Saturday, August 8, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2002 Dodge Dakota vs 2003 Dodge Dakota

Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.

Metric2002 Dodge Dakota2003 Dodge Dakota
NHTSA complaints678295
Recall campaigns54
Service bulletins (TSBs)5550
Investigations11
Crash reports5516
Fire reports185
NCAP overall rating
EPA MPG (combined)12–1913–17
Median reported incident mileage40,000 mi40,000 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentDodge DakotaDodge Dakota
Suspension226100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic17744
Power Train8938
Electrical System5234
Engine and Engine Cooling3434
Steering4414
Exterior Lighting2122
Air Bags2813

Symptoms owners describe

Vibration / shaking3912
Clunking / rattling378
Stalling3221
Rust / corrosion2617
Brake problems190
Overheating150
Hesitation / surging70
Check engine light50

Compare all Dodge Dakota vs Dodge Dakota years →

Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.