Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 100 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.
The 25 most recent of 100, in the owner's own words
The front end got a hard vibrate i replace the shocks two times and its not fix the problem seem like something going too brake off like a wheel or something dont feel safe driving it
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE UPPER LEFT BALL JOINT SUDDENLY FAILED AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY RUST AND CORROSION OF THE BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V596000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,208.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINT FAILED ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V596000 (SUSPENSION).THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,497.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED AND THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING SPORADICALLY MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO, THE SIDE CAP TO THE MAIN RADIATOR SPEWED ANTIFREEZE APPROXIMATELY FIVE FEET IN THE AIR. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, A LOUD POPPING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BALL JOINT FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V596000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE HE PERFORMED THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
I'VE HAD MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 FOR 2.5 YEARS AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS ALWAYS HAD A CLUNCKING NOISE IN IT. I SEEN THE RECALL FROM DAIMLER/CHRYSLER IN REFERENCE TO SUSPENSION(FRONT CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT) NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V596000. NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA03023. I THOUGHT FOR SURE THAT MY TRUCK WOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL,HOWEVER, IT APPEARS TO ME THAT IT ISN'T. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND I AM WORRIED THAT THE BALL JOINTS MAY SEPARATE AND CAUSE ME OR MY WIFE TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK BECAUSE OF EVACUATION OF THE LUBRICANT DUE TO MOISTURE LEAKS INTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS. *TR
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.
WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A LOUD HUMMING NOISE IN FRONT END AND KNOCKING FROM FRONT AND A SQUEEKY NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH. *JS
UPPER BALL JOINTS DETERMINED TO BE SERIOUSLY WORN. NEED TO BE REPLACED ASAP. WAS TOLD DODGE HAD RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THESE PARTS BUT CHRYSLER WILL NOT COVER REPLACEMENT AT CURRENT TIME AND WITH CURRENT MILEAGE. WAS TOLD BY CHRYSLER TO INITIATE NHTSA CONTACT RELATIVE TO CHRYSLER CASE #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, TURNED THE WHEEL TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE VEHICLE. AS I STRAIGHTENED OUT THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED TRAPPING THE WHEEL BENEATH THE TRUCK. *TR
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. *TR
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD STRAIGHT NO CURVE, THE REAR AXLE OF MY TRUCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BROKE OFF AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC NEAR BY WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING UNCONTROLLED DOWN THE ROAD. IN A COINCIDENCE DODGE IS HAVE A RECALL OF SAME ISSUE FOR ONLY THE 2009 AND 2010 MODELS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF A FRACTURED BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FAILURE AS DESCRIBED BY THE CONTACT. NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,400.
I WAS TOLD THE BALL JOINTS ARE NO GOOD ON MY 2003 DAKOTA 4X2 AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE WARRANTY ON THE BALL JOINTS WAS GIVEN A 10 YEAR EXTENSION ON 4X2 AND RECALLED ON 4X4. I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THE BALL JOINTS ARE CLEARLY THE FAULTY ONES MY MANUFACTURING DATE WAS 20 DAYS AFTER THE DEC 31 2002 CUT OFF FOR WARRANTY EXTENSION. HOW IS THAT MY TRUCK IS NOT COVERED, DESPITE BEING EFFECTED BY THE SAME RECALLED PARTS. IT WOULD SEEM 20 DAYS IS QUITE A SMALL WINDOW TO BE COMPLETELY EXCLUDED FROM THE EXTENSION, AND THAT THERE IS A REASONABLE MARGIN OF AREA. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE BOTH LOOSE AND DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT. VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN PREVIOUS RECALL BY CHRYSLER. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA CLUB CAB. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE ARE BLOWN. DEALER STATES NO RECALL FOR MY YEAR DUE TO THE FACT MINE IS A 2WD. CALLED CORPORATE AND HAVE HAD NO LUCK. DEALER IS CHARGING ME $400. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES. WILL NOT HONOR THE 10 YEAR OR 100,000 MILES EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
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. READING ON LINE I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT CHRYSLER HAS ONLY AGREED TO RECALL 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. IF DAKOTA'S WITH 2 WHEEL DRIVE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY ARE THEY NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL? *TR
3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE HAD TRUCK IN SHOP WITH NOISE IN FRONT AND REAR TIRE/SUSPENSION AREAS...IN FOR SEVERAL SERVICE VISITS, SEEMED TO GET BETTER THAN CAME BACK, THEY REPLACED BUSHINGS//HAD NOT HEARD NOISE...JANUARY 28, 2009 VERY LOUD NOISE AND HARD TO TURN DROVE TO LOCAL TIRE COMPANY WHICH SAID MY SUSPENSION WAS BOWED THAT TIRES WERE ANGLED INCORRECTLY AND AN IMMEDIATE FIX OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE DONE FOR SAFETY...$900.00 LATER THEY REPLACED. I FOUND OUT THAT NIGHT THROUGH AN ON LINE SEARCH THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL OF THE SAME PART THAT WAS CONSISTENT WITH MY SITUATION SAME MODEL MAKE YEAR/ I HAVE THE REMOVED DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR
2003 DODGE DAKOTA, 2WD, 5 SPD MANUAL, V6. ALTHOUGH A RECALL HAS BEEN GENERATED PERTAINING TO THE 4WD VERSION ONLY, MY TRUCK HAS THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I AM DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND TURNING OR GOING THROUGH A BUMP I HEAR A CLUNK WHICH SOUNDS LIKE WHAT IS DESCRIBED ON THE EXISTING RECALL FOR THE 4WD ONLY. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. *TR
UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE, I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY SAY THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL #04V216000, WHICH COVERED 600,000 VEHICLES FOR THIS VERY TYPE OF FAILURE. I WAS NEVER OFFERED OR INFORMED OF A EXTENDED WARRANTY GIVEN BY CHRYSLER TO COVER THIS VERY PROBLEM. IF I WAS MADE AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING WITH MY VEHICLE, I WOULD OF MADE SURE THAT MY VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON A TIMELY MANNER IN THIS AREA. I DID RETURN MY VEHICLE FOR A RECALL FOR MY WINDSHIELD WASHER ASSY IN DECEMBER OF 2004 AND ALSO FOR MY BALLJOINTS DUE THE FACT I WAS SENT A RECALL NOTICE. IF THE WEATHER WAS WORSE OR I DID DRIVE MY VEHICLE OFF ROAD I DO BELIEVE MY BALL JOINT WOULD HAVE DETERIORATED AS A ACCELERATED RATE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IF I EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE IN MY VEHICLE,WHICH WAS NOT RECALLED, THERE ARE MANY MORE DODGE DAKOTA PICK UP TRUCKS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. CHRYSLER SAYS THE NUMBERS DON'T WARRANT A RECALL,BUT THIS FAILURE IN THEIR VEHICLE COMPARED TO GM OR FORD PRODUCTS OF THE SAME TYPE VEHICLE ARE ABOUT 300% TO 1% COMPARING THE NUMBERS. I FEEL CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL EXPENSE THAT I HAVE INCURRED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AND MORE VEHICLES SHOULD BE PUT INTO A RECALL STATUS FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK OVER A SPEED HUMP GOING APPROX. TEN MPH WHEN SOMETHING SOUNDED LIKE IT DROPPED, I PUT THE TRUCK INTO PARK AND GOT OUT TO FIND MY RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE LAYING HORIZONTAL, BUT STILL ATTACHED TO THE TRUCK. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND I WAS INFORMED THAT MY UPPER BALL JOINT HAD BROKE ALONG WITH THE HALF SHAFT/CV JOINT. I CALLED DODGE BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BALL JOINTS AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME BECAUSE MY TRUCK IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED. THE FRONT TIRE BECAME DISCONNECTED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,000. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/15/08 *JB
I HAVE A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA SPORT QUAD CAB 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE. I'VE HAD AN EMBARRASSING SQUEAK IN MY STEERING AND FRONT END FOR 4 YEARS. AFTER LISTENING TO IT FOR A WHILE AFTER PURCHASING, I TOOK IT TO TRAIL DODGE ON 08/26/04 AND COMPLAINED. THE SERVICE NOTE SAID "CUSTOMER STATES THERE IS A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE FROM RIGHT SIDE SUSPENSION AREA WHILE DRIVING. INSPECTED AND ROAD TESTED AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE CUSTOMER'S CONCERNS, NO NOISES HEARD AT THIS TIME (WET OUT) DID INSPECT FRONT END ALL IS TIGHT." IT TOOK IT IN TO FURY MOTORS, SOUTH ST. PAUL, MN, AT ABOUT 36,000 MILES AND THE SAME. THEY COULD NOT FIND IT AT THAT TIME. NOISE PERSISTED, TILL IT'S NOW EMBARRASSING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ALL TOGETHER. TODAY, MAY 12, 2008, I BROUGHT IT BACK TO FURY MOTORS, BECAUSE OF THE SOUND, THAT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE (NOW 50,000 MILES), AND THEY TELL ME I NEED BOTH UPPER AND BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS, TO THE TUNE OF $1500!!!! THEN I GET ON LINE AND FIND OUT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL (NHTSA ACTION #EA03023). I CALLED FURY MOTORS TO LET THEM KNOW AND THEY STATE MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IT HAS BEEN THE SAME SOUND THAT WAS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE AND WORSE, AND NOW I FIND OUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS AND I'M NOT COVERED??? PLEASE HELP! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUD COMING FROM THE AXLE AREA. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HEADLIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED COMPLETELY. EVENTUALLY, THE HORN BEGAN TO SOUND INTERMITTENTLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN WIPING AUTOMATICALLY, AND THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND CONTINUED TO CHIME. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT ALL THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V322000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS SWITCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,700.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE BALL JOINTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 71,000. UPDATED 03-25-08 *BF UPDATED 03/25/08 *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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