NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Exterior Lighting complaints
22 reportsClear category filter42,000 miles · Oct 18, 2019
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING, THE CLUTCH WAS APPLIED AND THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING BECAME INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED FERRARIO CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP (2463 CORNING RD, ELMIRA, NY 14903, (607) 733-9108) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGN…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING, THE CLUTCH WAS APPLIED AND THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING BECAME INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED FERRARIO CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP (2463 CORNING RD, ELMIRA, NY 14903, (607) 733-9108) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V322000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. *BF *TP
NHTSA ODI #11269383
159,000 miles · Oct 25, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
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.…
Read full complaint
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.
NHTSA ODI #11142715
75,000 miles · May 26, 2017
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
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
NHTSA ODI #10991874
149,000 miles · Dec 5, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
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 DOIN…
Read full complaint
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. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10929982
60,000 miles · Sep 14, 2016
Exterior Lighting
OUR PICK UP TRUCK WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING A CENTRAL TIMER MODULE REPLACEMENT. WE LEARNED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT FROM 10/2/02 THROUGH 11/8/02. OUR VEHICLE WAS BUILT ON 9/12/02. OUR VEHICLE WAS BUILT JUST 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE RECALL AND NEEDS THE SAME TYPE OF REPAIR! DODGE WILL NOT PAY FOR THE…
Read full complaint
OUR PICK UP TRUCK WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING A CENTRAL TIMER MODULE REPLACEMENT. WE LEARNED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT FROM 10/2/02 THROUGH 11/8/02. OUR VEHICLE WAS BUILT ON 9/12/02. OUR VEHICLE WAS BUILT JUST 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE RECALL AND NEEDS THE SAME TYPE OF REPAIR! DODGE WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN IT IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. WE ARE REQUESTING THAT YOU INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE OUR VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #10906399
Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
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 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10898446
150,000 miles · Mar 30, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
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 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V322000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE …
Read full complaint
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 NHTSA 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.
NHTSA ODI #10852471
95,000 miles · Sep 17, 2014
Exterior Lighting
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…
Read full complaint
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.
NHTSA ODI #10633839
128,000 miles · Apr 8, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingLatches/locks/linkages
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 HEA…
Read full complaint
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 NHTSA 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.
NHTSA ODI #10578378
9,710 miles · Sep 17, 2012
Exterior Lighting
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…
Read full complaint
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 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V322000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,710.
NHTSA ODI #10475650
Official recalls
4Dec 21, 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4X4), IF MOISTURE LEAKS INTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT, EVACUATION OF THE LUBRICANT AND CORROSION OF THE JOINT MAY CAUSE THE JOINT TO WEAR OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, WHICH MAY NOT ALWAYS BE HEARD BY THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE UPPER BALL JOINT MAY ALLOW IT TO SEPARATE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS. THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2004. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
May 5, 2004
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MOTOR MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER INTRUSION THAT COULD CAUSE INTERNAL CORROSION AND RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPING CAPABILITY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Oct 10, 2003
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE HEADLAMP AND DASH WIRING HARNESS MAY BE CHAFED BY THE ACTUATION OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THIS COULD RESULT IN ABNORMAL OPERATION OF THE WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS, HORN OR LIGHTING SYSTEMS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY, COULD PREVENT A DRIVER FROM SOUNDING A WARNING BY USING THE HORN, AND, WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER CANNOT USE THEM TO SIGNAL INTENT TO TURN, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE WIRE HARNESS AND REPAIR THE HARNESS IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.
Dec 2, 2002
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE (CTM) HAS AN IMPROPERLY SIZED CIRCUIT BOARD TRACE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE RIGHT HEADLAMP LOW BEAM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CTM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Illustration