Five problems related to wiring have been reported for the 2003 Dodge Dakota. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Wiring harness connected to a/c and hater blower motor melts and causes the blower motor to fail. It has happened twice in 2 years. The first time the dealer put in a new harness at my expense, around 400 dollars. Both times the blower motor stopped while driving under normal city driving conditions. There are other complaints about this problem on this ntsb website, and they describe the exact same symptoms and conditions both before and after harness failure. My fear is the harness melting and could cause a fire under the dash leading to a crash or vehicle fire.
Wiring harness going to blower fan resistor shorted out due to corrosion inside the connector and melted the wire insulation from the wiring close to the harness. I believe this could under certain situations cause a vehicle fire.
25jan06 tell Dodge dealer that pass window inop from pass side switch works from drivers side switch. Dodge replace switch. 20apr06 tell Dodge dealer pass window inop from pass side but works from drivers side. Dodge couldn't find anything wrong. Persists up to 7dec07, hopefully my mechanic found the trouble. 1dec07 "service 4wd" light came on 3dec07 called to get apptmt for truck 4dec07 remote door entry wouldn't work or door lock for all doors on driver arm rest, windshield washer and wiper pulse wouldn't work 5dec07 headlights did not come on during evening traffic commute, turn signals worked 7dec07 take truck to shop finds short to ground in circuit to into lights (fuse#1) pnk wire near parking brake petal, replace central timer module (p/n 56049072al).
When coming to a stop at red light vehicle would die. Took pick up to dealer, an was told they counldn't get pickup to repeat problem. Picked up pickup from dealer an within thirty minutes pickup died at red light. Took pickup to dealer on 3/29 an 3/30 dealer still couldn't find problem. On 3/31 took pickup for drive with dealer mech. An drove pickup for fortyfive mintues, when pickup died at redlight. Was called by dealer an said they could find any codes. Would keep pickup for two more days.
The dealership refused to perform the wiring harness recall 03 v 389 000 because the consumer didn't purchase the vehicle from them.