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2003 Dodge DakotaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 296 owner complaints about the 2003 Dodge Dakota, most often about the suspension. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.

2003 Dodge Dakota
44
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.3× the Dakota median · #9 of 25 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Free fix at dealersOwner complaints29631 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage32kSuspension, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 31, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: sv1ambo, CC BY 2.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2003 Dodge Dakota has problems

296 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Suspension1007
Service brakes, hydraulic443
Power train381
Engine and engine cooling340
Electrical system343
Exterior lighting220
Visibility171
Steering141
Air bags137
18 other systems684

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

2003 Dodge Dakota recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Control arm: upper ball joint

Recall 04V-596 · Dec 21, 2004 · 592,707 vehicles

Risk. EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE UPPER BALL JOINT MAY ALLOW IT TO SEPARATE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Electrical system: wiring

Recall 03V-389 · Oct 10, 2003 · 50,082 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Headlights: switch

Recall 02V-322 · Dec 2, 2002 · 3,640 vehicles

Risk. IF THE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Dodge.

Mileage at failure

When do suspension problems start?

32kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 77 suspension complaints. 86% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
31under 30k miles66under 100k miles11100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2003 vs. every other Dakota year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Dakota median. How we score

'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2003 Dodge Dakota safety ratings

2003 Dodge Dakota 4-DR. Cab in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2003 Dodge Dakota frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2003 Dodge Dakota side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Rollover: 3 stars (0.0% risk)
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2003 Dodge Dakota, and the recalls they led to.

  1. UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATIONEA03023 · closed Feb 11, 2005
    Led to recall 04V-596
In owners' words

What Dakota owners report

Recent suspension complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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
Complaint 11493890 · Nov 17, 2022
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE UPPER LEFT BALL JOINT SUDDENLY FAILED AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS…
Complaint 10724071 · Jun 8, 2015 · 114,208 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINT…
Complaint 10672148 · Jan 13, 2015 · 100,497 miles

Own a 2003 Dakota?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.