RoadVitals

2002 Dodge Dakota Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest Aug 13, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 678 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Dodge Dakota submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structure
Filed Aug 13, 2017

WATER LEAKING IN FLOOR BOARD. WATER WILL BE STANDING ABOUT AN INCH DEEP. CHECK TSB #2301004. IT LEAKS EVERYTIME IT RAINS. DODGE KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVEN'T DONE A RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11014945
Incident
Mar 21, 2003
Mileage
1,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Dec 29, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR STEP BUMPER WAS CORRODED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE PORTION BAR FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,279.

NHTSA ID
10938567
Incident
Dec 28, 2016
Mileage
50,279 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 28, 2015
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH THAT CAUSED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO FLY OPEN. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A BROKEN LEG, SEVERAL BROKEN RIBS, AND BRUISES TO THE BODY. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED A BROKEN ARM. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
10816524
Incident
Nov 5, 2015
Mileage
130,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 2, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED AND THERE WERE FRACTURES IN FRONT OF THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID
10731662
Incident
Jul 1, 2015
Mileage
90,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes
Filed Mar 30, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
10702732
Incident
Oct 3, 2014
Mileage
125,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Apr 22, 2014
Crash reported

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

NHTSA ID
10584102
Incident
Apr 19, 2014
Mileage
196,730 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 2, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT ON THE ENTIRE VEHICLE HAD BEGUN TO PEEL ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH CLEAR COAT ON THE PAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10386208
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
20,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 2, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE FRAME THAT HELD THE FRONT LEFT TIRE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN THEN DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME WAS BEYOND REPAIR AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED ANY OF THE MESSAGES THAT THE CONTACT HAS LEFT FOR THEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

NHTSA ID
10363772
Incident
Nov 1, 2010
Mileage
137,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 29, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE FRAME HAD BEGAN TO SHOW SIGNS OF RUST AND THE ENTIRE REAR BUMPER WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
10346208
Incident
Jun 5, 2008
Mileage
70,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 21, 2009

PAINT ON THE HOOD, ROOF AND FENDERS IS PEELING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10284723
Incident
Sep 21, 2009
Mileage
78,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 14, 2004

2002 DODGE DAKOTA CLUB CAB P/U HAS SERIOUS WATER LEAK TO PASS SIDE FLOOR. DEALER HAS HAD INTERIOR OUT OF TRUCK 4 TIMES W/O FIXING PROBLEM. I AM PERSONALLY AWARE OF MANY OTHER DAKOTA OWNERS WITH SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MODEL WIDE DEFECT AND DODGE HAS NO INTEREST IN DEALING WITH DAMAGED OWNERS. COULD CAUSE ELEECTRIC SHORT/PROBLEMS AS WIRING/WIRING CONNECTIONS RUN UNDER CARPET ON THIS SIDE OF TRUCK. DEALER MUST HAVE KNOWN OF LEAK AND FAILED TO DISCLOSE TO INTERNET BUYER AND DID BEST TO MINIMIZE APPEARANCE OF DAMPNESS BY "SHAMPOOING" CARPETS FOR DELIVERY - VERY DISHONEST!!!!!!!!!*AK

NHTSA ID
10053202
Incident
Aug 30, 2003
Mileage
24,431 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 30, 2003

PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR FILLS WITH WATER UNTIL IT WICKS THROUGH THE CARPET COMPLETELY SATURATING THE AREA. *AK

NHTSA ID
10048859
Incident
Nov 23, 2003
Body & structure
Filed Aug 5, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE AND HUSBAND HAVE BEEN EVERYWHERE TO TRY TO GET HELP FOR 2002, DODGE, DAKOTA PICK. TRUCK FILLS UP WITH WATER, AND NO ONE CAN FIND OUT WHERE THE WATER IS COMING FROM. CONSUMMER STATES THAT THEY HAD WINDOWS/SEALS/VENTS, AND WHOLE TRUCK GUTTED OUT A NUMBER OF TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. TRUCK HAS BEEN SERVICED 9 TIMES, 6 OF THOSE TIMES FOR WATER DAMAGE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BAFFLED THE MECHANICS THAT TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
10032178
Incident
Aug 5, 2003
Body & structure
Filed Jul 7, 2003

THE PASSANGER SIDE FLOOR FLOODS WITH ABOUT A GALLON OF WATER EVERY WEEK. SO EVERY WEEK FOR THE PASE TWO MONTHS, I HAD TO REMOVE THE CARPET AND SOAK UP THE WATER WITH TOWLES. SO FAR IT CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10025553
Incident
Jun 7, 2003
Mileage
14,000 mi
Body & structureEngineSteering+1 more
Filed May 27, 2003

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. *NLM *AK THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: KNOCKING IN THE SUSPENSION(4 ATTEMPTS TO FIX), THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT, THE DRIVER DOOR HAD A WIND NOISE AND WATER LEAKED, THE TAILGATE HANDLE WAS LOOSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN COUPLED, AND THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLTS WERE FOUND LOOSE. *SCC

NHTSA ID
10021656
Incident
Jul 27, 2003
Mileage
10,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 23, 2002

SPEEDODOMETER READS LOWER THAN ACTUAL SPEED, CAUSING DRIVER TO GO FASTER. TS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10001434
Incident
Nov 16, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Sep 26, 2002

DISCOVERED WATER UNDER CARPET IN DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD. LEAK WAS FOUND TO BE A FAULTY/UNINSTALLED BODY SEAM/SEAL. MR

NHTSA ID
767765
Incident
May 16, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Jul 24, 2002

QUAD CAB TRUCK HAS PROBLEMS WITH WIND NOISE,/THUMPING, AND POSING PAIN WITH THE EAR DRUMS WHEN ONE OF THE BACK WINDOWS IS OPENED. OWNER DID TEST DRIVE ANOTHER TRUCK SAME MAKE/ MODEL AND YEAR THAT EXEMPLIFIED THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
8014635

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .