Major Problems with 2003 Dodge Dakota Derived from Complaints & Recalls
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Worst 3 complaints of 2003 Dodge Dakota
2003 Dodge Dakota
POWER TRAIN
Victims: 2
Mileage: 32000 miles
2003 Dodge Dakota
SUSPENSION
Victims: 2
2003 Dodge Dakota
UPPER BALL JOINT
Victims: 1
Mileage: 14000 miles
Browse 2003 Dodge Dakota complaints by category
Problems with UPPER BALL JOINT, LOWER BALL JOINT and SUSPENSION are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Dodge Dakota owners.
Problem Category | Number of Problems |
UPPER BALL JOINT > CONTROL ARM > FRONT while driving at 55 mph on the highway consumer lost control of vehicle and crashed into the guard rail. the... |
54
~ 27409 miles |
LOWER BALL JOINT > CONTROL ARM > FRONT when making sharp right turns a popping noise can be heard coming from the front of the vehicle. the owner... |
22
~ 19856 miles |
SUSPENSION at 6 000 miles the upper ball joints failed. when riding over any size bump in the road the front... |
20
~ 75290 miles |
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM upon parking truck owner noticed a glowing under cab. a technician serviced vehicle and noticed an electrical short. *ak ... |
20
~ 104141 miles |
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC purchased a 2003 dodge dakota quad 4x4. day of delivery the salesman noticed the rear makes a loud squeeking noise... |
17
~ 10667 miles |
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING consumer states that while driving and with no warning vehicle will stall and it will be hard for consumer to |
16
~ 19339 miles |
FRONT > SUSPENSION i keep hearing a loud "bang" and louding creaking noises in the front end of my 2003 dodge dakota when... |
15
~ 35127 miles |
ROTOR > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS i have a 2000 dakota -- rotors warped @11 000 dealer replaced -- rotors warped again 8 mounths later @24... |
15
~ 11567 miles |
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING while driving at any speed or stopping at a traffic light the vehicle would stall out. the dealership has been |
14
~ 22903 miles |
EXTERIOR LIGHTING we have recently submitted a claim to the bureau of automotive repairs. our truck has been in the shop 6... |
13
~ 79182 miles |
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN after driving approx. 4 hours from fresno to reno on july 6 2003 we were coming over interstate 80 at... |
13
~ 8262 miles |
POWER TRAIN vehicle (1)shifts harshly (2)does not upshift smoothly/upshifts at excessive rpm (3)stalls when making low-speed left-hand turns (4)idles roughly (5)fails to... |
12
~ 37247 miles |
STEERING i own a 2003 dodge dakota truck. i have 15 500 miles on it and on 03/03/04 the left upper... |
10
~ 39512 miles |
TIRES defective goodyear tires sidewall bloo out. *mr... |
7
~ 79095 miles |
WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY 2003 dakota quad cab. in cold temperatures below 15f the fluid sprayers will freeze. causing low to zero visibility in... |
7
~ 18651 miles |
AIR BAGS airbag failure on 2003 dodge dakota sxt. force was such that frame of truck is bent and will be replaced... |
6
~ 52949 miles |
CRUISE CONTROL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL consumer states while driving with cruise control on vehicle began to accelerate. consumer tapped the gas pedal and there was |
6
~ 1937 miles |
SERVICE BRAKES i have purchased several tires for this vehicle and the problem is mainly in the front. i have had it... |
4
~ 64845 miles |
HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING recall 04v216000/windshield wiper module motor: after this recall repair was performed on the consumer vehicle. the consumer states that whenever... |
4
~ 61288 miles |
MOTOR > WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY consumer received recall notice 04v216000 concerning windshield wiper motor. no parts were available. service manager terry sotus. *ak... |
4
~ 10550 miles |
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS while driving on semi wet pavement brakes locked. as result consumer's vehicle rear ended another vehicle. upon impact dual air |
4
~ 49650 miles |
SIDEWALL > TIRES defective goodyear tires sidewall bloo out. *mr... |
4
~ 88667 miles |
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC while driving at 55 mph consumer depressed the brakes and the front wheels locked up. vehicle was towed to the... |
4
~ 17038 miles |
BODY > STRUCTURE water pouring into passenger side floorboard that soaks and ruins carpeting. unknown source firewall area.*ak... |
4
~ 11250 miles |
UNKNOWN OR OTHER transfer case leaks fluid on output shaft seal. first repair attempt replaced seal. second attempt at 2531 miles replaced seal... |
4
~ 53054 miles |
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY 25jan06 tell dodge dealer that pass window inop from pass side switch works from drivers side switch. dodge replace switch.... |
3
~ 46683 miles |
SWITCH > HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. the headlights and automatic locks on the left side of the vehicle... |
3
~ 48333 miles |
INTERIOR LIGHTING evening rain conditions headlight failure interior lights stuck on. (caused vision impairment) bright headlights not functioning. *nm ... |
3
~ 68880 miles |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE vehicle will either go into neutral when put in reverse or while reversing pop out of reverse into neutral. this... |
3
~ 58600 miles |
STRUCTURE rattle in dashboard drivers side. *la... |
3
~ 3014 miles |
FILLER PIPE AND CAP > TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE at 6 000 miles the upper ball joints failed. when riding over any size bump in the road the front... |
3
~ 22042 miles |
REAR > SUSPENSION while driving the rear of the vehicle vibrated and the tires bounced up and down. *ak *cb *nlm... |
3
~ 13892 miles |
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL the day i brought my 2003 dodge dakota quad cab home i noticed a howling noise coming from the rear... |
3
~ 10 miles |
DRUM > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC rear brakes make a howling sound when in reverse. *ak... |
3
~ 27357 miles |
WHEELS consumer called complaining about having problems wit the right rear wheel. also stated that while shifting gears the wheel will... |
3
~ 40000 miles |
HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. the contact stated that his vehicle failed inspection because the brake hose was... |
2
~ 120500 miles |
SEAT BELTS tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. the material on the seatbelt has ripped in the center. the seatbelt... |
2
~ 54950 miles |
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. the headlights and automatic locks on the left side of the vehicle... |
2
~ 94000 miles |
TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) > POWER TRAIN on october 20 2005 i was driving my 2003 dodge dakota quad-cab 4wd pickup back from visiting a friend when... |
2
~ 54350 miles |
WHEEL BEARING > FRONT > SUSPENSION consumer states: lower control arm ball joint right front separted and wheel and came off vehicle while in motion... |
2
~ 15800 miles |
INTERIOR/UNDER DASH > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM brake warning light abs light parking brake light' no fuse read in mileage indacator box flashing all at the same |
2
~ 35000 miles |
MECHANICAL > EQUIPMENT i purchased a new 2003 dodge dakota 4.7l v-8 quad cub. at approximately 6 000 miles i noticed a shudder... |
2
|
DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC my 2003 dodge dakota quad cab has had the brake rotors warped at less than 20 000 miles with no... |
2
~ 15000 miles |
DIFFERENTIAL UNIT > DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN my 03 dakota's axle air breather came loose due to a faulty mounting clip. as a result the cap at... |
2
~ 16540 miles |
TIE ROD ASSEMBLY > LINKAGES > STEERING driving down the road heard a bang lost control of the truck and hit a parked car. car was towed... |
2
~ 5200 miles |
WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY on 2003 and 2004 dodge vehicles the piece of trim and weather stripping are not being put at the top... |
2
~ 15000 miles |
EQUIPMENT i have a 2000 dakota -- rotors warped @11 000 dealer replaced -- rotors warped again 8 mounths later @24... |
2
~ 12750 miles |
PADS > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS i have a 2000 dakota -- rotors warped @11 000 dealer replaced -- rotors warped again 8 mounths later @24... |
2
|
EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING as truck pulls out (1-5min.)it slows down and backfires real loud. doesnt stall out but no power. when you step... |
2
~ 23154 miles |
PARKING BRAKE vehicle (1)shifts harshly (2)does not upshift smoothly/upshifts at excessive rpm (3)stalls when making low-speed left-hand turns (4)idles roughly (5)fails to... |
2
~ 389 miles |
CONTROL ARM > FRONT > SUSPENSION there has been a startling number of ball joint failures in the 1998-2003 dodge dakota and dodge durango vehicles. i... |
2
|
GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN location of gear shift lever is positioned where if reaching over to ajust radio or air conditioning unit and putting... |
2
~ 389 miles |
WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM the dealership refused to perform the wiring harness recall 03 v 389 000 because the consumer didn't purchase the vehicle |
2
~ 25425 miles |
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM fuel tank hanger brackets rusted into and gas take fell out causing a hole to be rubbed through the bottom... |
1
~ 76000 miles |
ENGINE over a period of time i gradually noticed exhaust gas coming into the cab. i had no idea why i... |
1
~ 181518 miles |
ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY > AIR BAGS 2003 dodge dakota. consumer requests air bag on-off switch information. *smd... |
1
|
UNDERBODY SHIELDS > FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. while driving over a bump or making a turn at any speed... |
1
~ 92000 miles |
RADIATOR ASSEMBLY > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the windshield wipers failed and the exterior lighting... |
1
~ 220000 miles |
VISIBILITY my husband and i had driven our 2003 dodge dakota quad cab about four or five miles when we smelled... |
1
~ 111000 miles |
TREAD/BELT > TIRES in late february 2009 i had a slipped belt on one of my goodyear wrangler rt/s tires on my 2003... |
1
~ 33000 miles |
DRIVESHAFT > DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. while driving 55 mph he noticed smoking coming from the engine. he immediately... |
1
~ 68000 miles |
HORN > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. while driving between 5-10 mph the contact heard a loud thud coming from... |
1
~ 65700 miles |
BRAKE LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the emergency brake light fails intermittently and the door... |
1
~ 30000 miles |
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the emergency brake light fails intermittently and the door... |
1
~ 30000 miles |
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL 2003 dodge dakota 2wd 5 spd manual v6. at speeds from 15 mph and up the brake system seems... |
1
~ 60000 miles |
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM 2003 dodge dakota 2wd 5 spd manual v6. at speeds from 15 mph and up the brake system seems... |
1
~ 60000 miles |
SHIFT PATTERN INDICATOR > MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. the contact stated that the vehicle slipped out of gear and began to... |
1
~ 34700 miles |
MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. when she attempted to enter the vehicle the stick slipped out of gear... |
1
~ 34000 miles |
LINKAGES > STEERING to whom it may concern i own a 2003 dodge dakota quad cab slt. and i have run into a... |
1
|
CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN to whom it may concern i own a 2003 dodge dakota quad cab slt. and i have run into a... |
1
|
STABILIZER BAR > FRONT > SUSPENSION to whom it may concern i own a 2003 dodge dakota quad cab slt. and i have run into a... |
1
|
HUB > WHEELS to whom it may concern i own a 2003 dodge dakota quad cab slt. and i have run into a... |
1
|
HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE gas caps are defective on dodge dakota's 2003 series...this causes computer to fire an error that their is a leak... |
1
~ 34290 miles |
VACUUM > POWER ASSIST > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC on september 8 2006 my service engine light came on as i was driving home. while climbing a hill the... |
1
~ 45004 miles |
HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > SUPPLY > SERVICE BRAKES, AIR on september 8 2006 my service engine light came on as i was driving home. while climbing a hill the... |
1
~ 45004 miles |
LINKAGE AND CABLE > MECHANICAL > CONVENTIONAL went to use the emergency brake. there was no holding of the brake. took it in for repair and it... |
1
~ 53500 miles |
HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota quad cab. the contact stated that the vacuum tube hose has become loose... |
1
~ 50000 miles |
FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE i was driving along when my truck lost power for no apparent reason it just stalled out. i did get... |
1
~ 40000 miles |
LATCH > DOORS > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES i started my vehicle and then left it to clear snow from its exterior. the vehicle locked me out. i... |
1
~ 18000 miles |
SWITCH > IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM i started my vehicle and then left it to clear snow from its exterior. the vehicle locked me out. i... |
1
~ 18000 miles |
FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM brake warning light abs light parking brake light' no fuse read in mileage indacator box flashing all at the same |
1
~ 7000 miles |
SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE > FRONTAL > AIR BAGS after starting the vehicle air bag warning light illuminated. light stayed on while vehicle was being operated. ealership was notified |
1
~ 40000 miles |
EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING a loud clanking noise was heard coming from the front the clutch popped out. consumer had the vehicle towed to |
1
|
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN a loud clanking noise was heard coming from the front the clutch popped out. consumer had the vehicle towed to |
1
|
DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER while driving down the road my engine lost oil pressure and i had it towed from the spot. now i |
1
~ 31540 miles |
BANJO HOUSING > AXLE ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN the arms that hold the front end in place are broken they will knot fix it. they are saying it |
1
~ 8300 miles |
ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT > WINDSHIELD > DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM various problems with 2003 dodge dakota. *mr there were backfires at times the pedal would barely move at stop signs... |
1
|
12V/24V/48V BATTERY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM vehicle will either go into neutral when put in reverse or while reversing pop out of reverse into neutral. this... |
1
~ 100 miles |
FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER dealer replaced the fuel pump twice but the same problem still occurs. loud noise came from inside fuel tank. independent |
1
|
FRONT > SEAT BELTS airbag failure on 2003 dodge dakota sxt. force was such that frame of truck is bent and will be replaced... |
1
~ 5895 miles |
ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT when the truck is started and put into drive it hesitates then shifts really hard. also when the truck is... |
1
|
FRONT UNDERHOOD > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM while driving a fire started under the hood. consumer managed to pull over. dealership informed consumer that the problem was |
1
~ 23000 miles |
UPPER ARM > CONTROL ARM > FRONT when hitting any size bump in the road the vehicle looses control. dealer states that upper control arm bolt malfunctioned. |
1
~ 3000 miles |
SWITCH > TURN SIGNAL > EXTERIOR LIGHTING i keep hearing a loud "bang" and louding creaking noises in the front end of my 2003 dodge dakota when... |
1
~ 3000 miles |
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM while driving the consumer noticed smoke coming from the ignition. the consumer took the vehicle to a mechanic who informed... |
1
|
COLUMN SHIFT > LEVER AND LINKAGE > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION vehicle (1)shifts harshly (2)does not upshift smoothly/upshifts at excessive rpm (3)stalls when making low-speed left-hand turns (4)idles roughly (5)fails to... |
1
~ 778 miles |
STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE dodge manufactured my vehicle with a 20 gallon tank though it was built for the spec of a 22 gallon... |
1
|
AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota quad cab. whenever the brake pedal was applied the brakes would pulsate overheat... |
1
~ 5000 miles |
COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING the engine over heated excessively while driving. the vehicle was only 1 week old and has less than 500 miles. |
1
|
DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY the windshield wipers lifted off the windshield when traveling over 60 mph. *ph the wipers could not be adjusted to... |
1
|
HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING during cold weather it is difficult to turn the vehicle for the first two turns. driver has to turn the... |
1
~ 14000 miles |
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