Three problems related to steering column have been reported for the 2004 Dodge Dakota. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
I have a 2004 Dodge Dakota quad cab 4x4 with the magnum engine. It has roughly 59,000 miles on it. Sometime within the past 3,000 miles the steering began to get stiff. It was a gradual thing, slowly getting worse until now I'm concerned about it from a safety standpoint. The exact symptoms at this point are that the steering will get stiff then smooth then stiff then smooth, depending on the position of the wheel during a turn. After researching this problem online for this particular model and year, it is apparently either the upper or lower u-joint on the steering column. I have not confirmed this, but wanted to lend my weight to the obviously huge number of Dodge Dakota/durango owners who have had this exact same problem.
The truck has been in the shop numerous times for the same problems. I have a groaning noise in the steering wheel that Dodge can not seem to fix. It already has a leaking a/c system at 47000 miles. Also, the a/c system wil not get cold unless it is night time. It also just has way to many squeaks, and makes me feel very unsafe in the vehicle. The wiper control module needs replacing.
Contact stated when applying the brakes a noise was coming from the steering when making a right or left hand turn. He contacted the dealer, who replaced the steering column and the connector part twice. When driving the vehicle without touching the brake did not hear the noise. Updated 12/7/2005. The dealer replaced the upper shaft per the star hotline and the steering intermediate shaft. The consumer stated that the problem is more prevalent in warm/hot weather.