Most common 2003 Dodge Dakota problems
Share of the 296 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Dakota complaints by model year
Best Dakota years: 2009, 2010, 2011. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001, 2002, 1999, 1998. Compare all years →
2003 Dodge Dakota recalls (4)
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Upper ball joint
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.
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.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
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.
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.
Electrical system › Wiring
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.
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.
Exterior lighting › Headlights › Switch
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.
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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2003 Dodge Dakota:
Upper ball joint separation
Daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) is recalling the target population of approximately 600,000 my 2000 through 2003 durango and dakota vehicles with four-wheel drive to replace the front suspension upper ball joints with redesigned parts that do not have the joint integrity concerns and have substantially improved joint retention capacity (NHTSA recall no.
What 2003 Dodge Dakota owners say
Suspension all 100 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the windshield wipers failed and the exterior lighting sporadically malfunctioned. Also, the side cap to the main radiator spewed antifreeze approximately five feet in the air. The contact shut off the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were made aware of the failure. In addition, while driving at a low speed, a loud popping sound emitted from the vehicle. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the ball joint fractured. The contact was made aware that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V596000 (suspension). The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence where he performed the repair. The failure mileage was 220,000.
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 caused by rust and corrosion of the ball joint. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V596000 (suspension). The failure mileage was 114,208.
Brakes all 51 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Dodge Dakota quad cab. While driving 35 MPH, smoke emitted inside of the vehicle. The contact drove to the side of the road, while inspecting the vehicle he noticed smoke coming from the front driver side wheel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the failure was related to defective calipers. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Dodge Dakota. While depressing the brake pedal, the brakes malfunctioned and made the vehicle difficult to stop. While inspecting the vehicle, the contact discovered that the brake fluid leaked from the vehicle due to rusting and corrosion of the metal brake lines. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 125,000.
Transmission & drivetrain all 38 →
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. …
Truck will not shift properly when going up grade. Engine will rev at 4500-5000 RPM but will not shift until I slightly release the gas pedal. Truck will also perform multiple hard up shifts when in cruise control going up grade... Had the truck in for service 3 times. First time in May, 1 month after purchase, the dealer reprogrammed the computer with a "flash update" and adjusted throttle linkage. That was no help. Several months later I took it in for the same problem, and dealer found nothing wrong. The third time, January 2004, I took a technician for a test drive, and he agreed that the truck was not shifting properly. They replaced the "valve body" in the transmission and the problem has now gotten worse. They informed me that the truck is now having problem shifting out of park. …
2003 Dodge Dakota engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 17 / 17 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 19 / 15 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
| 5.9L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 16 / 14 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.9L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 16 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Dodge Dakota a good car?
Based on 296 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Dakota rates average: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Dakota at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Dodge Dakota?
The suspension — 100 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front › control arm › upper ball joint. Next are the brakes (51) and transmission & drivetrain (38).
How many recalls does the 2003 Dodge Dakota have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2003 Dodge Dakota, the most recent from December 21, 2004 (upper ball joint). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Dakota?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2010 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 2001, 2002, 1999 and 1998. See the full Dodge Dakota years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Dodge Dakota problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 35,000 miles; 61% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.