2004 Dodge Dakota Problems and Recalls (199 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2004 Dodge Dakota is Steering (31% of 199 owner reports). There are 5 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Steering — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 199 complaints · 5 recalls

What problems show up on the 2004 Dodge Dakota?

61 of 199 filings named Steering (31% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Suspension (35 reports).

There are 5 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras, Suspension, and Lights. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2003 has 289 reports on file; this year has 199. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2004 Dodge Dakota

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 5 campaigns on file below.
  2. Steering. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight.
  3. Suspension. Listen for clunks over bumps and look at tire wear for alignment issues.
  4. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Steering. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Steering 61 complaints · 30.7% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 11
  • Fires 6
  • Injuries 8
  • Deaths 1
All Dodge Dakota years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Steering (STEERING) appears in 61 of 199 owner complaints (30.7%) in this vehicle snapshot. Steering (STEERING): 61 complaints, 30.7% of reports Steering (STEERING) 61 · 30.7% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 35 complaints, 17.6% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 2 crash reports 35 · 17.6% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 15 complaints, 7.5% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 3 fire reports 15 · 7.5% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 14 complaints, 7.0% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 7 crash reports 2 fire reports 14 · 7.0% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 14 complaints, 7.0% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 14 · 7.0% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 12 complaints, 6.0% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 12 · 6.0% Engine (ENGINE): 11 complaints, 5.5% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 crash reports 11 · 5.5% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 10 complaints, 5.0% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 1 fire reports 10 · 5.0% Wheels (WHEELS): 6 complaints, 3.0% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 6 · 3.0% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 88 complaints, 44.2% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 5 crash reports 2 fire reports 88 · 44.2% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Steering (STEERING) 61 30.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 35 17.6% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 15 7.5% 0 crashes · 3 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 14 7.0% 7 crashes · 2 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 14 7.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 12 6.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 11 5.5% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 10 5.0% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 6 3.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 88 44.2% 5 crashes · 2 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2003; the first recall shown was reported in May 2004. 2003-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2004-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2004-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2004-Q4: 16 owner reports 16 2005-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2005-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2005-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2005-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2006-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2006-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2006-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2007-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2007-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2007-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2007-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2008-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2008-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2008-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2009-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2009-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2009-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2010-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2010-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2010-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2010-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2011-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2012-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2012-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2013-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2014-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2014-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2015-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2015-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 2003 Jul 2022 Recall campaign 04V216000 ◆ Recall campaign 04V216000 Recall campaign 06E026000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E026000 Recall campaign 08E064000 ◆ Recall campaign 08E064000 Recall campaign 09E012000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E012000 Recall campaign 09E025000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E025000
  • Campaign 08E064000 was reported 1,664 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 09E025000 was reported 1,694 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2003-Q4 Owner reports 2
2004-Q1 Owner reports 4
2004-Q2 Owner reports 4
2004-Q3 Owner reports 10
2004-Q4 Owner reports 16
2005-Q1 Owner reports 8
2005-Q2 Owner reports 2
2005-Q3 Owner reports 6
2005-Q4 Owner reports 6
2006-Q1 Owner reports 2
2006-Q2 Owner reports 4
2006-Q3 Owner reports 3
2006-Q4 Owner reports 2
2007-Q1 Owner reports 6
2007-Q2 Owner reports 3
2007-Q3 Owner reports 2
2007-Q4 Owner reports 3
2008-Q1 Owner reports 2
2008-Q2 Owner reports 7
2008-Q3 Owner reports 6
2008-Q4 Owner reports 5
2009-Q1 Owner reports 7
2009-Q2 Owner reports 2
2009-Q3 Owner reports 10
2009-Q4 Owner reports 3
2010-Q1 Owner reports 5
2010-Q2 Owner reports 3
2010-Q3 Owner reports 4
2010-Q4 Owner reports 2
2011-Q1 Owner reports 2
2011-Q2 Owner reports 4
2011-Q3 Owner reports 5
2011-Q4 Owner reports 3
2012-Q1 Owner reports 5
2012-Q3 Owner reports 1
2012-Q4 Owner reports 3
2013-Q2 Owner reports 3
2014-Q1 Owner reports 1
2014-Q2 Owner reports 4
2014-Q3 Owner reports 2
2014-Q4 Owner reports 4
2015-Q1 Owner reports 2
2015-Q3 Owner reports 3
2015-Q4 Owner reports 2
2016-Q2 Owner reports 2
2016-Q3 Owner reports 1
2016-Q4 Owner reports 3
2017-Q1 Owner reports 1
2017-Q2 Owner reports 1
2017-Q4 Owner reports 1
2018-Q2 Owner reports 2
2018-Q3 Owner reports 1
2020-Q1 Owner reports 1
2020-Q4 Owner reports 1
2021-Q4 Owner reports 1
2022-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 04V216000
Recall campaign 1 06E026000
Recall campaign 1 08E064000
Recall campaign 1 09E012000
Recall campaign 1 09E025000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (5)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras, Suspension, and Lights.

  1. Recall campaign 04V216000

    Glass / wipers / cameras

    Report date
    Component:
    Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 06E026000

    Safety recall 06E026000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 08E064000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    IMPROPER SEATING OF THE WHEEL CAN RESULT IN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION, BRAKE ROTOR NOISE, DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE WHEEL AFTER INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, AND POSSIBLY WHEEL-END SEPARATION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. SHOULD WHEEL-END SEPARATION OCCUR, THE DRIVER COULD LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    SKF WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE HUB UNITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 5, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SKF VSM NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-644-8999.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 09E012000

    Safety recall 09E012000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 09E025000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 8 of 199 complaints · page 1 of 8
2022-09-02Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11482673
CrashFireInjuryDeath
While driving my 2004 dodge Dakota all the gauges, including the speedometer and the tachometer stopped working. Everything went off although the truck was still running. I had headlights turn signals an emergency flashers nothing else. I don’t know how fast I was going how much fuel I had or if my engine was running hot nothing. This is something that could spook a driver to a point where he/she would be distracted of their surroundings. Possibly causing a serious crash and hurting or killing someone.
2021-11-15Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11440429
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Unknown the four wheel drive was out when I purchased it I didn't realize until later that day when I drove it and tried to engage it. It no longer works and it is a safety hazard to even try and turn on it doesn't engage and makes a noise and catches in some sort of way I believe it may have affected the transmission as well. My safety and the safety of others could be at risk if I try and use the four wheel drive and it's needed for hazardous road conditions in my area like snow and ice
2020-11-04Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11373056
CrashFireInjuryDeath
MY VEHICLES DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF WHILE MAKING A STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THE PINON NUT HAD COME LOOSE. IT WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC'S SHOP, MY DAD CAME AND REATTACHED IT. IT STILL MADE A WHIRRING SOUND, AT FIRST I WAS ON THE WAY TO THE MECHANIC FOR WHAT I THOUGH WAS A PINON SEAL LEAK.
2020-02-13VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NHTSA ODI 11309021
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TRANS SHIFT SOLENOID CONTROL PACK CODE POPPED UP AND DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY AT ALL
2018-07-23Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11112957
CrashFireInjuryDeath
SHIFTER WILL MOVE WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION. WILL ROLE IN ANY DIRECTION IN ANY POSITION BUT PARK. CAN REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION WHILE RUNNING. WHILE IT'S STILL RUNNING WITH KEY OUT CAN SHIFT AND DRIVE. OTHER TIMES WHEN I GO TO START ENGINE THE KEY WON'T TURN. I HAVE TO HIT THE END OF THE KEY WITH THE PALM OF ONE HAND WHILE THE OTHER TURNS IT. REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS THE FIRST OF THIS YEAR AND VEHICLE ONLY HAD 87000 MILES AT THE TIME. CHANGED BRAKES AND HAD TO HAVE ROTOR TURNED. DRIVER SIDE BRAKE CALIPER PLUNGER HAD MULTIPLE PIECES BREAK OFF GETTING STUCK BETWEEN BREAK PAD AND REMAINING PIECES OF PLUNGER CASTING THE VEHICLE TO PULL LEFT WHILE DRIVING. WHEN APPLYING THE BREAK IT PULL SO HARD IT CAUSED ME TO START GOING INTO ANOTHER LANE BARELY MISSING THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE.
2018-06-06Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
NHTSA ODI 11100125
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW BECAME DISLODGED FROM THE VEHICLE, FELL TO THE GROUND, AND SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. THE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE LOCAL DEALER (ROB LAMBDIN'S UNIVERSITY DODGE RAM IN DAVIE, FL) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT OVER THE YEARS, THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, THREE TIMES ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, THREE TIMES ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, AND THREE TIMES ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
2018-05-14Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11093647
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE STEERING IS VERY HARD TO TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT AT MOST TIMES. FEELS AS IF THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED, BUT HAD IT INSPECTED BY MECHANIC AND SAYS POWER STEERING PUMP AND BELTS ARE FINE. THIS DIFFICULTY IN STEERING IS ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY A GRINDING TYPE OF NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN BEHIND THE STEEING WHEEL. IT HAS BECOME MORE THAN JUST AN OCCASIONAL ANNOYANCE BUT RATHER A MORE PERMANENT SAFETY ISSUE SINCE MY WIFE IS NO LONGER ABLE TO USE THE TRUCK BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY WITH THE STEERING. PLEASE ADVISE ON WHAT MAY BE THE CAUSE AND IF THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER DAKOTA PICK UPS AND IF THEY HAVE ISSUED A RECALL IN THE PAST TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I AM HOPING TO HAVE THIS RESOLVED QUICKLY SINCE I FEAR IT MAY ONLY LEAD TO SOME TRAGIC OR CATASTROPHIC RESULT. THANK YOU
2017-12-18Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
NHTSA ODI 11055280
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, THERE WAS NO AIR FLOW DISTRIBUTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,448.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2004 Dodge Dakota?

Owners named Steering most often — 61 of 199 reports (31%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2004 Dodge Dakota?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras, Suspension, and Lights. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2004 Dodge Dakota?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources