2003 Dodge Dakota Consumer Reviews
Fuel Economy
14 - 16 mpg
Recent Consumer Reviews
(24 Total Reviews)
Great Truck!
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 10 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 5 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Dodge Dakota 4dr Quad Cab Sport 4WD SB (3.9L 6cyl 5M)
Review
I have the Quad Cab 4x4 4.7 v8. It is the best truck I have ever had, I have had no problems, and I can tow anything anywhere, and fit my whole family in it comfortably! It is a wonderful truck, and I would recommend everyone to own one.
Favorite Features
Leather interior, powerful V8
Suggested Improvements
Better gas mileage
0 out 1 people found this review helpful
Awesome Silver R/T w. orange stripes
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 9 | Interior Design: | 9 | Reliability: | 8 |
| Fuel Economy: | 4 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Dodge Dakota 2dr Club Cab R/T Rwd SB (5.9L 8cyl 4A)
Review
I can honestly say I think my truck is awesome. It majorly burns rubber. 360 V8 kicks major rump. Since there were a limited amount of these for the last official R/T i am proud to own one. Leather seats, another rarity are very comfortable. Infinity sound system awesome dude. the only bad point is that my truck only gets about 13 miles per gallon on average. in the city try 10mpg. Other than that i really like my Dakota.
Favorite Features
Leather, 360 V8,
Suggested Improvements
Improved gas mileage but that wont happen because they dont make them anymore.
Friday afternoon off the assembly line
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 3 | Fun-to-Drive: | 5 | Build Quality: | 3 |
| Comfort: | 10 | Interior Design: | 9 | Reliability: | 3 |
| Fuel Economy: | 5 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Dodge Dakota 2dr Club Cab Sport 4WD SB (3.9L 6cyl 5M)
Review
Nice truck, but at 31k the tranny would lock in 2nd gear (they called it limp mode) any time it went through a large puddle. Replaced 2 sensors several times to no avail. Dealer stopped covering the replacements after the third event. They contacted Dodge in 2007 and told if the sensors lose sight of the ground, they do this to avoid an overspeed. Told them to bypass the sensors all together, seemed to work. However, in 6 years it went through 2 wiper motors, 2 blower relays, the tail gate failed twice, seat broke once and it leaked (they tried to fix that twice). Guess it was the Friday pm one. Anyway, traded it in the day I got the title. Have a Tacoma now.
Favorite Features
It looked nice.
Suggested Improvements
For mine? Don't know where to start, maybe the tranny issue.
2 out 2 people found this review helpful
Only Dakotas
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 10 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 4 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Dodge Dakota 4dr Quad Cab Sport 4WD SB (3.9L 6cyl 5M)
Review
I have been driving Dodge Dakotas since 1993, I have had 6, 4 new 2 used. Over 400k total. these trucks are bullet proof, very reliable stylish, very roomy in the quad cab back seat. the v6 & v8 both tow my large pop up camper with no problem. the Dakota is the perfect size it is not to small & not to large. my wife drives it more than her car. well I hope this little blurb helps you out. I look forward to my next one.
Favorite Features
Large back seat "Quad cab" size fits perfectly in a garage.
Suggested Improvements
As I said I have had 6 no improvements necessary.
3 out 3 people found this review helpful
Gas hog
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 7 | Fun-to-Drive: | 1 | Build Quality: | 5 |
| Comfort: | 1 | Interior Design: | 1 | Reliability: | 5 |
| Fuel Economy: | 1 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Dodge Dakota 2dr Regular Cab Sport Rwd SB (3.9L 6cyl 5M)
Review
I bought this Dakota 4x4 standard cab 2 years ago. Boy what a mistake. This thing sucks gas so fast you can watch the gauge move about 13 mpg in the city. I had a 1990 Dakota and it was a fine truck so had no problems buying this one until I got it home. I am 6,3" tall and have no room to move in it, it's pretty but not a good deal. So far the battery, water pump muffler and tires have all taken leave, also the center caps that come with the wheels will not stay on had to get the chrome ones that Dodge has replaced them with. I drive this truck back and forth to work (22 miles a day) thats all I can afford at $4.00 a gallon and go through $40-50 a week. Poor in snow.
Favorite Features
Looks, it's good looking
Suggested Improvements
bigger interior, better gas mileage
3 out 4 people found this review helpful
Northeast Driving
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 4 | Fun-to-Drive: | 5 | Build Quality: | 8 |
| Comfort: | 5 | Interior Design: | 7 | Reliability: | 8 |
| Fuel Economy: | 2 | Exterior Design: | 8 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Dodge Dakota 2dr Club Cab Rwd SB (3.9L 6cyl 5M)
Review
I inherited an 03 Dakota 2 years ago. I live in the Northeast and not having 4WD pretty much just doesn't work out. It gets stuck every time there is more than 3 inches of snow on the ground, and slides all over the place in any snow or ice (which is pretty much 3 full months a year). Piling weight in the back just doesn't seem to help. The fuel economy is terrible for a 2wd vehicle, my count is about 18 mph highway at best but i have got as little as 8 city. The Truck would be fine in a snow less region, but if you live in a cold climate look elsewhere. You can get much more traction power without sacrificing too much in MPG.
Favorite Features
Nice big center console with a power outlet.
Suggested Improvements
Fuel efficiency, RWD provides 0 traction, ext cab couldn't hold a dog let alone a human.
0 out 2 people found this review helpful
fuel economy
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 7 | Fun-to-Drive: | 9 | Build Quality: | 6 |
| Comfort: | 6 | Interior Design: | 7 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 2 | Exterior Design: | 8 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Dodge Dakota 2dr Regular Cab Sport 4WD SB (3.9L 6cyl 5M)
Review
I noticed right away I wasn't getting the proper fuel economy I thought I should get which was 12 city 15 hwy. I made some timing adjustments and a basic tune up, in 4 years the best hwy mpg I've gotten was 18 mpg. Don't expect any more than that. Another problem I've encountered is severe wheel hop at hwy speeds, it almost jumps off the road when you hit a bump. Very very unsafe. FYI... don't forget the change your ball joints, if they haven't already gone out, they will!
Favorite Features
Shift on the fly 4x4, and four wheel limited slip differentials. Best thing dodge did. It sold the truck for me.
Suggested Improvements
Better fuel economy. Standard cd player. Different suspension set-up.
2 out 3 people found this review helpful
Fun Truck
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 9 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 7 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 3 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Dodge Dakota 4dr Quad Cab Sport Rwd SB (3.9L 6cyl 5M)
Review
I bought the truck from a private owner with 63,000 miles on it. Starts and rides like a new vehicle. Only problem I found was a warped front brake disk. Since grinding it no more clicks. Use it every day and sometimes overloaded, full or empty runs all the same. Fuel efficency is lousy (14 mpg) and A/C only cools to 48 F, which is within specs but in summery Florida we need all the cooling you can get. Overall highly satisfied
Favorite Features
Power. Roomy interior. Good finish
Suggested Improvements
Improve fuel consumption. Colder A/C. It feels as if the transmission could upshift at lower speeds (perhaps this would improve mileage a little)
Dakota drives and tows just fine
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 9 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 9 | Reliability: | 9 |
| Fuel Economy: | 7 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Dodge Dakota 4dr Quad Cab SLT Rwd SB (3.9L 6cyl 5M)
Review
I purchased my 2003 Dakota new and have used it to tow a pop-up camper (3500-4000lbs) all over the midwest and points N&S. Minimal & routine service until 60k miles when f&r main seals had to be replaced along with AC head, thermostat, and a front wheel bearing which was loose. Otherwise it's been a dream. Drives great, lots of interior room and cargo capacity. Handles well and looks great. Extended warranty is a lifesaver. I'll buy another when I wear this one out.
Favorite Features
Hard tonneau. Car ride. Towing capacity. Price, Trip computer - I love the built in compass, thermometer, gas mileage, miles till empty.
Suggested Improvements
Gas mileage. Turning radius is a little short. I kind of miss having the rear view mirror ability to manually flip to night when the guy behind you has his chrome pointed in your rearview.
Not a Snow Queen
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 3 | Fun-to-Drive: | 3 | Build Quality: | 8 |
| Comfort: | 4 | Interior Design: | 5 | Reliability: | 7 |
| Fuel Economy: | 3 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Dodge Dakota 2dr Club Cab Sport Rwd SB (3.9L 6cyl 5M)
Review
Owned for a year and one half and found vehicle to be impractical. It basically is a two seater. Selected the 2 wheel drive option with traction control. Compared to a front wheel drive vehicle, the vehicle had poor traction in fresh snow or on ice. The icing on the cake was the poor gas mileage. Traded the vehicle for a PT Crusier.
Favorite Features
Exterior looks and good starting capabilities in minus 40 below temperatures.
Suggested Improvements
Need to improve rear access to back seat. Gas mileage, considering it is a 6 cylinder. Also noted a howling sound at high speeds on the highway.
0 out 1 people found this review helpful
View Pricing for Other Years
Research the 2003 Dodge Dakota
Buying & Selling
Vehicle Details
Multimedia
Ratings & Reviews
- Model Review
- Road Test Ratings
- Road Test Reviews
- Consumer Reviews
- Awards History
- Reliability
- Consumer Discussions
Payment Calculators
Helpful Tools
