2003 Dodge Dakota Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 100 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the 2003 Dodge Dakota, 34% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 34,900 miles. The words owners use most often: “upper ball” (46% of reports).
- 100suspension complaints
- 34,900median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 15%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Upper ball: mentioned in 46 of 100 complaints (46%)
- Front end: mentioned in 18 of 100 complaints (18%)
- Joints worn: mentioned in 6 of 100 complaints (6%)
- Joint included: mentioned in 5 of 100 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 77 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 100 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 4 an injury.
Dodge Dakota suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Dakota | 1 | 2% | 60,500 |
| 2010 Dakota | 2 | 6% | 44,200 |
| 2008 Dakota | 5 | 5% | 67,171 |
| 2007 Dakota | 13 | 9% | 47,000 |
| 2006 Dakota | 25 | 9% | 47,000 |
| 2005 Dakota | 51 | 11% | 45,000 |
| 2004 Dakota | 45 | 22% | 32,047 |
| 2003 Dakota | 100 | 34% | 34,900 |
| 2002 Dakota | 226 | 33% | 35,000 |
| 2001 Dakota | 236 | 35% | 46,129 |
| 2000 Dakota | 282 | 35% | 50,000 |
| 1999 Dakota | 342 | 53% | 55,500 |
| 1998 Dakota | 217 | 40% | 62,000 |
| 1997 Dakota | 142 | 32% | 62,000 |
| 1996 Dakota | 12 | 6% | 45,000 |
| 1995 Dakota | 17 | 8% | 21,794 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks equipped with four-wheel drive (4x4), if moisture leaks into the front suspension upper ball joint, evacuation of the lubricant and corrosion of the joint may cause the joint to wear over an extended period of time. This could cause a clunking noise in the front suspension, which may not always be heard by the vehicle occupants.
Risk: Excessive wear in the upper ball joint may allow it to separate, which could result in loss of control of the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front suspension upper ball joints. This safety improvement campaign began on december 21, 2004. Owners can contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Dodge Dakotas have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 100 owner complaints about suspension for the 2003 Dodge Dakota (34% of the 296 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Dodge Dakota suspension?
Yes: 1 safety recall list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do suspension problems start?
The median reported mileage is 34,900 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the 2003 Dodge Dakota?
The most frequent phrase is “upper ball”, in 46 of 100 complaints, followed by “front end” (18).
See all 2003 Dodge Dakota problems or suspension problems across all Dakota years.