAINING OF ROTORS, YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10134415

8,000 miles · Aug 22, 2005
Air BagsInjury

DT: 2004 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP - THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING ON US HIGHWAY 27 AT 55 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF FROM THE NORTH BOUND LANE TO THE SOUTH BOUND LANE. DID NOT STOP IN THE FAST LANE AND CAME OVER INTO TO THE SLOW LANE WHERE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. FRONT END CLIPPED OTHER …

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DT: 2004 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP - THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING ON US HIGHWAY 27 AT 55 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF FROM THE NORTH BOUND LANE TO THE SOUTH BOUND LANE. DID NOT STOP IN THE FAST LANE AND CAME OVER INTO TO THE SLOW LANE WHERE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. FRONT END CLIPPED OTHER VEHICLE'S REAR END. UPON IMPACT. THE MAN THAT VEHICLE HIT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. DID NOT KNOW THE OUTCOME OF HIS CONDITION THE VEHICLE IS IN AN AUTO BODY SHOP. INDICATOR LIGHT DID NOT COME ON BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THERE WAS ONE INJURY, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK.

NHTSA ODI #10133758

9,000 miles · Aug 11, 2005
EquipmentSeatsSteering

DT: 2004 DODGE, DAKOTA. THE CONSUMER STATED STEERING HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND IT WAS STILL DEFECTIVE. THE IDLER ARMS WERE REPLACED ONCE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE THE VEHICLE MADE A CLICKING NOISE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. SHE REPEATEDLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND HAD THE IDLER AR…

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DT: 2004 DODGE, DAKOTA. THE CONSUMER STATED STEERING HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND IT WAS STILL DEFECTIVE. THE IDLER ARMS WERE REPLACED ONCE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE THE VEHICLE MADE A CLICKING NOISE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. SHE REPEATEDLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND HAD THE IDLER ARMS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WOULD CLICK WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED, IT WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES AND PROBLEM RECURRED. THE CONSUMER FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. ALSO, POWER STEERING PUMP, THE RADIO, AND THE KNEE PANEL HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. IN ADDITION, THE REAR SHOCKS AND SPRINGS/ THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR/DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT/THE CLOCK DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE, ROOF JOINT MOLDING WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH 800 MILES ON IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10132505

14,500 miles · Aug 2, 2005
Steering

ON JULY 30TH 2005, 2004 DODGE DAKOTA TIE RODS PULLED APART WHILE MAKING A TURN FROM A COMPLETE STOP. TRUCK HAS 14500 MILES ON IT. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10131078

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

THIS IS MY 2ND SUBMISSION (ODI #10116332); NO RESULT FIRST TIME. THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB TRUCK ACCELERATES GOING DOWNHILL. I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES NOW, THEY CAN'T FIND WHAT IS WRONG, AND SAY IT "PERFORMS AS DESIGNED". IT'S SUPPOSED TO ACCELERATE GOING DOWNHILL?! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10131065

46,000 miles · Jul 26, 2005
Steering

THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE A GROANING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT DODGE CAN NOT SEEM TO FIX. IT ALREADY HAS A LEAKING A/C SYSTEM AT 47000 MILES. ALSO, THE A/C SYSTEM WIL NOT GET COLD UNLESS IT IS NIGHT TIME. IT ALSO JUST HAS WAY TO MANY SQUEAKS, AND MAKES ME FEEL VERY UNSAFE …

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THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE A GROANING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT DODGE CAN NOT SEEM TO FIX. IT ALREADY HAS A LEAKING A/C SYSTEM AT 47000 MILES. ALSO, THE A/C SYSTEM WIL NOT GET COLD UNLESS IT IS NIGHT TIME. IT ALSO JUST HAS WAY TO MANY SQUEAKS, AND MAKES ME FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THE VEHICLE. THE WIPER CONTROL MODULE NEEDS REPLACING

NHTSA ODI #10130025

16,000 miles · Jul 15, 2005
Service Brakes, Air

2004 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 14,000 MILES TRUCK <1YEAR OLD FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED NOT COVERED BY CHRYSLER FROM SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT APPEARS THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM AS NUMERIOUS OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM IN DODGE DAKOTA TRUCKS. ROTORS SOULD NOT WARP IN 14,00 MILE S UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. T…

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2004 DODGE DAKOTA WITH 14,000 MILES TRUCK <1YEAR OLD FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED NOT COVERED BY CHRYSLER FROM SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT APPEARS THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM AS NUMERIOUS OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM IN DODGE DAKOTA TRUCKS. ROTORS SOULD NOT WARP IN 14,00 MILE S UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MATERIAL DEFECT IN THE ROTORS. I HAVE REPLACED BRAKES NUMERIOUS TIMES ON OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED AND NEVER HAD THIS OCCUR WITH SO FEW MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10128853

18,401 miles · Apr 22, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10118286

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.