IllustrationA KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
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
What owners actually said
206 reportsBOUGHT DAKOTA NEW JAN,04 AT 10000,15000,AND 18000ROTORS WERE REPLACED FOR SHAKE IN TK WHEN BRAKING STILL HAS PROBLEM FRONT HUBS AND BEARINGS REPLACED HAS POPPING NOISE IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING SOMETIMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TRUCK PULLS TO LEFT FRONT DRIVESHAFT AND DRIVER WINDOW REGULATER HAS BEEN REPLACED ALSO 2 SENSORS IN TRA…
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BOUGHT DAKOTA NEW JAN,04 AT 10000,15000,AND 18000ROTORS WERE REPLACED FOR SHAKE IN TK WHEN BRAKING STILL HAS PROBLEM FRONT HUBS AND BEARINGS REPLACED HAS POPPING NOISE IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING SOMETIMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TRUCK PULLS TO LEFT FRONT DRIVESHAFT AND DRIVER WINDOW REGULATER HAS BEEN REPLACED ALSO 2 SENSORS IN TRANS REPLACED.TEMPERATURE GUAGE WENT ALL THE WAY TO HOT 1 TIME WHEN TRUCK WAS STARTED. WISH DODGE WOULD JUST BUY IT BACK.MY FIRST AND LAST DODGE EVER. *AK
I BOUGHT A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA 3/20/04 AND EVER SINCE IT WAS NEW IT HAS MADE A "POPPING" OR A "SCRAPING" NOISE WHEN I TURN. I MADE COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER AT THE 3,000 MI AND 7,000 MI OIL CHANGES BUT THE DEALER TELLS ME THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. NOW I SEE THAT 2003 AND PREVIOUS DAKOTA'S HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR BALL JOINT SERVICE I…
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I BOUGHT A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA 3/20/04 AND EVER SINCE IT WAS NEW IT HAS MADE A "POPPING" OR A "SCRAPING" NOISE WHEN I TURN. I MADE COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER AT THE 3,000 MI AND 7,000 MI OIL CHANGES BUT THE DEALER TELLS ME THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. NOW I SEE THAT 2003 AND PREVIOUS DAKOTA'S HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR BALL JOINT SERVICE I AM WONDERING. I HAVE NOT DROVE MY DAKOTA SINCE OCTOBER CAUSE I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. *AK
I OWN A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA [XXX]. I NOW HAVE 40,000 MILES ON IT. MY FRONT BRAKES (DISC) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO PULSATING. THIS PULSATING IS ATTRIBUTED TO ROTORS WARPING. THE ROTOR WARPING IS CAUSED BY TOO MUCH HEAT FRICTION IN THE FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM. AS A RESULT, THE ROTORS WARP CAUSING A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS IN B…
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I OWN A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA [XXX]. I NOW HAVE 40,000 MILES ON IT. MY FRONT BRAKES (DISC) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO PULSATING. THIS PULSATING IS ATTRIBUTED TO ROTORS WARPING. THE ROTOR WARPING IS CAUSED BY TOO MUCH HEAT FRICTION IN THE FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM. AS A RESULT, THE ROTORS WARP CAUSING A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS IN BRAKING POWER. THE BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS WERE ALSO REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY WERE 'LOOSE' AND THEY MADE A CLUNKING SOUND OFTEN. SINCE THE PARTS WERE REPLACED, THE SAME SOUND STILL OCCURS LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE OEM PARTS ARE FAULTY. I DO NOT USE THIS VEHICLE FOR MEDIUM OR HEAVY LOADS AT ANY TIME; I DO, HOWEVER, USE THIS VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IN THE CAPACITY OF A PASSENGER VEHICLE.*AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD TRANSMISSION IS NOT DISCONNECTING FROM THE ENGINE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WARMS IT RUNS OKAY. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE LEFT OVERNIGHT AT THE DEALERS TO SEE IF THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
I AM CONCERNED THE 2004 DODGE DURANGO AND DAKOTA ARE NOT BEING INVESTIGATED. THEY HAVE THE SAME BALL-JOINTS!!. ALSO DODGE KNOW ABOUT THE BALL JOINT PROBLEM IN 2003 BUT CONTINUE INSTALLING THE BALL-JOINTS DURING THE 2004 PRODUCTION RUN.*AK
STEERING SHOOK SEVERELY WHILE DRIVING AT 62 MPH, AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN GOING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
CONSUMER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION,AND BOTH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING THE RMPS ACCELERATED THE SPEED. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THA…
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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING THE RMPS ACCELERATED THE SPEED. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *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.