Model year record

2003 Dodge Dakota

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 421 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V596000

Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint

Component: Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint
Manufacturer: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected: 592,707
Reported to NHTSA: 2004-12-21
Owners notified: 2004-12-21

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V216000

Visibility: windshield wiper/washer

Component: Visibility: windshield wiper/washer
Manufacturer: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected: 320,188
Reported to NHTSA: 2004-05-05
Owners notified: 2004-07-12

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V389000

Electrical system: wiring

Component: Electrical system: wiring
Manufacturer: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected: 50,082
Reported to NHTSA: 2003-10-10
Owners notified: 2003-11-03

Defect description

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.

Safety 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 CANNOT USE THEM TO SIGNAL INTENT TO TURN, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V322000

Exterior lighting: headlights: switch

Component: Exterior lighting: headlights: switch
Manufacturer: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected: 3,640
Reported to NHTSA: 2002-12-02
Owners notified: 2002-12-23

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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 SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint	54	28,000 mi
Electrical system	24	127,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint	22	28,000 mi
Suspension	21	92,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	17	100 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	16	6,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	15	18,000 mi
Suspension: front	15	35,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	14	1,571 mi
Power train	14	32,000 mi
Exterior lighting	13	75,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	13	3,200 mi
Steering	10	48,318 mi
Air bags	7	46,800 mi
Tires	7	38,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer	7	47,250 mi
Unknown or other	6	10,100 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	6	935 mi
Wheels	5	120,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	4	45,600 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	4	47,250 mi
Service brakes	4	74,380 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	4	7,000 mi
Structure: body	4	2,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor	4	5,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch	3	60,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	3	65,700 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap	3	25,835 mi
Interior lighting	3	65,700 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum	3	32,000 mi
Structure	3	67 mi
Suspension: rear	3	8,976 mi
Vehicle speed control	3	11 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	3	47,250 mi
Electrical system: wiring	2	3,600 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash	2	7,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	2	450 mi
Equipment	2	25,500 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	2	76,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	2	60,000 mi
Parking brake	2	778 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)	2	778 mi
Power train: driveline: differential unit	2	12,500 mi
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)	2	43,000 mi
Seat belts	2	42,900 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc	2	30,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads	2	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	2	46,000 mi
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly	2	5,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm	2	—
Suspension: front: wheel bearing	2	31,600 mi
Visibility: windshield	2	—
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module	1	40,000 mi
Air bags: on-off switch assembly	1	—
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel	1	30,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery	1	100 mi
Electrical system: horn	1	65,700 mi
Electrical system: ignition	1	—
Electrical system: ignition: switch	1	18,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood	1	23,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers	1	7,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	1	60,000 mi
Engine	1	181,518 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly	1	220,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	1	—
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	1	5,000 mi
Equipment: electrical	1	—
Exterior lighting: brake lights	1	30,000 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch	1	3,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: warnings	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump	1	40,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	34,290 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage	1	—
Fuel system, other: delivery	1	31,540 mi
Fuel system, other: delivery: fuel pump	1	—
Fuel system, other: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	50,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	1	18,000 mi
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical: linkage and cable	1	53,500 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)	1	—
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift	1	778 mi
Power train: axle assembly: banjo housing	1	8,300 mi
Power train: clutch assembly	1	—
Power train: driveline: driveshaft	1	68,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission	1	34,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission: shift pattern indicator	1	34,700 mi
Seat belts: front	1	5,895 mi
Service brakes, air: supply: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	45,004 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum	1	45,004 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system	1	14,000 mi
Steering: linkages	1	—
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields	1	92,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: upper arm	1	3,000 mi
Suspension: front: stabilizer bar	1	—
Tires: sidewall	1	15,775 mi
Traction control system	1	60,000 mi
Visibility	1	111,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system	1	—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element	1	—
Wheels: hub	1	—

The 2002 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2004 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.