2003 Dodge Dakota vs 2003 Dodge Ram 1500
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Dodge Dakota | 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 295 | 1,170 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 50 | 28 |
| Investigations | 1 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 16 | 76 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 12 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 13–17 | 13–16 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 40,000 mi | 70,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Dodge Dakota | Dodge Ram 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 13 | 457 |
| Structure | 8 | 237 |
| Power Train | 38 | 125 |
| Suspension | 100 | 57 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 44 | 62 |
| Electrical System | 34 | 61 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 34 | 56 |
| Steering | 14 | 44 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 21 | 43 |
| Rust / corrosion | 17 | 28 |
| Vibration / shaking | 12 | 41 |
| Clunking / rattling | 8 | 6 |
| Shifting problems | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 5 | 10 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 22 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 10 |
2003 Dodge Dakota
2003 Dodge Ram 1500
Compare all Dodge Dakota vs Dodge Ram 1500 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.