2003 Dodge Dakota: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Oct 25, 2018 · Electrical, Lights · 159,000 miles · VA

Lost exterior lights (parking lights, license plate light, tail lights, and instrument panel lights) while driving. Headlights, turn lights, and brake lights functioning. Ctm was diagnosed and replaced to correct the issue, however safety concerns caused the vehicle to be unused in low light conditions until problem diagnosed. Repetitive postings about this models ctm failures all over the internet and adjoining safety consideration with only a limited recall, which did not include my vehicle. No after market parts were found and replaced with a item for a local junk yard which may simply fail again.

Filed May 26, 2017 · Electrical, Lights · 75,000 miles · MI

Head lights intermittently start blinking and eventually go out all together along with dash and dome lights. Online forums say it's the ctm. The next day it's fine then out of the blue it starts acting up again. Very dangerous when traveling at night. Any recalls for this? Seems to be quite common for this year dakota

Filed Dec 5, 2016 · Electrical, Lights · 149,000 miles · PA

I recently bought a used 2003 dodge dakota. The truck was great except that at night when I would turn on the headlights all of the interior and exterior lights would flash off then back on approximately every two seconds to 30 seconds. After driving for about half an hour with this happening I became very frustrated. After doing some research on the internet, I narrowed down my problem to the dakota central timing module. It appears as if many dodge customers have this exact issue with these dodge model trucks. It is very unsafe to operate a vehicle under these conditions. This issue did not depend on whether I was driving in rough terrain at night or during the day. No matter where I drive the truck, if the lights are on it will begin to start blinking off and then on intermittently. Please fix this problem! I have since had to purchase a used central timing module off of the internet because when I went to the dealer, they told me that they were not able to get the part and if they were it would cost over $500 just for the part.

Filed Aug 25, 2016 · Electrical, Lights · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. The contact stated that the low beam headlights failed to illuminate. The dealer was notified and informed the contact that the part to repair the vehicle was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable. Updated 10/06/16*lj

Filed Mar 30, 2016 · Electrical, Lights · 150,000 miles · AL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. The contact stated that the headlamps, interior lighting, gauges, and instrument panel randomly failed. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 02v322000 (exterior lighting). The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Sep 17, 2014 · Lights · 95,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed at night, the headlights failed. The contact mentioned that neither the low beam nor the high beam work properly. The dealer advised that the electrical central module failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made ware of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.

Filed Apr 8, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 128,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. The contact stated that the key fob failed to lock and unlock the vehicle. Additionally, the driver's side master window control was also inoperable and the doors could not be locked or unlocked. The contact then started the engine and the 4-wheel drive warning light illuminated. The headlights and tail lights had also failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken the dealer for diagnosis where the dealer stated that the central timer module would need to be repaired. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: 02v322000 (exterior lighting) however, the contact was advised by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall campaign. The contact believed that the failure described in the recall was the same failure that had been experienced with his vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 128,000.

Filed Sep 17, 2012 · Lights · 9,710 miles · HI

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. The contact stated that the low beam head lights malfunctioned. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the ctm and the low beam wire circuit were defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number: 02v322000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 9,710.

Filed Sep 17, 2008 · Lights · 85,000 miles · CO

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota quad cab. On september 12, 2008, the passenger side low beam headlight failed to illuminate. The light bulb was replaced, but the failure persisted. The contact reviewed the wiring diagram for the vehicle and noticed that there was no power coming out of the central timer module. Through online research, the contact realized that he was experiencing the same failure as noted in the federal safety agency campaign id number 02v322000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch). The dealer stated that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle has not been taken to the dealer. The current mileage was 86,000 and failure mileage was 85,000. Updated 10/16/08. *lj updated 10/20/08.

Filed Apr 11, 2008 · Electrical, Fuel system · 65,700 miles · NV

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. The federal safety agency 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.

Filed Apr 9, 2008 · Lights · DC

2003 dodge dakota with several electrical problems. Consumer states that the headlights, wiper delay, and interior lights stopped working. He states that this all happened when the low fuel light illuminated and the service 4 wheel drive light illuminated. *kb the consumer stated the head lights do not work at all. The dealership informed the consumer they didn't have a recall in their system and refused to fix the vehicle at no charge.

Filed Jan 30, 2008 · Electrical · 33,000 miles · HI

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge dakota. Whenever the contact drives the vehicle, the central timing module fails and all of the lights dim. The headlights, dome light, windshield wipers, and door locks failed while driving 45 MPH. Chrysler stated that his VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number 02v322000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch) and would not repair the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 33,000.