RoadVitals

2002 Dodge Dakota Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
678
Latest Oct 23, 2025
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
73
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
1
Reports on file since Dec 6, 2001

What this page shows

Our database holds 678 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Dodge Dakota. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 678 · page 1 of 28

Brakes
Filed Oct 23, 2025

WHY are brake lines on vehicles not required to be made so as not to rust? Brake lines failed on my vehicle, and need to be replaced. How many accidents are caused by brake line failures?

NHTSA ID
11695324
Incident
Jul 21, 2025
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 27, 2022
Crash reported

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.

NHTSA ID
11471130
Incident
Jun 10, 2022
Brakes
Filed Apr 20, 2021

II HAVE REPLACE FRONT ROTORS, FRONT CALIPERS, REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS AND SHOES, THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN BLEED SEVERAL TIMES, AND BRAKE SYSTEM WAS LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES BY ASE MASTER MECHANIC. GOING DOWN THE ROAD ON THE INITIAL PUSH ON THE PEDDLE THE PEDDLE GOES MORE THAN HALF WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, YOU THEN RELEASE PEDAL AND RE APPLY AND IT STOPS AS IT SHOULD WITH THE CORRECT PEDDLE HEIGHT. ALL WORK WAS DONE WITHIN 10K MILES. THE TRUCK HAS 116K MILES.THIS STARTED ABOUT 5 MONTHS AGO.

NHTSA ID
11413082
Incident
Apr 20, 2021
Mileage
116,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 15, 2020

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

NHTSA ID
11309374
Incident
Jan 2, 2020
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 31, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. WHEN THE SHIFTER FINALLY SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR AND INTO DRIVE, IT WOULD SHIFT BACK INTO PARK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEFFER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (LOCATED AT 8214 E INDEPENDENCE BLVD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28227, (704) 532-1050) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO TAKE THE STEERING COLUMN APART, GREASE IT UP, AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A WARRANTY NOR INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,000.

NHTSA ID
11217057
Incident
Apr 10, 2018
Mileage
211,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jan 26, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID
11172312
Incident
Jan 25, 2019
Mileage
156,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 4, 2019

CENTRAL TIME MODULE CAUSING MY LIGHTS TO CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT

NHTSA ID
11165215
Incident
Dec 5, 2018
Mileage
153,054 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 2, 2019

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...

NHTSA ID
11164650
Incident
Dec 1, 2015
Mileage
150,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 4, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID
11156003
Incident
Jul 24, 2018
Mileage
115,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 29, 2018

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME ONE OF THE BREAK LINES HAS RUSTED THRU. THIS TIME I HIT THE BRAKES HARD TO MISS TWO DEAR AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I ONLY COULD STOP THE TRUCK WITH THE EMERGENCY BREAK. THE TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN USED OFF ROAD AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN IN VIRGINIA IS HOLE LIFE. THE FIRST TIME MY MECHANIC CAUGHT A LEAK IN THE LINE BEFORE ANY PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11143793
Incident
Oct 24, 2018
Mileage
230,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 9, 2018

RECALL G38 / THE TRANS SHIFTER STARTED TO NOT GO INTO PARK AT TIMES AND THEN SLIP OUT NOW IT WILL NOT GO INTO PARK AT ALL..SHIFTER STOPS AT REVERSE AND I HAVE LOOKED AT SHIFTER AJUSTMENT AND NO PROBLEM THERE, THE RECALL SAID IT DID NOT APPLY TO MY VIN .BUT I AM HAVING SAME PROBLEMS LISTED AS THE RECALL STATE'S OTHER'S HAVE , DID I MISS SOMETHING AND IAM IN RECALL ADDED LATER?

NHTSA ID
11100649
Incident
Nov 16, 2017
Mileage
190,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 3, 2018

"TAKATA RECALL" HIGH BEAMS COME ON ON BOTH SIDES LOW BEAM DOES NOT COME ON PASSENGER SIDE BUT ON THE DRIVER SIDE

NHTSA ID
11091484
Incident
Apr 26, 2018
Mileage
158,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 2, 2018

THE LIGHTS STOOPED WORKING WIPER RELAY NOT FUNCTIONAL. VERY IRRITATING

NHTSA ID
11075768
Incident
Feb 23, 2018
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Feb 28, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID
11075467
Incident
Sep 7, 2017
Mileage
96,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 28, 2017
Crash reported1 death reported

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.

NHTSA ID
11057233
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
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
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 4, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BACK PART OF THE SEAT FRAME FAILED TO STAY UPWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

NHTSA ID
11012743
Incident
Jun 30, 2017
Mileage
186,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 5, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND BEGAN TO GRIND AND SQUEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE CALIPER AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

NHTSA ID
11003150
Incident
Jul 5, 2016
Mileage
160,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Apr 9, 2017

RECALL WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF MY BREAKS AND CALIBERS SEIZED UP..HAD TO STOP AND SPRAY THEM DOWN

NHTSA ID
10971513
Incident
Apr 9, 2017
Mileage
90,900 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 21, 2017

LIGHT ON AIR BAG

NHTSA ID
10955756
Incident
Jan 2, 2017
Airbags
Filed Feb 9, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

, 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.

NHTSA ID
10953667
Incident
Dec 15, 2016
Mileage
220,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 7, 2017

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

NHTSA ID
10950031
Incident
Sep 1, 2016
Mileage
90,000 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
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 2, 2016

MY TRUCK WILL NOT GO INTO PARK ALL OTHER GEAR SELECTIONS ARE AVAILABLE BUT NO PARK. ADDITIONALLY I'M ABLE TO TURN THE KEY BACK TO THE OFF POSITION & TAKE THE KEY OUT. I PULLED INTO WORK & WAS UNABLE ONCE I PULLED INTO A PARKING PLACE TO PUT MY TRUCK INTO PARK. I ENDED UP HAVING TO STAY WITH MY VEHICLE FOOT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL SOMEONE BLOCKED MY WHEELS WITH A PIECE OF FIREWOOD BECAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE HAS ALSO FAILED. CHRYSLER HAS A RECALL FOR 2001 & 2002 MODELS FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. AFTER CALLING THE DEALER & CHRYSLER MY TRUCK IS *BIG SURPRISE* NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL G28. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE AS THIS TRUCK IS MY ONLY METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO HONOR THEIR RECALLS! *TR

NHTSA ID
10929672
Incident
Dec 1, 2016
Mileage
127,249 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 16, 2016

I BOUGHT THE SUBJECT PICKUP IN 2014, I FOUND AFTER DRIVING IT THAT THE ENGINE WOULD LOSE POWER, WOULDN'T IDLE SMOOTHLY, AND IT WOULD BACKFIRE THRU THE THROTTLE BODY ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION. THE PROBLEM WAS AND IS INTERMITTENT, IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, MAKING ME TRYING TO PULL OVER TO THE CURB. I TOOK IT THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP [ROCKY TOP DODGE, SEVIERVILLE TN] TO HAVE IT FIXED, THEY TUNED IT UP, CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND A FEW OTHER THINGS AND SAID IT WAS OK. I PAID THEM $650+, PULLED OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP, AND THERE IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY KEPT IT FOR 4 MORE DAYS, THEN TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE WHAT WAS AND COULDN'T FIX IT. I BEEN DRIVING JUST ABOUT EVERYDAY SINCE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I TRIED CONTACTING DODGE, THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO HAVE A REGIONAL REP CONTACT ME, THAT NEVER HAPPENED. IT JUST AMAZES ME THAT I AM THE ONLY PERSON IN THE COUNTRY HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I DID TAKE IT UPON MYSELF TO CHANGE ALL OF THE ENGINE SENSORS, THAT COSTS ME $300 TO DO IT MYSELF. I AM JUST HIGHLY FRUSTRATED WITH DODGE THAT THEY CAN'T TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS TRUCK AND FIX IT. I NEED HELP SINCE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10885228
Incident
Jul 20, 2014
Mileage
124,000 mi

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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