Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. 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. 14 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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.
BOUGHT A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA NEW. TOOK IT BACK 3 TIMES FOR COLUMN MOUNTED SHIFTER PROBLEMS WITHIN DAYS OF IT JAMMING, COULD NOT GET IT OUT OF PARK,THEN IT WOULDN'T STAY IN PARK, MAKING A CRUNCHING SOUND WHEN YOU TRY TO SHIFT THREW THE GEARS. EACH TIME I TOOK IT BACK, ANOTHER PROBLEM CAME UP CAUSED BUY THE DEALERS NEGLECT DAMAGING THE TRUCK, I COMPLAINED TO CHRYSLER CORP AND THEY BLEW ME OFF AND TOLD ME I WAS A TROUBLED CUSTOMER AND THEY NEVER WOULD RETURN MY CALLS. I PARKED THE TRUCK IN THE GARAGE AND NEVER TRUSTED IT FOR ANY LONG TRIPS AND SUCH. GOT STUCK 250 MILES FROM HOME WHEN THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK, AND THEN NOT STAY IN PARK. NOW I WAS SENT A RECALL NOTICE OF THIS ISSUE ( RECALL G28 IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM) I TOOK THIS TRUCK TO GLENN E THOMAS DODGE IN LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA FOR THE RECALL AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THIS, I DID NOT EVEN GET OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I NOTICED THE SHIFTER STILL DID NOT WORK CORRECT AND STILL WAS HAVING AN PROBLEM. I ASKED FOR THE SERVICE PERSONNEL TO LOOK AT THIS AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL, IT CLEARLY WAS NOT ! THEY ATTEMPTED TO TAKE IT IN AGAIN, AND STILL IT DID THE SAME THING, THIS 3 TIME REPEAT REPAIR BEFORE I EVEN GOT OFF THE LOT. I GOT DISGUSTED AGAIN AND LEFT BUT WHEN I GOT DOWN THE STREET I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTER AND NOT EVEN STRAIGHT ANYMORE. THIS TRUCK HAS ONLY 11,250 MILES ON IT AND IS LIKE MINT NEW CONDITION ( EXCEPT FOR THIS PROBLEM) NOT A SCRATCH, MARK OR DIRT ANYWHERE ON IT. I AM NOT TRUSTING THIS VEHICLE IT COULD GO INTO REVERSE AND KILL SOMEONE. THERE IS MORE I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS AND WOULD LIKE TO INFORM NHTSA OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS. ALSO WANT THIS FIXED OR FOR CHRYSLER TO TAKE IT BACK. *TR
ON MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AT NIGHT BY FLICKERING A LOT THEN JUST SHUTTING OFF ALL THE WAY. THE FOLLOWING DAYS RANDOM THINGS WOULD START GOING OFF LIKE WINDSHIELD WIPERS GOING OFF, HORN HONKING, AND SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AT ALL. FURTHER INVESTIGATION LEAD ME TO THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE (CTM) FAILING POSSIBLY DUE TO THE SAME DEFECT THAT LEAD TO A 2003 RECALL. WHY NOT 2002? I NOW CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE I HAD TO DISCONNECT IT RESULTING TO CERTAIN THINGS NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK RIGHT DUE TO THE ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OTHER MODEL YEARS BEING INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAUSE THIS PART IS WELL OVER $200 TO REPLACE. IT IS SUFFERING FROM THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS THAT THE RECALL FOR 2003 STATES. *TR
DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT HAS ABOUT HALF AN INCH FREE TRAVEL FORWARD AND BACKWARD. THIS GIVES YOU THE FEELING WHEN YOU PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL THE SEAT MAY GO ALL THE WAY BACK AND PREVENT THE ABILITY TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND POSSIBLY CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE AND POSSIBLY SEVERE BODILY INJURY TO ALL PEOPLE INVOLVED. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY MANUFACTURER AT NO CHARGE. I PURCHASED THE TRUCK NEW AND IT NOW HAS A TOTAL OF 54,412 MILES ON IT. *TR
JUNE OF 2006, MY FIFTEEN YEAR OLD SON WAS SITTING IN MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA LISTENING TO THE RADIO. MY WIFE HEARD A CRASH AND WHEN WE RAN OUT TO INVESTIGATE, THE TRUCK WAS DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. WHAT KEPT THE TRUCK FROM FLIPPING OVER WAS THAT IT SLAMMED INTO A TREE FROM THE REAR AND WAS PINNED. POLICE, EMS AND AN AMBLUANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE TO RESCUE HIM THE TRUCK. MY SON WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND ONLY SLIGHTLY RESPONSIVE TO VOICE COMMANDS. HE WAS TAKEN TO WILLIAM BEAUMONT HOSPITAL IN ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN WHERE HE WAS ADMITTED FOR TESTS AND X-RAYS. HE HAS A CLOSED HEAD INJURY AND SUFFERS FROM HEADACHES AND HAS TO EXAMINED AND TREATED PERIODICALLY. I DID NOT THINK ANYTHING MORE ABOUT THE ACCIDENT UNTIL A TELEVISION NEWS REPORT CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CHRYSLER (TRUCKS) JUMPING OUT OF GEAR. I WAS NOT GETTING ANY COOPERATIONFROM THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP OR FROM CHRYSLER. I HAVE THE CHRYSLER RECALL NUMBER OF G28 THAT I RETRIEVED FROM YOUR WEBSITE. I CALLED CHRYLSER TODAY AND THEY STILL DENY THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE "LEVER AND LINKAGE-COLUMN SHIFT FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS".
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT AS WELL, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER STATED NO RECALL.*AK RECALL CAMPAIGN; NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V596000 DEALING WITH UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V216000; DEALING WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS SERVICED AND HAD AT LEAST ONE FAILURE SINCE THE REPAIR. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V389000 DEALING WITH THE DASH WIRING HARNESS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. *TC
THE MODULE CONTROLLING MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA'S HEADLIGHT'S, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOT LIGHTS FAILED. SYMPTOMS ARE SHOCKINGLY CLOSE TO THOSE OF THE RECALL (I DO HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION). HEADLIGHTS FAILED, BRIGHTS FAILED, WIPERS FAILED. ONLY TURN SIGNALS HORN AND CAUTION LIGHTS REMAIN. DEALER REFUSES TO ADMIT IT IS RELATED TO RECALL. SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME! WHAT DO I DO ABOUT THIS!?*AK
2002 DODGE DAKOTA 52000 MILES FIRST THE SEAT BELT LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING, THEN ALL THE GUAGES ON THE DASH GO DEAD FOR ABOUT THREE SECONDS. ODOMETER ALSO WILL NOT RECORD ANY MILEAGE ALSO. THEN THE GAUGES RESET NORMAL. THIS HAPPENS ONLY WHEN THE INSIDE GETS HOT FROM THE SUN. TURNING THE AIR ON AND COOLING THE INSIDE HELPS TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN THE PULSING OF THE GUAGES FROM DEAD TO NORMAL. REPLACED CENTRAL TIMING UNIT COMPUTER . DID NOTHING, OLD UNIT PUT BACK IN .NEXT STEP IS TO REPLACE DASH CLUSTER.*AK
2002 DODGE DAKOTA R/T. ISSUE IN WIRING HARNESS/ELECTRICAL CAUSES THE 5AMP FUSE REGILATING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING TO BLOW REGULARLY, CAUSING A LOSE OF ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH DRIVER NOTICED SPARKS WERE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK MADE BUZZING NOISE WHEN LOCKED, WHICH IS STARTLING WHEN AUTO-LOCK ENGAGES ON ACCELERATION. DEALER REPAIRED, AND AS I LEFT PARKING LOT, IT BEGAN AGAIN, AND WAS REPAIRED. ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER, LEFT REAR LOCK DID THE SAMETHING AND WAS REPAIRED. OF COURSE, THE DEALER DID NOT BELIEVE ME UNTIL I TOOK TIME OFF OF WORK TO TAKE IT TO THEM. I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE ALL REMAINING MOTORS, BUT THEY REFUSED SINCE IT WAS STILL IN WARRANTY AND NOT BROKEN YET. TWO MONTHS LATER, REAR DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC WINOW DID NOT WORK.*AK
ONLY 27689 MILES SAFETY FRONT END COMPONENTS FAILED POWER STEERING RACK SEAL LEAKING FLUID.SWAY BAR BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED.SEAT RIGHT REAR COMING APART PASS SIDE PLASTIC RECLINER HANDLE BROKE MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 SPORT HAS HAD SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS MAKE A POPPING SOUND WHEN STEP ON BRAKES OR MAKE A SHARP LEFT TURN. I NOW HAVE 29900 MILES AND THE POUNDING AND NOISE HAVE NOT STOPPED. VEHICLE FEELS LIKE YOU WILL LOOSE CONTROL WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE HIGHWAY. *AK
DIMMER SWITCH ON 2002 DODGE DAKOTA GETS EXCESSIVELY HOT AFTER LIGHTS ARE ON FOR SEVERAL HOURS WITH DIMMER SWITCH IN THE IN DIM POSITION. IT IS HOT ENOUGH TO BURN A CHILD'S HAND. SWITCH WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES BY DEALER AND STILL NO CHANGE. DEALER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ELSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTIFIED THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, RECALL DEPARTMENT AND THEIR CORP. HEADQUARTERS. TS
THE DAY THE TRUCK WAS PICKED UP, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHT FUSE WAS BLOWN. AFTER REPLACING THE FUSE, LIGHTS WERE FINE FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS. FUSE BLEW AGAIN, RETURNED TRUCK TO DEALER. THEY LOOKED OVER THE SYSTEM AND SAID IT WAS A LOSE WIRE TO THE FUSE BOX. TWO DAYS LATER, FUSE BLEW AGAIN. THEY THEN ORDERED A NEW INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. IN THE MEANTIME, I CONTINUE TO REPLACE FUSES AS THEY BLOW. NOW IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE FUSE, AS THEY BLOW IMMEDIATELY. DEALER NOW HAS TRUCK AND REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STILL BLOWS THE FUSE. TRUCK IS NOW AT DEALER WHILE THEY TROUBLESHOOT. TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITHOUT INSTRUMENT LIGHTS.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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