2002 Dodge Dakota problems
The 2002 Dodge Dakota has 946 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (32%) concerns suspension. After that come brakes (25%) and transmission (6%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 946 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Suspension 32% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 71 and 23
- Injuries and deaths
- 37 and 3
- Typical mileage
- 38,000 miles 719 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 160 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 215 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 152 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 64 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 51 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 26 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 20 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 12 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 7 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 7 |
| 200k+ miles | 5 |
What the data shows
Among the 719 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 38,000 miles. For suspension specifically, the median reported mileage is about 35,000 miles (227 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 71 complaints mention a crash; 23 complaints mention a fire; 37 injuries reported; 3 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 21 model years of the Dodge Dakota with enough data (721 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
My husband's truck was struck on the rear driver's side. Almost @ the bumper. Police report stated damage to the other vehicle "negligible". My husband was killed. He was partially ejected. The truck rolled over on him. Great road/weather conditions. Light traffic-just the 2 vehicles. 45 MPH speed limit. His back tires were both ripped from the vehicle. All he ever hit was a curb. He was killed instantly.
Takata recall - my father owned a 2005 dodge dakota truck. On january 1, 2016 he ran his car off the side of the road and hit a lamp post off a highway in florida and died on impact. The car was totalled out. I am trying to see if we qualify for this recall. I do not have the police record and death certificate on my computer currently but I could get those items if needed.
While driving at any speed a noise was heard from the front end. The dealer determined, that the upper and lower ball joints had to be replaced.
2002 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 - headlamps and console lights flicker on and off. This causes other vehicles to think you are flashing your lights at them and also you end up driving in complete darkness when this happens.