Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 Dodge Dakota
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 Dodge Dakota has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns and 296 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E064000 REPLACEMENT HUB UNITS/ABS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E065000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E024000 REPLACEMENT AIR INTAKE SYSTEMS/DEBRIS CAN ENTER NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E011000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS/LEAKS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V596000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/BALL JOINT WEAR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V216000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MOTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V389000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/HEADLAMP/DASH WIRING HARNESS CHAFE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V322000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/CENTRAL TIMER MODULE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 100 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 44 complaints
- Power Train 38 complaints
- Electrical System 34 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 34 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 22 complaints
Of the 296 complaints on file, 16 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 296 complaints, owners report 12 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 Dodge Dakota has an average reliability rating based on 296 NHTSA complaints and 11 recalls. The suspension and brakes account for significant complaint numbers, suggesting potential issues there, although data for specific failures is limited. The infrequent complaints about the power train, engine, and electrical system also hint at occasional reliability concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| suspension | 60,000–100,000 miles | $800–$1,500 | common |
| service brakes | 50,000–80,000 miles | $300–$900 | occasional |
| power train | 70,000–120,000 miles | $1,200–$2,500 | occasional |
| engine and cooling | 80,000–130,000 miles | $500–$2,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad and rotor inspection
- Coolant replacement
- Transmission fluid change
- Tire rotation and balancing
- Air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Clunking noise in suspension
- Unresponsive brakes
- Transmission slipping
- Engine overheating
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 Dodge Dakota at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.