Dodge Dakota Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 139 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Dodge Dakota across 16 model years. The 2003 model year has the most (22). The words owners use most often: “turn signals” (14% of reports).
- 139exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 38%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.
- Turn signals: mentioned in 19 of 139 complaints (14%)
- Timer module: mentioned in 17 of 139 complaints (12%)
- Windshield wipers: mentioned in 13 of 139 complaints (9%)
- Headlight switch: mentioned in 9 of 139 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 97 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 139 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 2 a fire.
Dodge Dakota exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Dakota | 3 | 7% | 48,000 |
| 2010 Dakota | 1 | 3% | 50,000 |
| 2008 Dakota | 8 | 9% | 75,000 |
| 2007 Dakota | 5 | 3% | 49,063 |
| 2006 Dakota | 8 | 3% | 75,500 |
| 2005 Dakota | 5 | 1% | 67,000 |
| 2004 Dakota | 6 | 3% | 115,000 |
| 2003 Dakota | 22 | 7% | 65,700 |
| 2002 Dakota | 21 | 3% | 81,500 |
| 2001 Dakota | 20 | 3% | 87,598 |
| 2000 Dakota | 5 | 1% | 50,000 |
| 1999 Dakota | 7 | 1% | 63,870 |
| 1998 Dakota | 11 | 2% | 170,000 |
| 1997 Dakota | 6 | 1% | 80,000 |
| 1996 Dakota | 6 | 3% | — |
| 1995 Dakota | 5 | 2% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Exterior lighting:headlights:switch
Model years: 2003
Problem: On certain pickup trucks, the central timer module (ctm) has an improperly sized circuit board trace that could potentially cause the right headlamp low beam to become inoperative.
Risk: If the lights fail, a visibility problem could occur, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the ctm. Owner notification began december 23, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should 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.
Many Dodge vehicle models experience failure of illumination for instrument clusters. This creates an unsafe condition for the driver since information presented at the instrument cluster, cannot be determined during night time driving conditions. Dodge makes no provision to customers for…
The backlighting on the instrument cluster is defective. Only a portion of the gauges are illuminated. Should this occur for the speedometer then driver will not have a way to determine vehicle speed during the nighttime hours.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING, THE CLUTCH WAS APPLIED AND THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING BECAME INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED FERRARIO CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP (2463 CORNING RD, ELMIRA, NY 14903, [redacted]) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE…
Front cv axle(hub and bearing) failure while driving. The intermediate axle also needs replacing due to severe rust from cv axle. The upper upper ball joint has been replaced twice. The front headlights do not provide adequete visability at night.
Central time module causing my lights to cut off while driving could cause accident
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Dakotas have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 139 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the Dodge Dakota. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Dodge Dakota exterior lighting?
Yes: 1 safety recall list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Dodge Dakota?
The most frequent phrase is “turn signals”, in 19 of 139 complaints, followed by “timer module” (17).
Other Dodge Dakota problems
- Suspension problems (1,716)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (969)
- Power Train problems (716)
- Air Bags problems (659)
- Steering problems (555)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (432)
- Electrical System problems (376)
- Visibility problems (179)
See all Dodge Dakota problems.