Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2003 Dodge Dakota Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint — runs 6.1× the fleet median for that category across the 965 model-years tracked on this site.
295Complaints
11Recalls
16Crashes
5Fires
12Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint (18.3% of complaints) — is covered by 2 NHTSA recall campaigns.
Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint complaints here are 6.1× the median for that category across the 965 model-years tracked on this site.
5 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 1 rests on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint | 54 · 18.3% | Recalled | Recall 04V596000 · Recall 08E064000 |
| Electrical System | 24 · 8.1% | Recalled | Recall 03V389000 |
| Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint | 22 · 7.5% | Recalled | Recall 04V596000 · Recall 08E064000 |
| Suspension | 21 · 7.1% | Recalled | Recall 04V596000 · Recall 08E064000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17 · 5.8% | No official action | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 16 · 5.4% | Recalled | Recall 06E024000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 295 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 11 campaigns
Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint
NHTSA campaign 04V596000 · 2004 · reported 12/21/2004
EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE UPPER BALL JOINT MAY ALLOW IT TO SEPARATE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Suspension:front:hub
NHTSA campaign 08E064000 · 2008 · reported 10/20/2008
IMPROPER SEATING OF THE WHEEL CAN RESULT IN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION, BRAKE ROTOR NOISE, DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE WHEEL AFTER INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, AND POSSIBLY WHEEL-END SEPARATION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
NHTSA campaign 06E011000 · 2006 · reported 02/01/2006
IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E065000 · 2006 · reported 07/17/2006
LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Engine And Engine Cooling
NHTSA campaign 06E024000 · 2006 · reported 03/15/2006
A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
NHTSA campaign 02V322000 · 2002 · reported 12/02/2002
IF THE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
NHTSA campaign 04V216000 · 2004 · reported 05/05/2004
DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Electrical System:wiring
NHTSA campaign 03V389000 · 2003 · reported 10/10/2003
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR A BLOWER FAN PROBLEM, AND TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER OF A SQUEAK GOING AROUND CORNERS. FOUND THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE…”NHTSA complaint 10082621 — filed 07/25/2004 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
“PE 03-032, FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE: AFTER INSPECTING THE WHEELS, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE RUSTING OUT ON BOTH…”NHTSA complaint 10075659 — filed 06/03/2004 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
“AT 24775 MILES; THE RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED ON MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA 4X2.”NHTSA complaint 10074693 — filed 06/02/2004 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Dodge Dakota?
Suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint issues are the most-reported category, cited in 54 of 295 NHTSA complaints (18.3%), followed by electrical system (24), suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint (22), suspension (21). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2003 Dodge Dakota have?
295 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 16 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, and 12 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2003 Dodge Dakota have any recalls?
Yes — 11 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E012000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2003 Dodge Dakota's reported problems?
5 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
