KnownCarProblems2004 Dodge Dakota Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 206 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Dodge Dakota, most often about the steering (36% of complaints, typically around 59,000 miles). It is 7th of 12 Dakota model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2004 Dodge Dakota problems
Steering
74 complaints · 36%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles. Parts named most often: linkages, rack and pinion, hydraulic power assist, column locking.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Dodge Dakota. While driving at any speed, the power steering failed and does not allow the contact to turn the vehicle in any direction. There were no warning indicators prior to the failure. The failure occurs everytime the vehicle is driven. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer.…
I have a 2004 Dodge Dakota quad cab 4x4 with the magnum engine. It has roughly 59,000 miles on it. Sometime within the past 3,000 miles the steering began to get stiff. It was a gradual thing, slowly getting worse until now I'm concerned about it from a safety standpoint. The exact symptoms at this point are that the…
Suspension
45 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 32,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
On 10/22/03 I had upper and lower left side ball joints replaced due to noise and vibration with mileage under 32100 miles. On 7/20/04 the rear universal joint had to be replaced at 37821 miles. All repairs 100% my cost. Here we are again at 38340 miles; noise, clunking, and vibration in the front suspension. Back to…
Vibrating at speeds greater than 50 MPH. Spoke to Dodge reference #15238936 the vehicle continues to vibrate after multiple attempts to repair truck at dealers. Tires balanced and rotated, then tires replaced, brakes replaced, shocks replaced. Swapped rims. Serviced transmission, replaced driveshaft and u joints.…
Brakes
23 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 12,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, disc.
I have a 2004 Dodge Dakota 4 door cab 2 wheel drive truck. The brakes failed at less than 12,000 miles. They were replaced by the dealer and failed again less than 8,000 miles later. I had to pay for that failure. The symptoms were shimmy/shake when the brakes were applied. I had not made any panic stops and most of…
When brake rotors heat up the steering wheel shakes. At first shaking is minor not always noticeable. But as brakes heat and cool steering wheel shake becomes worse and happens every time brakes are applied. Severe steering wheel shake becomes difficult to control when braking. Chrysler states not a warranty item as…
Electrical
21 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 48,500 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, instrument cluster/panel, alternator/generator/regulator.
This is the second time this has happened an been replaced...now im going without a heater because the blower motor resistor started sparking an the smell of burning rubber an melted plastic filled the cab of the vehicle so I quickly pulled over to avoid a accident an I reached under to the to whare the resistor is…
Smell of burnt wire/plastic. Blower control switch would not work (blower motor would not run). Blower motor resistor and pigtail connection were melted and fused together. This was in 2010, it is now 2015 and I just had the seventh resistor put in with the fifth pigtail. The time before this last nightmare, I also…
Transmission
19 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 34,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, manual transmission, axle hubs.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the steering locks while driving. He took the vehicle to the dealer three different times and they replaced the power steering pump, which did not correct the failure. He then took the vehicle to an authorized automotive engineer and was informed that the…
Vibrating at speeds greater than 50 MPH. Spoke to Dodge reference #15238936 the vehicle continues to vibrate after multiple attempts to repair truck at dealers. Tires balanced and rotated, then tires replaced, brakes replaced, shocks replaced. Swapped rims. Serviced transmission, replaced driveshaft and u joints.…
Air bags
15 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 62,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
: the contact stated while driving around a curve at 55 MPH, the vehicle went off the road and down into a ditch. The airbags did not deploy. There was damage to the bumper, grill, and driver side turn signal. There was prior braking. The contact was wearing a seatbelt, but sustained minor injuries when hitting the…
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated the air bag light illuminated. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the air bags needed to be replaced. The failure had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The…
Visibility and wipers
14 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: power window devices and controls, windshield wiper/washer, defroster/defogger/hvac system, glass, side/rear.
I own 2 Dodge/chrysler products, in the 6 years I have had these cars I have had to repair the electric window cables 9 times at a cost of $250.00 each time. I have asked the local dealers why they keep breaking and I am told that they use plastic pieces that don't hold up. These products are supposed to carry a…
Heater/AC blower motor wiring melts causing failure of defroster, heater, A/C, premature failure of blower motor resistor, etc. This may even cause a fire if the wires happen to be touching combustibles in the passenger footwell when they melt. Dodge has released a kit to repair this extremely common problem. See…
Engine
12 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 8,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
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…
Consumer states when stopping at a light the vehicle idles low , 500 rpms, and attempts to stall. Dealer states that there is a defect.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Dodge Dakota recalls
Visibility and wipers: windshield wiper/washer
Risk: Driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front windshield wiper module. Owner notification began on july 12, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2004 Dodge Dakota
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Dodge Dakota?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (74 complaints, typically around 59,000 miles); suspension (45 complaints, typically around 32,000 miles); brakes (23 complaints, typically around 12,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Dodge Dakota have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 5, 2004 (visibility and wipers). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Dodge Dakota?
- It is 7th of 12 Dakota model years by number of complaints, with 206 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.