2004 Dodge Dakota Consumer Reviews

Love it

Written by: David on 10/15/2009

Vehicle

2004 Dodge Dakota 2dr Club Cab SXT Rwd SB (3.7L 6cyl 5M)

Review

Our Dakota is a great medium sized truck. The towing capacity is more then adequate for our little trailer. I know much has been said about the fuel economy of the 3.7 litre but I have to say that we get 20-21 around town ans 24-25 on the highway. We keep it at 65MPH. Do wonder about the OD on the transmission; under 50 and on hills at that speed I feel it performs better with the OD off.Comfortable and solid drive!

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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65000 mile review

Written by: teejay on 10/13/2009

Vehicle

2004 Dodge Dakota 4dr Quad Cab SLT Rwd SB (3.7L 6cyl 5M)

Review

well i have just payed this baby off and she has just over 65k miles. still running strong. just regular maintenance issues and new tires so far!! now after just purchasing a 19 foot travel trailer i wish i had the v- 8, but hey i will be giving thie truck to my 17 year old son soon and buying me a new quad cap V-8. do you hear me dodge i want a good deal!!!!!!!

Favorite Features

so far good reliability

Suggested Improvements

still want a diesel option in the dakota, but the domestic car companies are too gutless to offer it. it would sell once people realize all of the advantages of a small V-8 vs a gas engine. obviously american ingenuity is dead!!!!!!!

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2004 dakota club cab V-6

Written by: fred on 08/08/2009

Vehicle

2004 Dodge Dakota 2dr Club Cab SLT Rwd SB (3.7L 6cyl 5M)

Review

Replaced my 1995 Dakota with the 2004 because it had 244k miles and I didn't like the 2005 body style. I now have 116k miles. Replaced water pump, tires x 1. Still have original battery! Love it but regret not keeping the 95 (the guy I sold it to ran it into the ground) and buying a durango for the covered cargo area for luggage and groceries.

Favorite Features

appearance, styling, paint (like new), galvanized sheet metal carrying capacity/utility - livestock, manure, straw, hay, top soil, mulch, furniture, appliances, lumber, drywall, etc. fuel economy - 21mpg by finding best route and using cruise control extensively heated electric mirrors

Suggested Improvements

dump the black carpeting and dark upholstery -- it always looks dirty! improve the auto-dimming rear view mirror - the old prismatic mirror does a better job shut down a couple of cylinders when cruising at highway speeds and not hauling cargo/trailer

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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steering column

Written by: randm on 06/12/2009

Vehicle

2004 Dodge Dakota 4dr Quad Cab SLT 4WD SB (3.7L 6cyl 5M)

Review

I would like to know if any one out there has had a problem with there steering column.I have replaced mine twice in 4 years.any suggestions would help.Or could it be a defect and subject to recall.

Favorite Features

Ilove the towing capacity and the ease of the 4 wheel drive.

Suggested Improvements

better gas milage

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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First impressions

Written by: Dodger on 04/13/2009

Vehicle

2004 Dodge Dakota 4dr Quad Cab SLT Plus Rwd SB (3.7L 6cyl 5M)

Review

Just bought my '04 from the orig owner with less than 22K miles on it. 4.7 V- 8, 5 speed auto, optioned out with most everything except for some reason, no power seat. It's a quad cab 2WD with 3.55 antislip rear axle. I've only put about 500 miles on it so far, but can say that I'm impressed with the ride, the engine, everything. Getting 19.5 mpg in mixed city/freeway driving (30/70), and this little 4.7 will flat get out and fly if you want it to. Of course, my reported gas mileage is obtained by using that power sparingly. Exhaust has a resonance right at 1700 rpm (60 mph in 5th) that I don't like; you can sense it in other gears as well as you pass through that rpm.

Favorite Features

Gas mileage, power, comfort, looks.

Suggested Improvements

Autostick to control all 5 speeds manually.

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Pretty neat

Written by: ordinaryguy on 03/02/2009

Vehicle

2004 Dodge Dakota 4dr Quad Cab Sport Plus Rwd SB (3.7L 6cyl 5M)

Review

I've got 48k on mine. Other than a recall for an O2 sensor an a plugged AC filter- no prob. Orig Goodyears still solid. Brakes solid. Fun solid. This thing will haul just about everything and in style. Ride and handling is a lot better than my last GMC. I agree with the quirky tranny shifting. Keep it out of OD in city driving and it will behave better. I get 18 city no problemo after I applied this method. Love the truck!

Favorite Features

Roominess! Utility! Drive-in Movie Perfection!

Suggested Improvements

Yeah- Rear window defog.

0 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Great truck and has never let me down

Written by: Califroff on 01/24/2009

Vehicle

2004 Dodge Dakota 2dr Regular Cab SXT Rwd SB (3.7L 6cyl 5M)

Review

Owned this truck for almost 5 years, 115,000 miles. Still get 20 mpg on trips, 16 mpg in traffic. Except for tires, lube, fluid changes,and one taillight, have never had a thing that needed fixing. Still have the original battery. Parks outdoors 100% of the time and driven every other day. I over load it frequently and had it stuck so bad a front loader CAT had to lift me out. V6 and transmission just keep going. Better truck that the 1998 Dakota I owned previously. Interior has held up well and is still more comfortable than the Colorado or Rangers I've tried.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Can't beat a Dodge

Written by: Gatorman on 01/16/2009

Vehicle

2004 Dodge Dakota 2dr Regular Cab SXT Rwd SB (3.7L 6cyl 5M)

Review

I've own this little truck for 4 years now and been from Ga to Tx many times. Me being in the military and all. Only problem I have had is tires and that because I run them off going back and forth to Texas. Won't trade my truck for a Ford, Chevy or GMC.

Favorite Features

It's a Dodge, MOPAR

Suggested Improvements

n/a

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Too many problems

Written by: jwf on 12/31/2008

Vehicle

2004 Dodge Dakota 2dr Regular Cab SLT Plus Rwd SB (3.7L 6cyl 5M)

Review

I have just turned 40k and have had too many problems. At 8k a cam sensor went bad, at 24 k the fan heating motor went out in January. At 40k cam sensor went bad again, and the wiring harness for the fan heating motor melted. the last one cost me $500 in repairs.

Favorite Features

None

Suggested Improvements

Build a more reliable vehicle and one that gets better gas mileage

0 out 1 people found this review helpful

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51k mile review

Written by: teejay1 on 12/25/2008

Vehicle

2004 Dodge Dakota 4dr Quad Cab SXT Rwd SB (3.7L 6cyl 5M)

Review

Well here I am again. After over 4 years of ownership and 51k miles I have to say I still am happy. With the economy in the tank like it is I am most likely going to run this truck till the wheels fall off. I plan on getting 200k maybe even 300k out of it. Skeptical you say? Well I have a car right now with 283k on it and I drive it most everyday. I am a maintenance engineering supervisor for the federal government. So you know that I take care of my stuff and so should you! So far only had to go back to the dealership once, and that was to replace a bad speaker on the passenger side. So not bad so far!

Favorite Features

Ride quality, and body styling, decent durability.

Suggested Improvements

Offer a clean diesel in the dakota. The torque would be great and the mileage would be 40% better than a comparable gas engine. Also a diesel would last for 400k. Maybe that's why detroit doesnt want diesels because they want you to buy a new vehicle every 5 years.

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