10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
35,127 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Dodge Dakota suspension problems

suspension problem

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2003 Dodge Dakota Owner Comments

problem #15

Sep 282010

Dakota 4WD 8-cyl

  • 97,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Upper ball joints were both loose and dealer recommended replacement. VIN number was not included in previous recall by Chrysler.

- Burnsville, MN, USA

problem #14

May 252010

Dakota

  • 65,500 miles
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.

- Commack, NY, USA

problem #13

Mar 012003

Dakota

  • 34,900 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. 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?

- Jonesboro, GA, USA

problem #12

Jan 282009

Dakota

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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 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.

- Kenmore, WA, USA

problem #11

Dec 142006

Dakota 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
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.

- Menifee, CA, USA

problem #10

Aug 252008

Dakota

  • 104,601 miles
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.

- West Deptford, NJ, USA

problem #9

Jul 142008

Dakota

  • 56,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Imperial, PA, USA

problem #8

Dec 012006

Dakota 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 19,398 miles
Popping noise in front end entering driveway or over speed bumps had dealer inspect and perform tsb. On upper ball joints per letter from Chrysler Corp. They did repair and told me the hub bearings were also bad not covered, $552 I replaced them myself I can't find a problem the hubs. The noise is still there !

- Antioch, CA, USA

problem #7

May 012004

Dakota 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles
Front suspension popping when stopping and turning.

- Rome, GA, USA

problem #6

May 012004

Dakota 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles
Front suspension popping when stopping and turning.

- Rome, GA, USA

problem #5

Jan 092004

Dakota 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving on md rt 468 at approximately 7:10 am on January 9, 2004, the driver of my truck hit a small patch of ice at which time the truck went into a 360 degree spin. At some point during the spin the front wheel came off at which time the driver lost complete control of the vehicle and it ran off of the road and hit three trees. An inspection of the wheel, tire rod and ball joint revealed that the ball joint was rusted and snapped off.

- Shadyside, MD, USA

problem #4

Mar 172004

(reported on)

Dakota 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11,000 miles
While driving at a low speed, the consumer heard a loud metal banging coming from the front end of vehicle. The dealership serviced the vehicle, but could not resolve the problem. The front upper ball joints were prematurely worn out and had to be replaced. Dodge suggested that nothing was wrong with the vehicle.

- New Bedford, MA, USA

problem #3

Jan 232004

(reported on)

Dakota 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12 miles
(front end suspension problem) the vehicle had been checked three times with no improvement because of the unstable balance of the vehicle. The dealership suggested that the consumer change the tires and shocks and place sand bags on in the vehicle to stabilize the balance.

- Pomona, CA, USA

problem #2

Oct 262003

Dakota 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,000 miles
While driving, the vehicle swerved to the left without warning and the vehicle to hit a tree and rolled over. The dealer believed that the cause was due to front end suspension failure, however the airbags deployed upon impact.

- Albion, MI, USA

problem #1

Oct 272003

Dakota 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,000 miles
I keep hearing a loud "bang" and louding creaking noises in the front end of my 2003 Dodge Dakota when I turn the wheel. I have taken it to the Dodge dealer several times, but they haven't found anything. I keep telling them it sounds like a cracked coil spring or body mount. They said if I bring it in again as warranty work, then they'll charge me for the time. Also, the turn signals keep shorting out and when you turn the left one on, the emergency flashers come on. Finally, the left power window slows down excessively when I attempt to put the window up. It goes down fine, but it won't go up at normal speed.

- Derwood, MD, USA

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