no report yet
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer
Risk. DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
2004 Dodge DakotaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 206 owner complaints about the 2004 Dodge Dakota, most often about the steering. It is covered by 1 safety recall.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 2, 2022. Updated daily. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2004 Dodge Dakota has problems
206 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
74Steering
45Suspension2 crash/fire/injury
21Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
21Service brakes, hydraulic
19Power train
15Air bags
12Engine and engine cooling
12Visibility
7Structure
3613 other systems1 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 74 | 0 |
| Suspension | 45 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 21 | 3 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 21 | 0 |
| Power train | 19 | 0 |
| Air bags | 15 | 9 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 12 | 1 |
| Visibility | 12 | 1 |
| Structure | 7 | 0 |
| 13 other systems | 36 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2004 Dodge Dakota recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Dodge.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
58kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 68 steering complaints. 79% were reported before 100,000 miles.
11under 30k miles54under 100k miles14100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2004 vs. every other Dakota year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Dakota median. How we score
'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2004 Dodge Dakota safety ratings
2004 Dodge Dakota Extended Cab in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Dakota owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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…
ISSUE WITH THE STEERING, APPEARED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PUMP. OCCURRED AT ABOUT 50K MILES, 6 YRS. WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WOULD GET HARD LIKE THE PUMP HAD FAILED, AND THEN WITHOUT WARNING, WOULD RETURN TO THE POWER ASSIST AND OVER STEER DUE TO THE PRESSURE I WAS ALREADY EXERTING. THIS TOOK…
INTERMITTENT STEERING. SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, STEERING WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER. NOW THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES IT WILL HAPPEN THEN AFTER DRIVING AWHILE IT WILL CLEAR UP. BUT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. CHECKED POWER STEERING FLUID,AIR PRESSURE. LOOKED AT…
Own a 2004 Dakota?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.