2003 Dodge Dakota Suspension Problems

NHTSA component category: SUSPENSION · data through 07/12/2026

21Suspension complaints

7.1%Of all 295 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How suspension ranks on this vehicle

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT54 · 18.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM24 · 8.1%

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT22 · 7.5%

SUSPENSION21 · 7.1%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC17 · 5.8%

Share of the 295 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2003 Dodge Dakota overview page.

What owners report

“AT 6,000 MILES THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. WHEN RIDING OVER ANY SIZE BUMP IN THE ROAD THE FRONT END COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO…”NHTSA complaint 10044936 — filed 12/03/2003

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Suspension complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Dodge Dakota have suspension problems?

Suspension is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2003 Dodge Dakota: 21 of 295 complaints on file (7.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2003 Dodge Dakota have in total?

295 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 16 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 12 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's suspension category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the SUSPENSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.