Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 33 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.
The 25 most recent of 33, in the owner's own words
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT, WHEN PLACED IN PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,999.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE GEAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE SHIFTER JAMMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN 2008 UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
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
IGNITION/PARK INTERLOCKSYSTEM. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SHIFTING LEVER STICKS IN PARK. CANNOT SHIFT GEAR OUT OF PARK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER OUT OF PARK WHILE THE IGNITION KEY WAS REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS ADVISE THE CONTACT THAT THE GEAR SHIFT BLOCKER AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND INTO DRIVE UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN SHIFT INTERLOCK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 9POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: LEVER AND LINKAGE: COLUMN SHIFT); HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA HAS LOW POWER AND DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY DOESN'T ALWAYS DOWN SHIFT WHEN I COME TO A FULL STOP & DOWN SHIFT OUT OF FOURTH GEAR TO THIRD ON ITS OWN. SEEMS TO BE MORE OFTEN WITH AGE OF VEHICLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE STEERING COMPONENT ON HER VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE WEARING QUICKLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CV JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO SERVICE THE CV JOINTS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS OWNER ALREADY HAD IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 127,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE STREET WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, THE GEAR SHIFTER AUTOMATICALLY MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS STATIONED BEHIND THE MOVING VEHICLE, BUT WAS ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO CHANGE THE GEAR SHIFTER AND WAS STRUCK BY THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER HIS RIGHT LEG, STRUCK A CURB, AND CRASHED INTO THE TREES. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. THERE WERE NO DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
REAR DIFF IN MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. *JB
THE 9.25? LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL IN OUR 2002 DODGE DAKOTA CREW CAB FAILED AFTER COMPONENTS OF THE DIFFERENTIAL DISINTEGRATED AT 75,000 MILES. PICTURES AVAILABLE. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IF A VERY SLIGHT NOISE HAD NOT DEVELOPED DURING PARKING LOT TURNS. A QUICK GOOGLE OF THIS PROBLEM RESULTED IN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM INCLUDING CATASTROPHIC FAILURES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A PAVED SECONDARY ROAD IN CLEAR DRY CONDITIONS, DAMAGING THE TRANSFER CASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOP. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. UPDATED 10/25/06. *JB
MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN WHEN A SUDDEN GRINDING NOISE OCCURRED. UPON STRAIGHTENING THE WHEELS, IT STOPPED. WAS APPROX 3 MILES FROM MY MECHANIC SO I WENT THERE AND HAD HIM LOOK AT IT. HE FOUND THE LEFT SIDE HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY HAD COMPLETELY FAILED (BEARING EXPOSED AND BADLY DAMAGED). HE WAS UNABLE TO SEPARATE THE BRAKE ROTOR DISK FROM THE HUB AS IT WAS SO BADLY CORRODED THAT IT HAD BECOME ONE. UPON CHECKING THE RIGHT SIDE HUB ASSY, IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED AS WELL WITH THE BRAKE ROTOR DISK IN THE SAME CONDITION. BOTH SIDES WERE REPLACED AND A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB DONE TO MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 92000 MILES AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT I DID NOT LOOSE THE LEFT WHEEL BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE AS I HAD JUST RETURNED FROM WORK (50 MILES ONE WAY) WHICH IS ALL HIGHWAY DRIVING. *JB
2002 DODGE DAKOTA RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE HUB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER. HOT SPOT ON THE FRONT ROTORS CAUSED PULSATION WHEN BRAKING. THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION MADE NOISE AND INTERMITTENT DELAYED SHIFTING. THE RIGHT FRONT HUB AND BEARING WERE REPLACED. THE RIGHT FRONT OUTER TIE ROD END WAS REPLACED. THE LEFT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED. *NM
DAIMLERCHRYSLER MOTOR CORPORATION P.O. BOX 21-8004 AUBURN HILLS, MI 48321-8004 ATTENTION: QUALITY ASSURANCE MY DODGE PRESENTLY HAS 49,200 MILES. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED AT RECOMMENDED AND REQUIRED INTERVALS AT MANAHAWKIN DODGE APPROXIMATELY EVERY 3,000 MILES. EARLY INTO MY OWNERSHIP I HAD INTERMITTENT TROUBLE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THEY TRIED TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM. THEY DID A RECHARGE OF THE SYSTEM AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD AT 28998 MILES THAT THE "PULSING" WHEN MY BRAKES WERE APPLIED WAS DUE TO "HOT SPOTS" ON MY FRONT ROTORS. WHEN I INQUIRED AS TO HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN TO A RELATIVELY NEW TRUCK THAT IS USED AS A PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE I WAS TOLD THEY REALLY "DID NOT KNOW BUT HAVE HAD TO REPLACE OTHERS." IT IS NOTED THAT I NEVER HAD TO REPLACE ROTORS ON MY PREVIOUS NISSANS. THAT ENDED UP COSTING ME $393. I BEGAN HEARING A NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION AND INTERMITTENT DELAYED SHIFTING INTO GEAR RESULTING IN THE TRANSMISSION BEING SERVICED WHICH INCLUDED CHANGING FILTERS, LUBRICANT, ETC. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT MY UPPER BALL JOINT WAS WORN AND REPLACED ONE SIDE ONLY. THIS I SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SOME DODGE VEHICLES AND I HAVE SINCE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM DAIMLERCHRYSLER REGARDING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE PART. TODAY I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD PLAY IN THE RIGHT FRONT BALL BEARING AND THE HUB NEEDED A TOTAL REPLACEMENT. ALONG WITH THAT A STRUT HAD TO BE REPLACED AND AN ALIGNMENT ONCE IT WAS COMPLETED. WHEN I ASKED HOW AXLE BEARING COULD GO BAD WITH THIS LOW A MILEAGE I WAS TOLD THAT THE HUB IS SEALED AND NO WAY TO LUBRICATE AND THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD. IN ADDITION, I HAVE A NOISY LEFT LEAF SPRING THAT NEEDS A PART. THE COST FOR THE FRONT HUB IS OVER $600. I RARELY GET OVER 16 MILES PER GALLON EVEN I THE BEST DRIVING CONDITIONS. SINCERELY, CHARLES W. STAUFFER CC: NHTSA NJ DIVISION CONSUMER AFFAIRS FILE
TOOK DAKOTA TO DEALER FOR FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL SERVICE (FLUID CHANGE). DEALER CALLED AND SAID REAR DIFFERENTIAL (LIMITED SLPI) FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED. A PIN SLIPPED OUT OF POSITION AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS SLOWLY DESTRUCTING ITSELF. I ASKED WHY THIS HAPPENED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS PAOBABLY DUE TO ABUSE. SINCE I DON'T TOW, TAKE IT OFF ROAD OR OVERLOAD IT THIS EXPLANATION DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE. ALMOST ALL OF THE MILAGE IS HIGHWAY.
THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE SCOPE OF THE BALL JOINT RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED. THE BALL JOINTS ON THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FAILED YET THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CONSUMERS 100K MILES LIMITED WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION ALSO FAILED. *BF *NM *SC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION STALLS AND GETS STUCK IN LOW GEAR WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. *TC
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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