2003 Dodge Dakota Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe worn front suspension parts, especially upper ball joints, and front brake rotors that warp early. A recurring theme is electrical trouble traced to the central timer module, where lights, wipers and door locks can quit together; several owners report the related headlight recall did not cover their vehicle. Transmission shifting complaints and rusty steel brake lines appear in a smaller share of the sampled complaints.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Worn or failed front upper ball joints

   • 83 complaints (28%)
   • median 37,500 mi at 2.2 yrs old (62 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2026

   Complaints describe clunking, popping or squeaking from the front end over bumps and in turns, and in some cases abnormal tire wear. Owners say shops found the upper ball joints worn or corroded and sometimes the retaining nut stripped; a few describe the joint separating and the wheel dropping or coming loose. Dealers often replaced the joints or bushings, and some owners note that the 04V596000 ball joint recall was described as limited to 4x4 trucks or as not covering their vehicle. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 100,000 miles, with many between 20,000 and 60,000 miles.

   Recall 04V5960001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have the front end checked on a lift for play, corrosion or torn boots at the upper ball joints, and ask whether the ball joints were replaced and whether the vehicle was covered by the ball joint recall.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While traveling over a set of railroad tracks, the driver side front tire along with the upper ball joints separated from the vehicle causing me to temporary lose control of the vehicle. When I researched to see if this was a common problem relating to this vehicle I found about the recall. However, when I contacted daimlerchrysler I was informed that the recall was VIN specific and that my vehicle was not covered.”

   NHTSA complaint #10523271, filed 2013-07, 100,210 miles

   “This is a 2003 Dodge Dakota pick-up with 2 wheel drive. Upper ball joint and front hub bearing are both bad, and must be replaced . This vehicle has only 34,900 miles on it. Started making a loud humming sound when making a turn and was taken to repair shop for inspection. We thought maybe it just needed a front end alignment. Was told by the repair shop the alignment could not be done and the repairs were very much needed for our safety. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10326916, filed 2010-04, 34,900 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Central timer module faults: lights, wipers and locks cut

   • 59 complaints (20%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (45 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $450 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2020

   Complaints describe headlights, dash and dome lights, wipers, turn signals, horn or power door locks failing together or intermittently, sometimes while driving. Owners who researched the symptom point to the central timer module; mechanics replaced it or the body control module. Several owners state that the 02V322000 headlight recall was said not to apply to their vehicle and they paid for the repair themselves. Spread from about 18,000 miles to over 100,000 miles, with many reports between 30,000 and 90,000 miles.

   Recall 02V322000Recall 03V389000

   What to check: Check that all lights, wipers, horn and door locks work, confirm whether the central timer module has been replaced, and ask whether the vehicle was covered by the headlight switch and wiring recalls.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I started my vehicle and then left it to clear snow from its exterior. The vehicle locked me out. I was at home and got the spare key to let myself in. While I was driving, the vehicle repeatedly locked and unlocked the doors by itself. This has continued, and the vehicle also now locks and unlocks even when the key is not in the ignition.”

   NHTSA complaint #10118494, filed 2005-04, 18,000 miles

   “Our pick up truck was diagnosed with needing a central timer module replacement. We learned that there is a recall for vehicles that were built from 10/2/02 through 11/8/02. Our vehicle was built on 9/12/02. Our vehicle was built just 2 weeks before the recall and needs the same type of repair! Dodge will not pay for the repair. Problem occurs when it is stationary or in motion. We are requesting that you investigate this issue and expand the recall to include our vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10906399, filed 2016-09, 60,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Pulsating brakes from warped front rotors

   • 38 complaints (13%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2022

   Owners describe the brake pedal and steering wheel pulsing or vibrating when braking, sometimes with a grinding or squealing noise. Several say rotors warped at low mileage, were turned or replaced, and the pulsation returned after a short time; dealers sometimes attributed it to wet conditions or heavy braking and declined warranty work. Separate complaints describe steel brake lines rusting through until the pedal went soft or to the floor. Often reported under 25,000 miles for rotor warping; brake line corrosion appears mostly at high mileage.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test brake feel at speed for pulsation, check rotor condition and pad wear, and have the steel brake lines along the frame and above the rear axle inspected for rust.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was going to move the truck out of the garage when my brake pedal went to the floor. Having recently replacing all of the brakes, I was surprised and upon further inspection saw fluid squirting out onto engine firewall. Had the truck towed to a garage where they have informed me that the steel brake lines have completely rusted through and need to replace all of them, to the tune of $800. As the truck has rather low mileage and is lightly used I am shocked with this type of failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #10559236, filed 2014-01, 74,380 miles

   “At 6,000 miles the upper ball joints failed. When riding over any size bump in the road the front end collapsed. The vehicle pulled to the right when driving and when braking, the flapper door for the fuel filler neck was missing and or fell inside the tank, the transmission did not shift properly, the front and rear rotors were grooved, worn uneven and pitted.”

   NHTSA complaint #10044936, filed 2003-12, 6,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Harsh or delayed transmission shifting

   • 24 complaints (8%)
   • median 3,600 mi at 1.1 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • filed 2002–2019

   Owners report hard upshifts and downshifts, delayed engagement, high-rpm revving before a shift on grades, and occasionally slipping or failure to go into reverse or park. Some describe reprogramming or throttle adjustments that did not help, and others had the transmission replaced early on. A service bulletin for the four-speed automatics covers delayed engagement traced to the cooler return filter. Commonly reported at low mileage, often under 15,000 miles, including within the first months of ownership.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive from cold through all gears up and down a grade, and ask for transmission service records, including whether the cooler return filter bulletin was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10053012, filed 2004-01, 200 miles

   “While driving at any speed the transmission slipped. The vehicle vibrated uncontrollably. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic informed the consumer that the transmission needed to be replaced. Please provide further details.”

   NHTSA complaint #10089330, filed 2004-08, 1,000 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wiper module water intrusion

   • 16 complaints (5%)
   • median 88,500 mi at 10.1 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • filed 2007–2020

   Complaints describe wipers that stop working or run on their own, often alongside other electrical symptoms. A recall for this model covers a wiper module motor that can be damaged by water intrusion and cause partial or complete loss of front wiping, and owners also link wiper failure to central timer module faults. Reported from the first few thousand miles up to around 65,000 miles.

   Recall 04V216000

   What to check: Run the wipers at every speed, including washers, and ask whether the wiper module recall was completed for this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “During october of 2007 the central timer module on my 2003 Dodge Dakota went bad. All lights inside and outside would go on and off intermittently. After a lot of online searching and reading forums it seemed that a lot of other owners had the same problem with their ctm's. My truck was out of warranty at the time and the cost for a new ctm was $253.00 plus cost to get the auto keys reset. The dealer said no recall on this problem, so I had to pay. I put it in myself. I called chrysler corp. And they were no help at all. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10224519, filed 2008-04, 52,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Dakota. Whenever the contact drives the vehicle, the central timing module fails and all of the lights dim. The headlights, dome light, windshield wipers, and door locks failed while driving 45 MPH. Chrysler stated that his VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 02v322000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch) and would not repair the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 33,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10216547, filed 2008-01, 33,000 miles

Buying note. This model year has a well-documented pattern of front suspension and brake wear at relatively low mileage, plus electrical faults traced to the central timer module, so a front-end and brake inspection and a full electrical function check are worthwhile before buying. Ask for records of recall work and any replaced ball joints, rotors, brake lines or modules, since a number of owners report paying for repairs the recalls did not cover.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.