2003 Dodge Dakota Problems and Recalls (289 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2003 Dodge Dakota is Suspension (31% of 289 owner reports). There are 11 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Suspension — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 289 complaints · 11 recalls
What problems show up on the 2003 Dodge Dakota?
89 of 289 filings named Suspension (31% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Brakes (41 reports).
There are 11 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Lights, Electrical, Glass / wipers / cameras, Suspension, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2002 has 664 reports on file; this year has 289. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Suspension 89 complaints · 30.8% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 16
- Fires 5
- Injuries 12
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension (SUSPENSION) | 89 | 30.8% | 6 crashes · 0 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 41 | 14.2% | 1 crashes · 1 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 23 | 8.0% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 22 | 7.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 19 | 6.6% | 1 crashes · 2 fires |
| Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) | 17 | 5.9% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) | 13 | 4.5% | 0 crashes · 1 fires |
| Airbags (AIR BAGS) | 12 | 4.2% | 6 crashes · 0 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 10 | 3.5% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 194 | 67.1% | 11 crashes · 3 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 03V389000 was reported 57 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 04V216000 was reported 188 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 04V596000 was reported 516 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 06E011000 was reported 772 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 08E064000 was reported 1,915 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 09E025000 was reported 2,022 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2002-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2003-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2003-Q2 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2003-Q3 | Owner reports | 16 | |
| 2003-Q4 | Owner reports | 25 | |
| 2004-Q1 | Owner reports | 37 | |
| 2004-Q2 | Owner reports | 13 | |
| 2004-Q3 | Owner reports | 21 | |
| 2004-Q4 | Owner reports | 19 | |
| 2005-Q1 | Owner reports | 16 | |
| 2005-Q2 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2005-Q3 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2005-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2006-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2006-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2006-Q3 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2006-Q4 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2007-Q1 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2007-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2007-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2007-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2008-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2008-Q2 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2008-Q3 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2008-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2009-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2009-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2009-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2010-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2010-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2010-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2011-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2011-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2011-Q4 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2012-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2012-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2012-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2013-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2013-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2013-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2014-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2014-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2014-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2014-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2015-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2015-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2015-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2016-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2016-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 02V322000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 03V389000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 04V216000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 04V596000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 06E011000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 06E024000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 06E026000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 06E065000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 08E064000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 09E012000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 09E025000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA03023 |
Safety Recalls (11)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Lights, Electrical, Glass / wipers / cameras, Suspension, and Fuel system.
-
Recall campaign 02V322000
Lights
- Report date
- Component:
- Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
- Consequence:
- IF THE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CTM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
-
Recall campaign 03V389000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- THIS COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY, COULD PREVENT A DRIVER FROM SOUNDING A WARNING BY USING THE HORN, AND, WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER CANNOT USE THEM TO SIGNAL INTENT TO TURN, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE WIRE HARNESS AND REPAIR THE HARNESS IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.
-
Recall campaign 04V216000
Glass / wipers / cameras
- Report date
- Component:
- Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
- Consequence:
- DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
-
Recall campaign 04V596000
Suspension
- Report date
- Component:
- Suspension (SUSPENSION)
- Consequence:
- EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE UPPER BALL JOINT MAY ALLOW IT TO SEPARATE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS. THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2004. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
-
Recall campaign 06E011000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
- Remedy:
- AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AIRTEX CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-880-3056.
-
Recall campaign 06E024000
Safety recall 06E024000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.
- Remedy:
- K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.
-
Recall campaign 06E026000
Safety recall 06E026000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
- Remedy:
- PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
-
Recall campaign 06E065000
Safety recall 06E065000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy:
- AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
-
Recall campaign 08E064000
Suspension
- Report date
- Component:
- Suspension (SUSPENSION)
- Consequence:
- IMPROPER SEATING OF THE WHEEL CAN RESULT IN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION, BRAKE ROTOR NOISE, DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE WHEEL AFTER INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, AND POSSIBLY WHEEL-END SEPARATION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. SHOULD WHEEL-END SEPARATION OCCUR, THE DRIVER COULD LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
- Remedy:
- SKF WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE HUB UNITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 5, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SKF VSM NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-644-8999.
-
Recall campaign 09E012000
Safety recall 09E012000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy:
- SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
-
Recall campaign 09E025000
Lights
- Report date
- Component:
- Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
- Consequence:
- DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy:
- DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Showing 10 of 289 complaints · page 1 of 12
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The lower ball joint just snapped the whole right front end assembly hub
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The front end got a hard vibrate i replace the shocks two times and its not fix the problem seem like something going too brake off like a wheel or something dont feel safe driving it
CrashFireInjuryDeath
2003 DODGE DAKOTA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD INTO SHRUBS. THE CONSUMER SLEPT IN THE VEHICLE OVER NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
AIRBAG RED LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME IGNITION SWITCH IS ON. AIRBAG RED WARNING LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME, SITTING STILL OR DRIVING
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES SINCE LAST YEAR. FIRST TIME THE WIPERS, LIGHTS AND BLINKERS QUIT WORKING LATE IN THE EVENING, ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE AUTO SHOP. TOLD ME THE COMPUTER WAS THE ISSUE BUT THEY GOT THE TRUCK WORKING AGAIN. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT I KNEW TO TRY THE DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TRICK AND THAT WORKED. YESTERDAY I WAS IN LINE TO PICK UP A FOOD BOX, IDLING AND THE TRUCK JUST QUIT, I TRIED TO GET IT TO RESTART WITH NO LUCK. THANKFULLY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE I WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING SO I WAS SAFE WHERE IT HAPPENED. I GOT IT TOWED AND AM PRETTY SURE IT IS THE TIPM BASED ON THE STEPS I TOOK, SWITCHING OUT THE WORKING RELAYS WITH THE ONE FOR THE FUEL PUMP. STILL WOULDN'T START SO PRETTY SURE IT IS A BAD TIPM. *TR
CrashFireInjuryDeath
1. WHILE SITTING IN PARK ON A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IN A STILL POSITION ROLLED FRONT OR BACK MORE THAN A COUPLE INCHES. HAD TO STEP ON BRAKE WHILE IN PARK AND HAD TO BLOCK WHEELS WHEN ENGINE WAS OFF TO KEEP FROM ROLLING. EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD OR WORK PROPERLY EITHER. 2. THE HEATER HAS ONLY HIGH POSITION WORKING NOW. THE DASH GETS TO HOT TO EVEN KEEP HEAT ON VERY LONG. FUEL CAP WITH KEY. WHEN GETTING FUEL TRUCK HAS TO BE TURNED OFF BEFORE PUMPING OTHERWISE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THE DASH AND NEEDS TO BE RESET OR DRIVEN MILES BEFORE ENGINE LIGHTOR GOES BACK OFF.3. THE UPPER BALL JOINTS HAD TO REPLACE TWICE NOW. BREAKS HAD TO REPLACE TWICE ALSO DUE TO SUSPENSION BEING OUT OF WHACK AND PROBLEM ABOVE. NOW THERE IS NOISE IN FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AREA. 4. PUT ALL NEW BREAK LINES ON IT BECAUSE THEY KEPT BLOWING OUT. LEAKING IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS BY TOO MUCH PRESSURE BUILD UP IN SECTIONS OF LINES. 5. I BOUGHT IT IN 2018 USED FROM A DEALER. BUT I HAVE PUT SO MUCH WORK ON IT THAT NOW THERE'S A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. 6. HAVING NO OR LITTLE BREAKS ALL OF SUDDEN IN A CROWDED INTERSECTION OR HAVING TO BLOCK WHEELS SO IT DOESN'T ROLL INTO ANOTHER CAR BUT NO ACCIDENT YET BUT COULD HAPPEN.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THIS TRUCK HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOW REGULATOR ON ALL DOORS. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM EACH TWO TIMES. THE WINDOW WILL FALL DOWN AND WINDOW REGULATOR WILL JUST SNAP. HE HAS REPLACED AND DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. THIS TO ME IS A SAFETY HAZARD. HE HAS BOLTED THE WINDOWS SHUT AND WILL BE STUCK CLOSED. HE SAYS IT'S A PLASTIC REGULATOR THAT SNAPS. ANYONE KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WIRING HARNESS CONNECTED TO A/C AND HATER BLOWER MOTOR MELTS AND CAUSES THE BLOWER MOTOR TO FAIL. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN 2 YEARS. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER PUT IN A NEW HARNESS AT MY EXPENSE, AROUND 400 DOLLARS. BOTH TIMES THE BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS. THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THIS NTSB WEBSITE, AND THEY DESCRIBE THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS AND CONDITIONS BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER HARNESS FAILURE. MY FEAR IS THE HARNESS MELTING AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE UNDER THE DASH LEADING TO A CRASH OR VEHICLE FIRE.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING, THE CLUTCH WAS APPLIED AND THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING BECAME INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED FERRARIO CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP (2463 CORNING RD, ELMIRA, NY 14903, ([redacted]) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V322000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. *BF *TP
CrashFireInjuryDeath
VEHICLE WILL SHIFT GEAR MECHANICALLY, BUT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND/OR PARK ON THE DASH. VEHICLE ALSO WILL NOT START AS A RESULT.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2003 Dodge Dakota?
Owners named Suspension most often — 89 of 289 reports (31%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2003 Dodge Dakota?
NHTSA lists 11 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Lights, Electrical, Glass / wipers / cameras, Suspension, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2003 Dodge Dakota?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Listen for clunks over bumps and look at tire wear for alignment issues. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.