Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Dodge Dakota problems
Owners filed 689 complaints about the 2002 Dodge Dakota with NHTSA between Dec 2001 and Oct 2025. The most-cited component is suspension (226).
Complaints
689
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
58
Reported by owners
Fires
18
Reported by owners
Injuries
34
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension226
- Service brakes, hydraulic177
- Power train90
- Electrical system53
- Steering45
- Engine and engine cooling38
- Air bags30
- Service brakes26
- Exterior lighting21
- Structure18
- Visibility18
- Equipment16
- Tires15
- Fuel system, gasoline13
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
46
119
203
88
34
30
30
17
22
22
8
9
21
10
5
8
6
4
1
1
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 46 |
| 2003 | 119 |
| 2004 | 203 |
| 2005 | 88 |
| 2006 | 34 |
| 2007 | 30 |
| 2008 | 30 |
| 2009 | 17 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 22 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 21 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Suspension
226 reports6 crashes3 fires2 related recalls
“FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE AND HUB ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY BROKE FREE FROM THE VEHICLE THIS IS A FOLLOW UP FROM MY FIRST INTIAL REPORT TO CHRYSLER AND ALSO NHTSA PHONE CONVERSATION IN WHICH I DID A REPORT TO BOTH AND PAID 2500.00 WHICH I STILL HAVE RECEIPT OF PAYING TO HAVE FIXED...FATHER HAD A 2000 DODGE DURANGO WHICH HAD THE SAME RECALL THAT MY DIDN'T HAVE AS CHRYSLER STATED...”
Service brakes, hydraulic
177 reports14 crashes10 fires
“2002 DODGE DAKOTA CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT BRAKE LINE *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH INFERIOR MATERIALS. THE GAS TANK STRAPS BROKE AND THE TRANSMISSION AND BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED AND WERE LEAKING. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE AND BRAKE HOSE. *JB”
Power train
90 reports11 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“My 2002 Dodge Dakota sometime will not go into park. other times it will jump out and go into reverse. this has caused my vehicle to roll backwards and destroyed neighbors mailbox. to get it into park takes several tries. I now must use my parking brake anytime I am parked.”
Electrical system
53 reports3 fires1 related recall
“THIS 2001 DODGE DAKOTA COMES UP WITH CODE P0601 IT SAYS IT IS A MEMORY CHECK SUM ERROR. IT COMES ON INTERMITTENT IN COLD WEATHER. IF YOU CLEAR THE CODE IT MIGHT COME RIGHT BACK OR IT MIGHT STAY OFF IT IS ANNOYING SOMETIMES IT MESSES WITH THE ABS MAKING THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE HANG UP”
Steering
45 reports4 crashes
“THE CAR GOES INTO PARK, BUT PARK DOES NOT ENGAGE. I'M ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE COLUMN SHOWS PARK BUT THE CAR CONTINUES TO ROLL. I SEE THAT 2002 DAKOTAS HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT MY VIN # DOESN'T SHOW A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.”
Engine and engine cooling
38 reports1 crash2 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AREA. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE BLOWER FROM THE RESISTER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE BUT NOT FOR THE LABOR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 141,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.