2003 Dodge Dakota Review

[@Stanging84]

Dude REBUILD the engine and find a transmission with lower miles and clean up the rust / put some LEDs lights and BOOM... you got a good truck again!

[@CrossingRover]

Idk man, this thing is in decent shape. Throwing a few thousand into it is a lot cheaper than buying a whole new truck. All that rust is nothing, but you should really undercoat the bottom with some fluid film

[@MILKMAN5643]

Undercoat is severely underrated where I am. I'm a huge believer in undercoating vehicles. One of the first things you should do when buying a new vehicle I'll tell ya

[@ObamaoZedong]

Idk, I've seen too many horror stories about undercoating trapping in moisture and creating bigger problems.

[@springws14lbss]

You'd have to do the coating when it was brand new. If you did it now without removing all the existing rust, it would cause more problems.

[@SkylineFTW97]

@@ObamaoZedong That's if you use that black tar stuff they used back in the day. Wax, lanolin, and oil based coatings don't do that. Fluid Film is lanolin based.

[@robertconklin3850]

Throw used engine oil all over the frame. Sounds corny completely works. That's a Pennsylvania trick to fight salt on the roads

[@XeonIsWeird]

in my honest opinion I would really like a Dodge Dakota as my first truck

[@ElDoggo141]

They're just so beautiful lol. And they're cheap!

[@Verde_Valley_AZ]

Have a 2004 V8 quad cab SLT plus, bought it for $8200 at 144k in 2019 and now has 177k. Haven’t had any major problems as of yet besides basic upkeep/repairs. Good overall truck.

[@MR-jl6rj]

2002 Dodge Dakota v8 4x4 with 293,000 runs like a dream

[@MarcoGonzalez-bi6cg]

Is the 4.7 a good motor ?

[@xcel24]

I have a 2002 I bought 6 months ago love it . Going to repaint it in a few weeks ! Runs great just broke 164,000

[@springws14lbss]

Nice. I've been looking for another 2003 or 2004 but haven't found anything good enough yet.

[@hankhill5622]

So refreshing to see one of these in decent shape, everytime I find one there almost destroyed and falling apart, heartbreaking cause I love these trucks.

[@springws14lbss]

Good enough for now! Its going to need a power steering pump soon.

[@hankhill5622]

@@springws14lbss hey for 217k that’s not bad, usually these things have cracked heads, blown head gaskets, misfiring all around the time you hit 150k,

[@RXP___417]

⁠I personally own a 2003 dodge Dakota as a second vehicle. Super cool truck, lots of fun, and plenty of torque. But any of these dodge trucks after 220,000 are maintenance nightmares! I live in a house where everyone drives dodges. 2017 dodge journey, 2019 dodge ram 2500 Cummins, dodge caravan, and also the dodge Dakota. Out of all these vehicles all of the transmissions shift hard. I’m not sure why exactly. But the transmissions all sound like they are on the last leg. The Dakota drives like a dream though. It has ball bearing problems and bad suspension problems. Did a tune up on it and have been fixing her for the past few months.

[@zaowet]

Nice truck, looking at buying an 03 Quad cab 4.7 as well

[@springws14lbss]

Good luck! I'd like to find one like this with lower mileage but I can't seem to find one with the exact combination of features I would like!

[@waylonlegend4603]

Got an 03 with the 3.9. Love it

[@goodolecountryboy7550]

Good looking truck I have a 03 Dakota with the 4.7 same color and all I’ve done a lot to it and looks so good

[@patrickconroy8729]

Thanks for the post. I am looking at an 04 with the V8 tomorrow, will probably buy it

[@dylano7242]

The only good engine was the 5.9l the 4.7l has head gasket problems, lifter problems, and drops pistons. But if you get a good deal baby the 4.7l to try last longer, and when blows there are hemi swap direct bolt up kits by holley now.

[@andres93b]

that will become a nice classic and family history :D don´t sell it an expensive restoratios is better than a new plastic truck

[@springws14lbss]

Good point! We'll see how much longer it lasts. I had to repair a broken wire to one of the ignition coils this week.

[@dark9hades]

My parents owned a 1999 Durango SLT it was good in snow but really bad on gas sand started to have problems so they switched to a 04 Honda Pilot

[@JaredVal13]

Nice truck I have a 08 Dakota with 4wd and the 4.7. I’ve had it for 4 and a half years and it has been a pretty good truck

[@aikidragonpiper71]

I drive a 2003 Dodge Dakota . 258,000 miles. Mine is a 2 door 2 wheel drive with the 3.9 V6 so mine gets decent gas mileage.

[@shredbacca]

im getting one of these soon with around 100 ish thousand miles for around 1500$

[@dadeo8957]

I own one. Great truck. LOVES GAS!

[@springws14lbss]

Sure does! I think one time I got it up to 20 MPG per the trip computer, doing a lot of highway driving. But that's the highest I've ever seen.

[@AFXGaming]

I just bought a 99 5.2 and just in the drive home I can definetly see that it loves its fuel lol, hit 22 mpg coasting but avg 13mpg

[@ApexRed2023]

He really emphasized the r’s in this video

[@springws14lbss]

Rust, rust, rust...

[@ApexRed2023]

springws14lbss no rust in Texas lol

[@springws14lbss]

@@ApexRed2023I'm jealous. All of the used trucks are rusty here! Darn winter weather!

[@dylano7242]

I was given my grandfather's 2003 dakota 4.7L quad cab 4x4 105k miles. They are ok trucks but you can't abuse them or run them hard. They have head gasket problems, lifter problems, drop piston problems. When towing this get engine gets hot fast even thoughit has the tow package from factory, so i relegated it to light duty only as i have suburban that can easily tow 9k lbs .

[@springws14lbss]

Agreed, you really can't push them hard especially one this one.

[@TheDudeVT]

I just had my 2003 dakota undercoated to help with the rust. They used NHOU oil undercoating for about $300. I also had to have the upper and lower ball joints replaced as well as the tie rod ends. And front break pads and rotors! This old thing just keeps taking money!

[@springws14lbss]

It probably would have helped here if we had done an undercoat every year or so. Too much metal is missing now to do that!

[@TheDudeVT]

@@springws14lbss Screw it spray the hell out of the thing anyhow!

[@theswishest5908]

One of my dreams in life is to get one of these, like a nice blue/dark blue one, I absolutely love the design of the dodge Dakota but I live in an area that doesn't have a lot of them💀

[@Thecatnipproject]

The truck of my childhood

[@kodywillavize8685]

I love to see decoder return I bought 1 for 300 bucks used I want to they can advance it better

[@imax3d252]

You prolly don’t have it anymore but I just bought the two door extended cab version today manual 5spd 4x4 with the 4.7 V8

[@springws14lbss]

We still have her! Just did some wiring repairs on her a few weeks ago, back to running good now. Hasn't been driven during this heat wave due to the broken A/C, but otherwise she still drives strong!

[@H-BrosProductions]

I have the same oil leak on my 2002 4.7 with 113k miles. awesome truck though

[@jsmith3607]

Im looking to make this my first car a 2003 sxt 133k miles for 6000

[@anthonysayle7409]

Cool I my self have 03 quadcab all wheel/ 4x4 white 4.7 love my little truck 140xxxx

[@TheDudeVT]

How do you keep your CB radio mounted on the dash? I have an 03 Dakota. Just got it from my grandfather in a trade. 76K on it. Just had to replace the AC compressor and belt, and 2 transmission lines and 2 power steering lines. They said the front shocks will be the next thing! And maybe break lines. Turning into a money pit. 💰

[@springws14lbss]

Welcome to the club! Ours is a bit of a money pit too. CB is mounted with Velcro.

[@ObamaoZedong]

Still a lot better than a new truck, and you can't even get computer chips for em these days.

[@TheDudeVT]

My 2003 dodge Dakota update at 86K now and the thermostat just went on it! It's was the original thermostat! Everything broke when they went to replace it! It doesn't like these Vermont winters!

[@christophervichiola7044]

You could tell by the sound that it has the v8 motorengine

[@jsmith8915]

I have one just like that with 162k miles

[@frankarchibald732]

Put a license plate over the wheel well rust hole. With self Tapping screws. Works great 😊

[@springws14lbss]

:D

[@tommyleenielsen7687]

I found and bought a Dodge Dakota here in Lamont 2003 only 2 wheel drive though it was parked for three years in a corner it was in a traffic accident Ithe frame is repaired and corrected all the electrical is repaired only 27000 miles on it not been driving very much I need some paint job on it but nice truck runs like new due to the low mileage I want to undercoat it but can’t find anyone in CA that want to do it I was thinkin sell it again but I don’t know

[@starkvoid]

my 02 dakota's got 108k miles on i love that bitch

[@kirk2584]

I have the same truck and I got 1 question. Do you know anything about the abs system in this?

[@springws14lbss]

Somewhat. What is your question?

[@RussellReed727]

Nice truck!

[@SlayeRxD_]

I have this truck and I spend a lot of gas , I use it as a daily … mine is 227,529 right now .. I should be in the 300 with no problem

[@springws14lbss]

With the recent jump in gas prices, I'm glad I'm not using this as a daily right now!

[@MarcoGonzalez-bi6cg]

Has it gave you any problems

[@matthewrobinson6297]

Hey 2003 dodge Dakota drivers, I’m thinking about buying one with over 200,000 miles to go back-and-forth far city to back home. I’m a contractor, do you think this is a good or bad idea, can somebody let me know😮😮😮???

[@springws14lbss]

200,000 miles is pushing it with these trucks. What's the condition of the vehicle? How rusty is it underneath?

[@matthewrobinson6297]

@@springws14lbss the body looks beautiful. I have not looked underneath it yet. I’m going to go see it this coming week. Anyway, thank you so much for your response in means a lot.

[@christophervichiola7044]

2011 was the last year for the dodge dakota but dodge kept making durangos

[@bengeskie9840]

why did you have a cbu in there? if you dont mind me asking.

[@springws14lbss]

The CB Radio? I use it to listen and talk to truckers. Just a fun hobby.

[@bengeskie9840]

@@springws14lbss nice i thought you were a volenteer firefighter for a second

[@springws14lbss]

@@bengeskie9840 Nah, I had some friends back in high school that were, and also had CBs.

[@bengeskie9840]

@@springws14lbss cool

[@rainmaker3700]

I have a 2001 Dakota 4x4 , the door bell starts chiming when I put it in gear and start rolling, when I stop at a stop light it stops. The headlights are also flashing, interior lights and wipers come on intermittently, anyone have any ideas what could be causing this?? Thanks

[@springws14lbss]

I believe those are all functions of the CTM (Central Timing Module), it could be going bad/faulty.

[@rainmaker3700]

@@springws14lbss Thanks, I will look into that!

[@shawnholman7039]

A motor swap in one ofthese things is fun....trust me I know!! Lol

[@parkerknutson5727]

Any interest in selling?

[@springws14lbss]

Not at this time, thanks for the interest though!

[@marcalexander6450]

@@springws14lbss hey man I wanted to see how things have been with the truck. I’m thinking of picking one up that has 153k miles. Any problems youd suggest I look into before buying?

[@carsynclinton1780]

Ford rangerrrr why does he sound like that lmao

[@springws14lbss]

IDK why I said it like that xD

[@austinreed347]

@@springws14lbss You sound like Heath Ledger it’s cool lol 😂

[@evgenryzhkov4367]

Приветствую. Сколь стоит содержание такой машина в Америке? Прошу прощения за Русский язык.)

[@springws14lbss]

It depends on a lot of factors. This one is costing a bit more because of its age.

[@randallhemingway7284]

Jnv.

[@DownHillgamer]

I've got a vid of my 02 club cab sport with the 4.7 on my channel, awesome trucks