Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Dodge Dakota
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Dodge Dakota has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 206 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E064000 REPLACEMENT HUB UNITS/ABS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V216000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MOTOR NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 74 complaints
- Suspension 45 complaints
- Electrical System 21 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 21 complaints
- Power Train 19 complaints
- Air Bags 15 complaints
Of the 206 complaints on file, 11 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 206 complaints, owners report 8 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Dodge Dakota has a moderate number of complaints and five NHTSA recalls, indicating some reliability concerns, especially in steering and suspension. Data is somewhat limited, pointing to a potential for common issues but not sufficiently robust to label as major flaws.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering | 60,000–100,000 miles | $400–$800 | common |
| suspension | 70,000–110,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | common |
| service brakes | 50,000–90,000 miles | $300–$700 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Tire rotation and balance
- Cooling system service
- Transmission fluid exchange
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering pulling
- Unusual suspension noise
- Brake pedal softness
- Electrical system malfunctions
- Vibration while driving
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Dodge Dakota at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.