Problems · by component

2002 Dodge Dakota electrical system problems

53 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Dodge Dakota cite electrical system, 8% of all 689 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
53
8% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 15, 2020Electrical system, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11309374
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO MOVE WITH OUT THE IGNITION BEING STARTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE COULD STILL BE MOVED OR PUSHED WITHOUT THE ENGINE BEING STARTED OR WITHOUT THE GEAR BEING IN DRIVE. ALSO, THE KEY SOMETIMES WOULD NOT STAY IN THE IGNITION AND HANGED LOOSELY. THERE WERE NO WANING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED SAMUEL'S DODGE, CHRYSLER, JEEP, RAM, MAZDA (1421 E 30TH AVE, HUTCHINSON, KS 67502, (620) 665-5567), BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 4, 2018Electrical system, EngineODI 11156003
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GALEANA'S VAN DYKE DODGE (28400 VAN DYKE AVE, WARREN, MI 48093, (586) 573-4000) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL FOR THE GEAR SHIFTER, AND THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER AND THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 28, 2018Steering, Power train, Electrical systemODI 11075467
“THE BODY CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED, WHICH CONTROLS ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE HEADLIGHTS. AS OF A MONTH AGO THERE WERE OVER 150 PEOPLE WAITING ON THIS PART IN CHRYSLER'S SYSTEM. CHRYSLER HAS NOW INFORMED ME THIS PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND WILL NOT BE MADE AGAIN, WHICH RENDERS MY TRUCK ONLY SAFE TO DRIVE IN THE DAYTIME. THEY SAY TO GO TO THE AFTERMARKET, BUT THERE ARE NO AFTERMARKET COMPANIES MAKING THIS COMPUTER MODULE. MY FCA CASE NUMBER WAS 30705404”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 7, 2017Electrical systemODI 10950031
“I WAS DRIVING AND THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND THEN THEY WENT ALL THE WAY OUT AND THE DOME LIGHT AND KEYLESS ENTRY ISN'T WORKING. IT FINALLY WOULDN'T START AND SO WE BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY, AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THEN THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHTS WERE OFF AGAIN. THE BATTERY THAT WAS IN THE TRUCK WAS TOO SMALL AND WE TOLD THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE LIGHTS WEREN'T WORKING BECAUSE WE PUT A BIGGER BATTERY IN IT, WE PUT THE RIGHT SIZE BATTERY. THE OTHER DAY WE CAME HOME AND THE CARGO LIGHTS WERE ON BY THEMSELVES. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT FOR IT CATCHING ON FIRE. WE ONLY HAD THE TRUCK 2 AND HALF MONTHS. WE PAID $6300 FOR IT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 28, 2015Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10713473
“STEPPED ON BRAKE ON WET ROAD,ABS KICKED IN ON REAR AXLE AND TRUCK WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. ALMOST HAD A REAR END COLLISION. VERY DANGEROUS, HAVE SEEN A LOT OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME THING. ALSO LOSE ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WITH HEADLIGHTS ON MOMENTARILY LEAVING YOU WITHOUT LIGHTS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 25, 2014Electrical system, Service brakesODI 10668229

Showing 6 of 53 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: wiring

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE HEADLAMP AND DASH WIRING HARNESS MAY BE CHAFED BY THE ACTUATION OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THIS COULD RESULT IN ABNORMAL OPERATION OF THE WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS, HORN OR LIGHTING SYSTEMS.

Electrical systemReported Oct 10, 2003NHTSA 03V389000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 31, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.