FaultScore

2003 Dodge Dakota fuel system problems

14 of the 419 complaints about the 2003 Dodge Dakota are about the fuel system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 37,145 miles.

A

14

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Fuel System, Gasoline 3 21.4%
Filler Pipe AND CAP 3 21.4%
Fuel/Propulsion System 2 14.3%
Fuel Pump 1 7.1%
Hoses, Lines/Piping, AND Fittings 1 7.1%
Hoses, Lines/Piping, AND Fittings 1 7.1%
Storage 1 7.1%
Delivery 1 7.1%
Fuel Pump 1 7.1%

Fuel & Propulsion across every Dodge Dakota year

1991 10 5.0%
1992 15 7.4%
1994 17 8.4%
1995 20 9.9%
1996 11 5.4%
1997 38 18.8%
1998 12 5.9%
1999 14 6.9%
2000 14 6.9%
2001 10 5.0%
2002 17 8.4%
2003 14 6.9%
2005 10 5.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 130,000 miles Franklinville, NY

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1. WHILE SITTING IN PARK ON A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IN A STILL POSITION ROLLED FRONT OR BACK MORE THAN A COUPLE INCHES. HAD TO STEP ON BRAKE WHILE IN PARK AND HAD TO BLOCK WHEELS WHEN ENGINE WAS OFF TO KEEP FROM ROLLING. EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD OR WORK PROPERLY EITHER. 2. THE HEATER HAS ONLY HIGH POSITION WORKING NOW. THE DASH GETS TO HOT TO EVEN KEEP HEAT ON VERY LONG. FUEL CAP WITH KEY. WHEN GETTING FUEL TRUCK HAS TO BE TURNED OFF BEFORE PUMPING OTHERWISE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THE DASH AND NEEDS TO BE RESET OR DRIVEN MILES BEFORE ENGINE LIGHTOR GOES BACK OFF.3. THE UPPER BALL JOINTS HAD TO REPLACE TWICE NOW. BREAKS HAD TO REPLACE TWICE ALSO DUE TO SUSPENSION BEING OUT OF WHACK AND PROBLEM ABOVE. NOW THERE IS NOISE IN FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AREA. 4. PUT ALL NEW BREAK LINES ON IT BECAUSE THEY KEPT BLOWING OUT. LEAKING IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS BY TOO MUCH PRESSURE BUILD UP IN SECTIONS OF LINES. 5. I BOUGHT IT IN 2018 USED FROM A DEALER. BUT I HAVE PUT SO MUCH WORK ON IT THAT NOW THERE'S A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. 6. HAVING NO OR LITTLE BREAKS ALL OF SUDDEN IN A CROWDED INTERSECTION OR HAVING TO BLOCK WHEELS SO IT DOESN'T ROLL INTO ANOTHER CAR BUT NO ACCIDENT YET BUT COULD HAPPEN.

NHTSA complaint #11322262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,000 miles Council Bluffs, IA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL TANK HANGER BRACKETS RUSTED INTO AND GAS TAKE FELL OUT CAUSING A HOLE TO BE RUBBED THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. TWELVE GALLONS OF FUEL WAS LOST. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO FIRE OR EXPLOSION. I WAS ONLY GOING 35 MPH AND STOPPED AS SOON AS I HEARD DRAGGING. I WAS TRAVELING ON A CITY STREET AT THE TIME. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH DODGE, FILE NUMBER 31424705.

NHTSA complaint #10978618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Trail, BC Canada, WA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR EMISSION WARNING. DEALER REPLACED $400 OF EMISSION CONTROL COMPONENTS. 2 WEEKS LATER SAME EMU WARNING. READ THIS BLOG SITE REGARDING GASOLINE FUEL CAPS. DEALER QUOTED $30 FOR REPLACEMENT. BOUGHT PLASTIC FUEL CAP @ CAN TIRE FOR $8. INSTALLED ON VEHICLE, EMU WARNING DISAPPEARED AND HAS NOT RETURNED.

NHTSA complaint #10440503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,700 miles LOS Vegas, NV

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUD COMING FROM THE AXLE AREA. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HEADLIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED COMPLETELY. EVENTUALLY, THE HORN BEGAN TO SOUND INTERMITTENTLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN WIPING AUTOMATICALLY, AND THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND CONTINUED TO CHIME. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT ALL THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V322000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS SWITCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,700.

NHTSA complaint #10224222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Fort Collins, CO

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VACUUM TUBE HOSE HAS BECOME LOOSE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. DODGE STATED THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THE DEFECT. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FAILURE IS DUE TO THE EMISSION. THE DEALER MOUNTED THE HOSE THAT CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE, WHICH IS A DESIGN FLAW. THE VEHICLE IDLES AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. DODGE AGREED THAT IF THERE WERE A RECALL, THEY WOULD REIMBURSE THE CONTACT FOR ANY COST RELATED TO THIS DEFECT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 61,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA complaint #10193411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Moab, UT

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

I WAS DRIVING ALONG WHEN MY TRUCK LOST POWER FOR NO APPARENT REASON, IT JUST STALLED OUT. I DID GET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURN IT OFF, THEN STARTED IT UP AGAIN. I CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT DID IT AGAIN. I WAS 80 MILES FROM HOME AND 30 MILES FROM THE NEAREST TOWN IN A TRUCK THAT ONLY HAD 40K MILES OF IT AND IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE BECAUSE OF A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. THIS MUST BE A PROBLEM SINCE THERE WAS A RECALL ON REPLACED FUEL PUMPS IN THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE. A VEHICLE BETWEEN 03' AND 06 SHOULD ONLY HAVE ABOUT 12K TO 36K SO WHY ARE THE PARTS NOT STAYING TOGETHER? IT WAS A FUEL PUMP, IN THE GAS TANK WHICH YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO UNLESS ITS AT HOME OR IN A SHOP, WHY ARE THEY BUILDING VEHICLES WITH FAULTY PARTS THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN CHANGE. I HAD TO PAY $763.00 TO GET IT FIXED, AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED 125 MILES FROM WHERE I LIVED, SO I WAS WITH OUT A VEHICLE AND THEN HAD TO GET A RIDE OVER TO GET IT A WEEK LATER.

NHTSA complaint #10173105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 34,290 miles Hoyt Lakes, MN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

GAS CAPS ARE DEFECTIVE ON DODGE DAKOTA'S 2003 SERIES...THIS CAUSES COMPUTER TO FIRE AN ERROR THAT THEIR IS A LEAK IN THE POLLUTION SYSTEM..TAKE TO DEALERS AND THEY CHARGE 90 DOLLARS TO RESET AND THEN TELL YOU GAS CAP IS ALL RIGHT AND IF IT DOES IT AGAIN BRING IT BACK...AGAIN AT A 90 DOLLAR CHARGE. ON THE INTERNET I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING EXACTLY THE SAME BAD GAS CAPS......THEN I WROTE THE MANUFACTURER AND BACK AND FORTH ON 3 REPLIES..EACH TIME THEY SIMPLY TELL ME GO TO A DEALER ...APPARENTLY THEY DO NOT EVEN PROPERLY READ E MAILS THEY RECEIVE...THESE ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED! THE POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEM IS MAJOR ON THE NEWER VEHICLES, AND CERTAINLY A KNOWN CONTINUOUS FAILURE OF FAULTY GAS CAPS EFFECTS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND IS A HIGH COST ITEM FOR THE CONSUMER TO TRY WORKING OVER AND OVER WITH THE DEALERS..WHEN THE MANUFACTURE IS OR MUST BE AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE GAS CAP FAILURES.

NHTSA complaint #10169831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 34,290 miles Hoyt Lakes, MN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

GAS CAPS ARE DEFECTIVE ON DODGE DAKOTA'S 2003 SERIES...THIS CAUSES COMPUTER TO FIRE AN ERROR THAT THEIR IS A LEAK IN THE POLLUTION SYSTEM..TAKE TO DEALERS AND THEY CHARGE 90 DOLLARS TO RESET AND THEN TELL YOU GAS CAP IS ALL RIGHT AND IF IT DOES IT AGAIN BRING IT BACK...AGAIN AT A 90 DOLLAR CHARGE. ON THE INTERNET I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING EXACTLY THE SAME BAD GAS CAPS......THEN I WROTE THE MANUFACTURER AND BACK AND FORTH ON 3 REPLIES..EACH TIME THEY SIMPLY TELL ME GO TO A DEALER ...APPARENTLY THEY DO NOT EVEN PROPERLY READ E MAILS THEY RECEIVE...THESE ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED! THE POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEM IS MAJOR ON THE NEWER VEHICLES, AND CERTAINLY A KNOWN CONTINUOUS FAILURE OF FAULTY GAS CAPS EFFECTS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND IS A HIGH COST ITEM FOR THE CONSUMER TO TRY WORKING OVER AND OVER WITH THE DEALERS..WHEN THE MANUFACTURE IS OR MUST BE AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE GAS CAP FAILURES.

NHTSA complaint #10169831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,835 miles Feeding Hills, MA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

I OWN A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 HAS PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINTS. FRONT END ALIGNMENT PULLING TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR TIME AND LABOR. *BF THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THERE WAS AN EVAPORATOR LEAK WHICH WAS CAUSED BY AN AFTERMARKET FUEL CAP.

NHTSA complaint #10109258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 31,540 miles Painesville Twp., OH

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY ENGINE LOST OIL PRESSURE AND I HAD IT TOWED FROM THE SPOT. NOW I NEED TO HAVE DODGE DEALER LOOK AT IT.

NHTSA complaint #10086920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100 miles Racine, WI

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

VEHICLE WILL EITHER GO INTO NEUTRAL WHEN PUT IN REVERSE OR WHILE REVERSING POP OUT OF REVERSE INTO NEUTRAL. THIS MOSTLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT SINCE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD TWO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION MODULE SHORTED OUT ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO BE NEARLY REAR ENDED THREE TIMES. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE BUT ACTED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT, THE BRAKES WOULD SQUEAK AND THE VEHICLE HAD POOR GAS MILEAGE. *SC THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AT TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10073696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milpitas, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

DODGE MANUFACTURED MY VEHICLE WITH A 20 GALLON TANK, THOUGH IT WAS BUILT FOR THE SPEC OF A 22 GALLON TANK AND AND ALL THE ELECTRONICS WERE SET TO A 22 GALLON TANK. WHEN I NOTICED THE ERRONEOUS OUTPUT FROM THE COMPUTER I ASKED MY DEALER TO INVESTIGATE. THIS IS WHEN THEY DISCOVERED THAT I HAD A 20 GALLON TANK AND THAT MY MODEL WOULD NOT ACCEPT A 22 GALLON TANK. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY HAD OTHERS ON THEIR LOT AT THE TIME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH DODGE HAS PRINTED NEW WINDOW STICKERS FOR SINCE THEN. THE ONLY THING THEY COULD DO IS ADJUST THE COMPUTER TO BE CORRECT. MY COMPLAINT REVOLVES AROUND THE TRUCKS THAT WERE SOLD WITH THIS CONDITION, I BELIEVE A TSB SHOULD BE ISSUED TO CORRECT THE COMPUTERS TO 20 GALLON TANKS AND TO NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM. SINCE BRINGING THIS ISSUE TO DODGES ATTENTION, THEY HAVE BEEN VERY EVASIVE IN THEIR RESPONSE WHEN I ASKED WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO FOR ALL THE OWNERS AFFECTED BY THIS. I BELIEVE IT POSES A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM IN THAT IF AN OWNER RELIES ON THE COMPUTER, THEY COULD RUN OUT OF GAS AT AN INOPPURTUNE TIME. LIKE IN THE MIDDLE OF A FREEWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10065738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Antioch, IL

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP TWICE BUT THE SAME PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. LOUD NOISE CAME FROM INSIDE FUEL TANK. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INDICATED THAT FUEL PUMP COULD CATCH ON FIRE AND MELT THE WIRES.

NHTSA complaint #10051922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,000 miles Castleton, NY

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

AT 6,000 MILES THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. WHEN RIDING OVER ANY SIZE BUMP IN THE ROAD THE FRONT END COLLAPSED. *AK THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN BRAKING, THE FLAPPER DOOR FOR THE FUEL FILLER NECK WAS MISSING AND OR FELL INSIDE THE TANK, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS WERE GROOVED, WORN UNEVEN AND PITTED. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10044936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2003 Dodge Dakota problems

← Full 2003 Dodge Dakota report