2003 Dodge Dakota: engine failure

6 of the 296 complaints about the 2003 Dodge Dakota describe engine failure.

owner complaints: 6
of this car's complaints: 2%
typical mileage: 91,500
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 5 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Engine failure by model year

2011
1
2008
2
2007
1
2006
4
2005
3
2004
2
2003
6
2002
17
2001
9
2000
5
1999
3
1998
5
1997
1
1996
4
1995
1
1994
2
1992
1

What owners say

Filed Mar 11, 2013 · Steering · 91,500 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle and in reverse, the contact attempted to steer the vehicle to the right and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the steering shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileage was 91,500.

Filed Oct 9, 2012 · Transmission · 100,012 miles · CT

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the rear axle pinion nut became loose. The axle then seized without warning, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle momentarily. The manufacturer was notified of the issue but offered no assistance. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and was repaired. The failure mileage was 100,012 and the current mileage was 100,205.

Filed Mar 27, 2012 · Engine · 131,505 miles · GA

I have owned a 2003 dodge dakota v6 for the past 3 years and never had a problem until I took it to the dealership in union city ga yesterday for a routine oil change. After waiting 2 hours, they told me they were having a problem getting oil in the engine because there was sludge in the engine which was causing the oil to go in slowly. They recommended adding an oil additive. An hour later they returned my car to me. I started driving out of the lot my car was running rough. Two blocks later the oil light came on, engine started a little ticking and ran rougher. I turned around, driving about 5 MPH, barely made it back to the dealership. They said there was 6 qt of oil in the engine. They would have to start over. Half hour later, they came out and said now they had no oil pressure at all and they would had to remove the oil pan and maybe have to replace the oil plump and other parts. I may need a new engine or have it rebuilt. They would call me today and let me know. Mind you, I have never had a problem until they did the oil change this time. Now that I check the computer, I find hundreds of people have a problem with sludge and loss of oil pressure in the dodge dakota for no reason. This is very dangerous. All of a sudden there is no oil pressure while you are driving.

Filed May 12, 2010 · Engine · 60,745 miles · MD

Original owner of a 2003 dodge dakota quad cab 4.7l v-8. It experienced sudden loss of oil pressure and catastrophic engine failure. Vehicle had only 60,745 miles on odometer, it should have been covered by chrysler's 7yr/70,000 mile powertrain warranty but chrysler refused to cover as with all the other similar complaints. How many of these engines have to fail before the government protects the consumer? This oil pump failure is a well known problem with chrysler, but they refuse to cover any warranty claims for this problem. The engine is a defective design, these engines are failing at a very high rate. Speak with any engine remanufacturer and they will tell you about the design flaws of this engine and how many rebuilds they are selling to fix blown engines of consumers that have chrysler vehicles with this 4.7l engine.

Filed Sep 8, 2006 · Engine · 52,231 miles · HI

Oil gauge dropped to 0 while driving. Stopped to check the oil and it was fine. Drove about 3 miles and the truck died. Every thing locked up and unable to start again. Towed it to the mechanics and he said that we had sludge. We changed the oil as recommended. The warranty said that they will not cover buying a new engine because it was our fault. I have the receipts to prove that we did the oil changes. They had poor customer service. What's the sense of getting the extended warranty if it won't help. Our truck has 50,000 miles.

Filed Aug 7, 2006 · Engine · HI

Oil pressure dropped within seconds, within 8 minutes engine died, couldn't start up again. Oil level was fine, did the oil changes prior to this when it was recommended. Chrysler stated that the warranty did not cover this. Oil sludge. Others have gone through the same thing.