2004 Dodge Dakota Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/14/2026

64Steering complaints

31.1%Of all 206 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

STEERING64 · 31.1%

SUSPENSION:FRONT16 · 7.8%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM15 · 7.3%

SUSPENSION12 · 5.8%

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT12 · 5.8%

Share of the 206 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2004 Dodge Dakota overview page.

What owners report

“DT: CONTACT STATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES A NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN. HE CONTACTED THE…”NHTSA complaint 10143435 — filed 11/22/2005

“DT: 2004 DODGE, DAKOTA. THE CONSUMER STATED STEERING HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND IT WAS STILL DEFECTIVE. THE IDLER ARMS WERE REPLACED ONCE. THE…”NHTSA complaint 10132505 — filed 08/11/2005

“RECALL CAMPAIGN : THE VEHICLE'S BALL JOINTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION 04V-596. THE VEHICLE' S BALL JOINTS, RACK AND PINION STEERING AND OUTER TIRE…”NHTSA complaint 10111016 — filed 01/15/2005

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2004 Dodge Dakota have steering problems?

Steering is the most-reported problem area on the 2004 Dodge Dakota: 64 of 206 complaints on file (31.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2004 Dodge Dakota have in total?

206 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 11 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 8 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.