<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-07</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001016177</issuerCik><issuerName>DURA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>drra</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001237720</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>DENTON LAWRENCE A</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DURA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>2791 RESEARCH DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>ROCHESTER HILLS</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>48309</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-07</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>10.1253</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>14000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Lawrence A. Denton</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

