2004 Dodge Dakota Problems, complaints & recalls

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.

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

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.

Trans shift solenoid control pack code popped up and does not shift smoothly at all

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...

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 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...

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.

The driver headlight quit working. I went to the store to replace it thinking it had burnt out. When I replaced the light it did not work still and the old headlight still had both filaments proving it was still good. I took the truck to the dealership after both headlights quit working on me when I was out at night driving less than a 10th of a mile from home. I managed to not get in an accident. The dealership told me that the ctm and head light switch were bad however the ctm was a "obsolete" part and they were...

The heater blower resistor keeps burning up. I have replaced the resistor various times and it keeps burning up. I replaced the blower motor and the resistor keeps burning up. I had the vehicle checked for an electrical short circuit and it has none. The wiring to the resistor also burns up. I checked the internet and there are numerous reports and complaints of the same problem with many owners of the same type of vehicle. In one of the cases the resistor cause a fire inside the vehicle and the vehicle burned...

Driving on a rainy night and headlights and wipers quit working all at once. Central timer module failed and shut the lights and wipers off as well as interior lights and door locks. Almost didn't get vehicle stopped without wrecking. Left vehicle and came back during daylight and drove to repair shop. Where located the issue was a failed central timer module. Contacted dodge and said its out of warranty? Its not about warranty or not it could have the potential for a fatality. Still have the old ctm if anyone is interested in looking into the matter. Why would headlights be ran through a module like this just asking for trouble.

Air bag light came on took it to dealer they said it was clock spring went bad ,i had it replaced with new one . I had to brake fast to avoid hitting and air bag came on again. These things cost 100.00 What is up with that?

I started my vehicle and could not get my headlights to turn on. All connections and bulbs were checked by a mechanic and the problem has been traced to the ctm (central timing module). These units are on nationwide back order. This is a serious safety issue and a serious replacement issue if people are losing their headlights and the part is on an unknown back order situation.

While vehicle is parked and engine running, I notice smoke and burning smell of plastic coming from blower fan motor unit. Please tell me is there any technical service bulletins on this problem and have you received any other complaints on this problem from others. Engine size 3.7L v6.

Wiring to blower motor resistor gets so hot it melts the wire covering and the pigtail. In the last 2 years, have replaced the pigtail 3 times, the wiring once, the resistor twice, the blower motor once, and the whole fan unit once. Just burnt up again while air conditioner was running. It has also burnt up while using the heater in winter.

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 dodge dakota. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v313000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge dakota. While driving at any speed, the driver side air bag light illuminated on and off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000.

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 place at all speeds and under city and highway conditions. Very disconcerting. After about a week of this I took it to the dealer. They determined it was a failing fluid control valve in the power steering pump and replaced it. It was covered under the extended warranty I had purchased but would have cost over $1500.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge dakota. While driving approximately 5 mph, the gear shifted into neutral without warning. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing due to cost. The failure recurred and the contact unplugged the servo motor. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 159,000.

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 had the blower motor replaced in case it was the cause of the resistor and pigtail connection issues.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge dakota. While accelerating at a low speed, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. In addition, while a stop, the vehicle overheated and the temperature gauge increased. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to multiple independent mechanics, who diagnosed that the front, upper and lower ball joints, struts, control arms, idle arms, control arm bushings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

I bought my dodge dakota brand new from a dealer. I started to have problems with it almost immediately after purchase. I'll briefly list these failures. While driving in very cold weather (winter). I was driving with the heater on, a large volume of engine coolant came pouring out of the dashboard heater vents. This was repaired by the dealer. Within that same year the fuel gauge and check engine light would come on whenever the gas tank became half empty. At this point the fuel gauge would drop to zero fuel,...

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 other forums for this common problem. Consensus is the steering rack and/or the intermediate shaft. Went and had steering rack and lower shaft replaced and it cured the problem about 97 percent. Dodge should have a recall for safety reasons as this could involve fatalities . *Tr

Got in vehicle and started to drive when I noticed making a turn the steering wheel would not return to center. The steering was real heavy like the power steering was failing. Checked power steering fluid-it was okay,tire pressure was ok. As I continued to drive the steering got better. Since that incident the problem with the steering comes and goes. I went on the web and found out how many more 2004 dodge dakota truck owners are having the same problem. The steering problem seems to be in the intermediate shaft...

DRIVER SEAT RECLINE WHEN DRIVING. *TR