Problems · by component
2002 Dodge Dakota air bags problems
30 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Dodge Dakota cite air bags, 4% of all 689 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
30
4% of all complaints
Crashes
24
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
19
Reported by owners
What owners say about the air bags
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
“, I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON DECEMBER 15 BECAUSE MY BRAKES FAILED AND WAS HURT ACROSS MY CHEST. THE IMPACT WAS STRONG BECAUSE FOR A MOMENT I LOST TIME, BUT THE HOSPITAL DIDN'T GIVE ANY BRAIN SCANS. MY CHEST HURT SEVERELY FOR A MONTH AND I STILL FEEL PAIN WHEN I LIFT OR MOVE A CERTAIN WAY. ANYWAY I AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WONDERED WHY MY AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET MY CAR OUT OF THE POUND FOR LACK OF MONEY BUT THE FRONT WAS MUCH DAMAGED. WOULD THIS FALL UNDER THE RECALL THAT GOING ON WITH THE TAKATA CORP.”
“I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE CAR 2 WEEKS EARLIER. I WAS ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY AND THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AT 60 MPH. NO MATTER WHAT I DID TO THE PEDAL, IT WAS STUCK AT 60 MPH. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK EITHER. I WAS IN A RUNAWAY CAR ON A BUSY FREEWAY. I TRIED TO NEGOTIATE THE TRAFFIC FOR 2 MILES THEN DECIDED I NEEDED TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY. I STARTED TO SMASH INTO THE FREEWAY OFF-RAMP RETAINING WALL IN THE EFFORT TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN WHICH IT DID TO SOME DEGREE. THEN HAD TO BARREL THROUGH A RED LIGHT WITH FLASHERS AND HORN GOING AND TO STOP THE TRUCK I DELIBERATELY RAMMED IT INTO A WROUGHT IRON FENCE, 2 LANDSCAPING BOULDERS AND A LIGHT POST. THE AIRBAG ALSO FAILED. I WAS RUSHED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL WITH HEAD TRAUMA AND CONCUSSION, BROKEN GLASSES THAT CUT MY EYEBROW. I HAVE PICTURES. THE WORST PART HAS BEEN THE PTSD THAT I HAVE SUFFERED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT -- MULTIPLE FAILURE - ACCELERATOR, BRAKES AND AIRBAG. *TR”
“I WAS TURNING LEFT ON TO WAX RD AT A RED LIGHT GOING UP HILL WHEN IT WAS RAINING THE TRUCK RIGHT REAR TIRE BROKE TRACTION PUT ME IN A FISHTAIL LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FLIPPED THE TRUCK ON ITS TOP DAMAGED THE DRIVER SIDE BENT THE FRAME CAVED IN THE ROOF BUSTED MY WINDSHIELD I WAS PULLED OUT BY AN PEDESTRIAN BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY NONE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES DID NOT WORK BUT THE SEAT BELT ONLY. WHERE THE THROTTLE WAS STICKING THAT GAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT I WAS PLAYING CARELESSLY. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK AND CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ROLL OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.”
“TRAVELING SB ON US 13, I FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. STRUCK 2 VEHICLES AT APPROX. 50 MPH, POINT OF IMPACT DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT OF TRUCK. INSURANCE ADJUSTER TOTALED THE TRUCK, SO THE IMPACT WAS SURELY ENOUGH TO WARRANT DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS. THEY FAILED TO DEPLOY, RESULTING IN A HEAD INJURY TO MY COMPANION. SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE, SO HER INJURIES WERE DOCUMENTED. I HAD A LARGE ABDOMINAL BRUISE, BUT REFUSED TREATMENT SO I HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION OF MY INJURY. SHE HAS A PERMANENT SCAR ABOVE HER EYEBROW AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, WHICH I BELIEVE WOULD'VE BEEN PREVENTED HAD AIRBAG PROPERLY DEPLOYED. *TR”
Showing 6 of 30 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.