Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Dodge Dakota, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension100
- Service brakes, hydraulic44
- Power train38
- Electrical system34
- Engine and engine cooling34
- Exterior lighting22
- Visibility17
- Steering14
- Air bags13
- Vehicle speed control9
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 12 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 63 2003 Dakota vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 41 people died inside them, and 12 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Dodge Dakota failed the safety check 2.49% of the time — 18% more often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 141,140 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 10 variants: combined 14.2–18.2 L/100 km (about 13–17 mpg US), CO₂ 327–419 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 14.8 | 13.5 | 14.2 |
| Dakota · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.1 | 12.5 | 14.4 |
| Dakota · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.8 | 12.3 | 14.8 |
| Dakota 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.1 | 12.8 | 15.2 |
| Dakota · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.9 | 12.1 | 15.3 |
| Dakota 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.9 | 13.5 | 15.9 |
| Dakota 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 18.5 | 13.8 | 16.4 |
| Dakota 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 18.6 | 15.0 | 17.0 |
| Dakota · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 19.9 | 14.1 | 17.3 |
| Dakota 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 21.1 | 14.6 | 18.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2003 Dodge Dakota.
| 2004439 20 Dec 2004 | Suspension On certain four wheel drive vehicles, if moisture leaks into the front suspension upper ball joint, evacuation of the lubricant and corrosion of the joint may c… |
| 2004155 6 May 2004 | Other On certain vehicles, the windshield wiper motor assembly may become susceptible to water intrusion that could cause internal corrosion and result in partial or … |
| 2003245 14 Oct 2003 | Electrical On certain vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, the headlamp and dash wiring harness may be chafed by the actuation of the clutch pedal. This could re… |
| 2002240 16 Dec 2002 | Lights And Instruments On certain vehicles, the right headlight may become inoperative due to an improperly sized circuit board trace in the central timer module. Correction: Dealer… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4X4), IF MOISTURE LEAKS INTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT, EVACUATION OF THE LUBRICANT AND CORROSION OF THE JOINT MAY CAUSE THE JOINT TO WEAR OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, WHICH MAY NOT ALWAYS BE HEARD BY THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MOTOR MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER INTRUSION THAT COULD CAUSE INTERNAL CORROSION AND RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPING CAPABILITY.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE HEADLAMP AND DASH WIRING HARNESS MAY BE CHAFED BY THE ACTUATION OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THIS COULD RESULT IN ABNORMAL OPERATION OF THE WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS, HORN OR LIGHTING SYSTEMS.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE (CTM) HAS AN IMPROPERLY SIZED CIRCUIT BOARD TRACE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE RIGHT HEADLAMP LOW BEAM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Dodge told its dealers about the 2003 Dodge Dakota: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635721 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISION IN DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES AND LABOR OPERATION TIMES FOR RE TRANSMISSIONS. *TT |
| 634082 | CHROME WHEEL CARE. *SLC |
| 11010205 | Plate - Planetary |
| 10229256 | KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty. |
| 10229181 | Part Description: 5.7L Long Block Issue Description: This 5.7L Long Block Assembly is compatible with both EGR and Non-EGR applications. An EGR Block-Off Plate (53032739AA) must be ordered when installing this Long Block Assembly in a Non-EGR application. Unless, the EGR Block-Off Plate is being transferred from the old engine. |
| 10223854 | Service - Four Piece Oil Pan Gasket All Cummins Equipped Vehicles ONLY - The replacement oil pan gasket can be a four piece gasket rather than a single piece gasket. This applies to Cummins 5.9L and 6.7L engines only. Installation: 1. Clean the oil pan T-joints.~ 2. Fill the T-joint between the pan rail/gear housing and pan rail/rear seal retainer with sealant. Use Mopar Silicone Rubber Adhesive Sealant or equivalent. 3. Apply a 2-mm [0.063-in] bead of Mopar Engine Sealant RTV Silicone Rubber Adhesive, to the oil pan flange.~ 4. The four piece gasket will need to be assembled to make |
| 10223602 | Part Description: 5.7L Long Block Issue Description: This 5.7L Long Block Assembly is compatible with both EGR and Non-EGR applications. An EGR Block-Off Plate (53032739AA) must be ordered when installing this Long Block Assembly in a Non-EGR application. Unless, the EGR Block-Off Plate is being transferred from the old engine. |
| 10221686 | KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty. |
| 10220995 | Part Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission Issue Description: The manual valve insulator, attaching rivet and instruction sheet are now available as a kit. If the insulator requires replacement please order kit 68253161AA. Insulator only used on Auto-RWD transmission Note: The color of the insulator is not relevant for service. |
| 10220994 | Part Description: Insulator in Lever Assembly - Valve Body - Trans Issue Description: The manual valve insulator, attaching rivet and an instruction sheet are now available as a kit. If the insulator requires replacement please order 68253099AA. Note: Insulator color is not relevant for service |
| 10220471 | Mechanical rocker arm, intake, 1.7 ratio. |
| 10220101 | Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts. |
| 10220099 | Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts. |
| 10220097 | Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage. |
| 10191460 | Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling. |
| 10191442 | Mechanical rocker arm, intake, 1.7 ratio. |
| 10175743 | Disinfectant Solution Recommended for COVID-19 |
| 10175735 | Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary. |
| 10175669 | ABS Brake Module Code 82 and 83 Setting Within The Brake Module |
| 10169249 | Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts. |
| 10169247 | Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts. |
| 10169245 | Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage. |
| 10139596 | Part Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission Issue Description: The manual valve insulator, attaching rivet and instruction sheet are now available as a kit. If the insulator requires replacement please order kit 68253161AA. Insulator only used on Auto-RWD transmission Note: The color of the insulator is not relevant for service. |
| 10139595 | Part Description: Insulator in Lever Assembly - Valve Body - Trans Issue Description: The manual valve insulator, attaching rivet and an instruction sheet are now available as a kit. If the insulator requires replacement lease order 68253099AA. Note: Insulator color is not relevant for service |
| 10136527 | 56045489A$ - Neutral Safety Switch - Trans Assy 06036369AA Screw and Washer is now available as a service part , 2 required to attach Neutral Start Switch |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation