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exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (4)
Suspension: front, control arm
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE UPPER BALL JOINT MAY ALLOW IT TO SEPARATE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: IF THE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
Canadian recalls (4)
Show 4 Canadian recalls
Suspension
2004-12-20 · campaign 2004-439
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 cause the joint to wear progressively over an extended period of time. A worn upper ball joint could separate, causing a loss of vehicle control which may result in a crash. Correction: Dealers will replace the upper ball joints with a revised assembly having improved sealing integrity. Two wheel drive models will be covered by an extended warranty of 10 years or 160,000 kms.
Other
2004-05-06 · campaign 2004-155
On certain vehicles, the windshield wiper motor assembly may become susceptible to water intrusion that could cause internal corrosion and result in partial or complete loss of front windshield wiping capability. Correction: Dealers will replace the front windshield wiper motor with a revised version that contains a water shield.
Electrical
2003-10-14 · campaign 2003-245
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 result in abnormal operation of the wipers, turn signals, horn or lighting systems. Correction: Dealer will reroute the wiring harness.
Lights and instruments
2002-12-16 · campaign 2002-240 · 481 vehicles
On certain vehicles, the right headlight may become inoperative due to an improperly sized circuit board trace in the central timer module. Correction: Dealers will replace the central timer module.
Owner complaints (296)
Owners filed 296 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Dodge Dakota Pickup (16 crashes, 5 fires, 12 injuries reported). Among 27 model years of this model, it ranks #8 for the most complaints (median 166).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Suspension | 100 | |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 44 | |
| Power train | 38 | |
| Engine and engine cooling | 34 | |
| Electrical system | 34 | |
| Exterior lighting | 22 | |
| Visibility | 17 | |
| Steering | 14 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Dodge Dakota Pickup.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2003 Dodge Dakota Extended Cab | – | – | – | 3★ |
| 2003 Dodge Dakota 4-DR. Cab | – | – | – | 3★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2003 Dodge Dakota Pickup version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Dakota Pickup 2WD 3.9 L Automatic 4-spd | 16 | 17 | 17 | $3,950 |
| Dakota Pickup 2WD 3.9 L Manual 5-spd | 14 | 19 | 16 | $4,200 |
| Dakota Pickup 2WD 4.7 L Automatic 5-spd | 14 | 18 | 16 | $4,200 |
| Dakota Pickup 2WD 4.7 L Manual 5-spd | 14 | 19 | 15 | $4,450 |
| Dakota Pickup 2WD 5.9 L Automatic 4-spd | 12 | 16 | 14 | $4,800 |
| Dakota Pickup 4WD 3.9 L Automatic 4-spd | 13 | 16 | 14 | $4,800 |
| Dakota Pickup 4WD 3.9 L Manual 5-spd | 14 | 18 | 15 | $4,450 |
| Dakota Pickup 4WD 4.7 L Automatic 5-spd | 13 | 17 | 14 | $4,800 |
| Dakota Pickup 4WD 4.7 L Manual 5-spd | 13 | 17 | 15 | $4,450 |
| Dakota Pickup 4WD 5.9 L Automatic 4-spd | 11 | 16 | 13 | $5,150 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.