RoadVitals

2003 Dodge Dakota Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Sep 2, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 295 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Dodge Dakota submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureElectricalSuspension
Filed Sep 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR MAKING A TURN AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT COULD HEAR AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CENTRAL TIMING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE BALL JOINT WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED AND MIGHT FRACTURE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE UNDERBODY WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V596000 (SUSPENSION) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08E064000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID
10630021
Incident
May 2, 2014
Mileage
92,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 15, 2008

THE PAINT ITS COMING OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10245532
Incident
Jan 1, 2008
Mileage
67 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 31, 2005

WATER SATURATING FLOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE. CARPET SMELLS MOLDY DUE TO RECURRING PROBLEM. TAKEN TO DEALER 2 TIMES PREVIOUS AND TRUCK AT DEALER NOW FOR THE 3RD TIME TO ATTEMPT A POSSIBLE REPAIR. SEALED DRAIN HOLE IN FIREWALL WHERE EVAPORATOR HOUSING DRAIN HOSE GOES THROUGH TO OUTSIDE OF BODY AND CHECKED A/C LINES FOR LEAKS. TRUCK LEAKS FROM INSIDE THE FIREWALL, DEALER IS NOT SURE WHERE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10134954
Incident
Jul 27, 2005
Mileage
34,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed May 6, 2005

2003 DODGE DAKOTA EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BALL JOINTS AS WELL AS THE WELDS OF THE TRUCK BED AT THE UPPER PART NEAR THE REAR WINDOW.*MR A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINTS (04V596000) BUT THE DEALER WANTED THE CONSUMER TO PAY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE PLASTIC RIVETS ON BOTH SIDE PANELS THAT ATTACH TO THE REAR PANEL TRUCK BED. THE REAR PANEL TRUCK BED IS SO WEAK THAT ABOUT FIVE POUNDS OF PRESSURE BENT THE PANEL. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE PLASTIC BED LINER IS STRONGER THAN THE REAR TRUCK BED PANEL *NM

NHTSA ID
10121460
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Body & structure
Filed Jan 4, 2004

RATTLE IN DASHBOARD, DRIVERS SIDE. *LA

NHTSA ID
10052350
Incident
Sep 15, 2003
Mileage
8,976 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 9, 2003

WATER LEAKING ON PASSENGER SIDE. DEALER ATTEMPTED REPAIR 4 TIMES. DEALER SAID FIRST TIME AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSATION LEAKED. FILLED UP WITH WATER AFTER RAIN, RUINED CARPET AND MUSTY SMELL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10049458
Incident
Sep 5, 2003
Mileage
9,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 29, 2003

WATER LEAKING ONTO PASSENGER'S SIDE FLOOR, MOLDY CARPETING, SMELLS BADLY. DEALER ATTEMPTED REPAIRS, BUT DEFECT CONTINUES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10036874
Incident
Aug 14, 2003
Body & structure
Filed Jul 7, 2003

WATER POURING INTO PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD THAT SOAKS AND RUINS CARPETING. UNKNOWN SOURCE, FIREWALL AREA.*AK

NHTSA ID
10025554
Incident
Jun 25, 2003
Mileage
2,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .