2003 Dodge Dakota reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2003 Dodge Dakota — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 419
- 3 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
- 54 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 22 reported crashes · 17 injuries · 5 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,253
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Dodge median
+64
median 355 across 271 Dodge records
Vs 2001-2005
+167
median 252 complaints in 794 records
Top component share
23%
Suspension: 97 complaints
What owners report fails — 2003 Dodge Dakota
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT 54
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 24
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT 22
- SUSPENSION 21
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 17
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2003 Dodge Dakota
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2003 Dodge Dakota units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Dodge Dakota reliable?
NHTSA has 419 consumer complaints on record for the 2003 Dodge Dakota. The most-reported problem area is suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint (54 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2003 Dodge Dakota units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Dodge Dakota?
Owners most often report problems with: suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint (54), electrical system (24), suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint (22), suspension (21). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2003 Dodge Dakota?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.