Problems · by component
2002 Dodge Dakota steering problems
45 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Dodge Dakota cite steering, 7% of all 689 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
45
7% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the steering
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
“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.”
“THE SHIFTER WILL NOT MOVE FROM PARK POSITION. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER DUE TO THE RECALL FOR THAT SPECIFIC PROBLEM WITH THAT YEAR MODEL. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT IS VIN # RELATED PROBLEM (IT IS A SPECIFIC VIN NUMBERS THAT IT IS RELATED TO). I INFORMED THEM THAT I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT ALL SITES, REPORTS AND BLOGS ARE TALKING ABOUT. THE FINAL ANSWER IS TO TAKE MY CAR TO BE DIAGNOSE, DEPENDING ON THE REPORT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. HOW IT IS DIFFERENT THIS PROBLEM FROM THE PROBLEM THAT I'M HAVING?! *TR”
“HAVE HAD STEERING KNUCKLES REPLACED TWICE ON MY TRUCK BECAUSE THE CALIPER BOLTS STRIP OUT AND CAUSE MY TRUCK DO DIVE LEFT OR RIGHT UPON BRAKING. ALSO CAUSED BY BRAKE PAD RAILS WEARING TOO MUCK AND NOT LETTING THE CALIPERS MOVE THE BRAKE PADS TO APPLY THE BRAKES. ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS MULTIPLE TIMES BUT DEALER SAYS ITS NOT AN ISSUE. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH BOTH FRONT TIRES LOCKED UP AND THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BRAKES AND UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOUR TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. *TR”
“LOWER U JOINT IN THE STEERING SHAFT BREAKS. MINE LUCKLY BROKE IN MY DRIVEWAY BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD. THE PART IS UNAVAILBLE AFTERMARKET. DEALER IS BACK ORDERD FOR WEEKS. I HAD TO DRIVE OVER 2 HOURS AWAY TO GET THE SHAFT AT THE CLOSEST DEALER. *TR”
Showing 6 of 45 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.