RecallMyCar

2003 Dodge Dakota Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 2003 Dodge Dakota, and owners have filed 296 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
296
owner complaints to NHTSA
16 / 5
complaints citing a crash / fire
13–17
MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 2003 Dodge Dakota

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Suspension: upper ball joint

    NHTSA 04V596000 Reported 592,707 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    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…

    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.

  2. Windshield wiper/washer (visibility)

    NHTSA 04V216000 Reported 320,188 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    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.

  3. Electrical system: wiring

    NHTSA 03V389000 Reported 50,082 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    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.

  4. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 02V322000 Reported 3,640 vehicles potentially affected DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

    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…

296 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2003 Dodge Dakota have filed 296 complaints with NHTSA; 16 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 12 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 50,678 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 92 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The lower ball joint just snapped the whole right front end assembly hub”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 31, 2026 · Wheels

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 17, 2022 · Suspension

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2003 Dodge Dakota Pickup (Dakota Pickup 2WD, Dakota Pickup 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined13–17 mpg
City / Highway11–16 / 16–19
FuelRegular
EPA classStandard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engine6/8 cyl, 3.9/4.7/5.9 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Automatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Dodge Dakota model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Dodge Dakota model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1985 Dodge Dakota02
1986 Dodge Dakota01
1987 Dodge Dakota220
1988 Dodge Dakota355
1989 Dodge Dakota363
1990 Dodge Dakota363
1991 Dodge Dakota4128
1992 Dodge Dakota1216
1993 Dodge Dakota1134
1994 Dodge Dakota3166
1995 Dodge Dakota0208
1996 Dodge Dakota1189
1997 Dodge Dakota5446
1998 Dodge Dakota5545
1999 Dodge Dakota4641
2000 Dodge Dakota5806
2001 Dodge Dakota7678
2002 Dodge Dakota5678
2003 Dodge Dakota4296
2004 Dodge Dakota1206
2005 Dodge Dakota6470
2006 Dodge Dakota5285
2007 Dodge Dakota4145
2008 Dodge Dakota291
2009 Dodge Dakota518
2010 Dodge Dakota735
2011 Dodge Dakota644

Checking a specific 2003 Dodge Dakota

How do I know if my 2003 Dodge Dakota has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2003 Dodge Dakota; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Dodge dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V322000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Dodge models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.