Dodge›Dakota›2003›3.9L/dodge/dakota/2003/3-9l/

AN platform

2003 Dodge Dakota — 3.9L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2003 Dakota 3.9L.

Body TRUCKEngine 3.9LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2003 Dodge Dakota 3.9L is a mid‑size truck built on the AN platform, powered by a 3.9‑liter inline‑four that requires 4.0 quarts of 10W‑30 or 5W‑30 API‑rated oil and delivers EPA ratings of 16 city, 17 highway, and 17 combined miles per gallon under a standard 4‑speed automatic transmission. In the 2003 model year, owners reported a total of 295 complaints, with suspension issues topping the list, and the vehicle was subject to 11 recalls. Within the broader 1990‑2011 complaint history, 2003 falls toward the upper end of the range, approaching the peak of 842 complaints in 2000, indicating that this particular year was relatively problematic for reliability. For researchers, this context underscores the need to scrutinize suspension performance and recall impact when evaluating the Dakota’s long‑term durability.

Model year2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1994 1993

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy16/17/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 27 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 27 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP245-70R16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	05281090AB
Engine air filter	53004383AC
Fuel filter	04798825AD discontinued
Spark plug	68303918AA alt 68303921AA
Battery	BB27F101AA
Front wiper blades	55077091AD
Serpentine belt	05135746AA alt 53010303AC
Thermostat	68174083AA alt 52028185AC

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	209.8 in
Overall width	71.7 in
Overall height	65 in
Wheelbase	131.1 in
Curb weight	3869 lb
Track (front / rear)	61 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	58/42

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	16 / 17 / 17 mpg
Drivetrain	Rear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 25.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	GL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	5 Pints,
Engine Coolant	HOAT · MS9769
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Coolant	HOAT · MS9769
Engine Coolant	HOAT · MS9769
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API · 5W-30

Engine torques

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	45 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	55 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	25 ft-lbs
Main Bearings	85 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	25.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	30 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	85-115 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	15.0-25.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	15.0-25.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	185 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	185 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	200 rpm
Spark Plug Gap	0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque	30.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.00 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	SP-20
Oil Capacity	7.10 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	27
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	27

Service checks

Pressure Test	15; Do not allow pressure to exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	192-199 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	47.0-51.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	13-16 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance	10.8-13.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	100 Minimum psi
Engine Oil Pressure	30-80 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	32 ft-lbs / 18 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	148 ft-lbs
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.001 in / 0.00138 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1 in / 0.59 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1 in / 0.59 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.965 in
Drum Runout Limit	0.008 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

6 ft. lbs. ( 1 ft. lbs. at a time.), step 2: bolts 5-12: 6 ft. lbs., step 3: all to 6 ft. lbs., step 4: all to 12 ft. lbs., step 5: all to 12

6 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

Every 6,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect)
Every 7,500 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 12,000 mi	Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 18,000 mi	Brake Line (inspect)
Every 21,000 mi	Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 100,000 mi	Bands (adjust) · Power Steering System (drain & refill) · Transmission Filter (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified

Tool required	DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
Why	Transmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module

Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified

When needed	After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool required	DRBIII scan tool
Also required	The vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2003 Dodge Dakota represents a dramatic inflection point in the model’s federal complaint history, with filings dropping to 295 from 694 in 2002 and a high of 842 in 2000, positioning it at the beginning of a decline that would continue through 2004 before a 2005 spike. While complaints fell sharply, recalls remained elevated at 11 campaigns—matching the volume seen during the troubled 1997-2002 peak years—accompanied by 81 suspension complaints, 29 brake-related issues, and 16 crash incidents specific to this model year. Investigations dropped to just one, and TSBs fell to 50, down significantly from the triple-digit levels of 1997-2000, suggesting reduced systemic severity even as individual mechanical concerns persisted. Given the substantial reduction in complaint volume compared to the preceding generation peak, yet with the caveat of 11 recalls requiring verification, 2003 emerges as a relatively favorable model year within this generation, offering lower reported incident rates than the 2000-2002 period.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

295

Owner complaints

16 involved a crash · 5 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02’03’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’11

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 295 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Suspension81

Service Brakes, Hydraulic29

Engine & Engine Cooling20

Power Train18

Electrical System15

Air Bags11

Visibility11

Exterior Lighting8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 11 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

04V596000Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball JointReported 21/12/2004

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… 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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 50 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
101232	2024-10-29	Power Train	Plate - Planetary
9001784	2021-02-22	Power Train	Mechanical rocker arm, intake, 1.7 ratio.
9001784	2021-02-22	Equipment	Mechanical rocker arm, intake, 1.7 ratio.
9004275	2020-07-22	Electrical System	KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
9004275	2020-07-22	Electrical System	KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Dakota. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 27 battery Vehicles taking 4.0 qt AN-platform vehicles Engine oil filter 05281090AB Engine air filter 53004383AC Fuel filter 04798825AD Spark plug 68303918AA

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2003 Dakota 3.9L take?

4.0 qt of Above 0 F: 10W-30 API, Below 32 F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2003 Dakota have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 11 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.9L get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 17 highway / 17 combined mpg.