MYRModel Year Report

2002 Dodge Dakota

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2002 Dodge Dakota
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
678
Recalls
12

Campaigns on file for 2002

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Suspension

44% of complaints

Complaints per year

1985: 2 complaints 1985 1986: 1 complaint 1987: 20 complaints 1988: 55 complaints 1989: 64 complaints 1989 1990: 65 complaints 1991: 128 complaints 1992: 219 complaints 1993: 134 complaints 1993 1994: 184 complaints 1995: 208 complaints 1996: 189 complaints 1997: 446 complaints 1997 1998: 545 complaints 1999: 641 complaints 2000: 806 complaints 2001: 678 complaints 2002: 678 complaints 2002 678 2003: 296 complaints 2004: 206 complaints 2005: 470 complaints 2006: 285 complaints 2007: 145 complaints 2008: 91 complaints 2009: 18 complaints 2009 2010: 35 complaints 2011: 44 complaints
1985: 2 complaints 1985 1986: 1 complaint 1987: 20 complaints 1987 1988: 55 complaints 1989: 64 complaints 1989 1990: 65 complaints 1991: 128 complaints 1991 1992: 219 complaints 1993: 134 complaints 1993 1994: 184 complaints 1995: 208 complaints 1995 1996: 189 complaints 1997: 446 complaints 1997 1998: 545 complaints 1999: 641 complaints 1999 2000: 806 complaints 2001: 678 complaints 2002: 678 complaints 2002 678 2003: 296 complaints 2004: 206 complaints 2005: 470 complaints 2005 2006: 285 complaints 2007: 145 complaints 2007 2008: 91 complaints 2009: 18 complaints 2009 2010: 35 complaints 2011: 44 complaints 2011
1985: 2 complaints 1985 1986: 1 complaint 1987: 20 complaints 1987 1988: 55 complaints 1989: 64 complaints 1989 1990: 65 complaints 1991: 128 complaints 1991 1992: 219 complaints 1993: 134 complaints 1993 1994: 184 complaints 1995: 208 complaints 1995 1996: 189 complaints 1997: 446 complaints 1997 1998: 545 complaints 1999: 641 complaints 1999 2000: 806 complaints 2001: 678 complaints 2001 2002: 678 complaints 2002 678 2003: 296 complaints 2003 2004: 206 complaints 2005: 470 complaints 2005 2006: 285 complaints 2007: 145 complaints 2007 2008: 91 complaints 2009: 18 complaints 2009 2010: 35 complaints 2011: 44 complaints 2011

2002: 678 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19852
19861
198720
198855
198964
199065
1991128
1992219
1993134
1994184
1995208
1996189
1997446
1998545
1999641
2000806
2001678
2002678
2003296
2004206
2005470
2006285
2007145
200891
200918
201035
201144

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Suspension

44% · 300 reports

Most commonly citing upper ball joint and lower ball joint.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Service brakes

35% · 237 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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 ODI report, 2025-10-23

Power train

14% · 93 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and column shift.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2022-06-27

Vehicle was parked with engine running and emergency brake not applied. Consumer was at rear of vehicle when it shifted into reverse and ran over consumer. Vehicle went across the street and came to a stop , and hit an embankment.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-04-04

Electrical system

8% · 54 reports

Most commonly citing interior/under dash and wiring.

FIRE

Steering

7% · 48 reports

Most commonly citing rack and pinion and tie rod assembly.

CRASHINJURY

Safety timeline

12 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    2002Complaint volume 678 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    2003-11-03Electrical system03V389000 On certain pickup trucks equipped with manual transmissions, the headlamp and dash wiring harness may be chafed by the actuation of the clutch pedal. This could result in abnormal operation of the…

    Remedy: Dealers will reroute the wire harness and repair the harness if necessary. Owner notification began November 3, 2003. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-992-1997.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. I
    2003-11-19Engineering analysisClosed 2005-02-11 Upper ball joint separation
  4. R
    2004-03-01Equipment03V505000 On certain minivans and 4X2 pickup trucks, the vehicle certification label may have gross axle weight ratings (Gawr) that exceed the maximum tire load capacity as defined in federal motor vehicle…

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with vehicle certification label overlays containing corrected information relative to vehicle gawr and tire size. Owner notification began March 1, 2004. Owners should…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2004-07-12Visibility04V216000 On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the windshield wiper module motor may be susceptible to water intrusion that could cause internal corrosion and result in partial or complete…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front windshield wiper module. Owner notification began on July 12, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2004-12-21Suspension04V596000 On certain sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks equipped with four-wheel drive (4X4), if moisture leaks into the front suspension upper ball joint, evacuation of the lubricant and corrosion of…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front suspension upper ball joints. This safety improvement campaign began on December 21, 2004. Owners can contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2005-01-25Fuel system, gasoline06E011000 Certain aftermarket airtex electric fuel pumps installed for use as replacement equipment for certain 1997-2004 Jeep wrangler; 1997-2001 Jeep cherokee; 1997-2004 Jeep grand cherokee; and 2000-2003…

    Remedy: Airtex will notify its customers and will replace the affected fuel pumps free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2006. Owners may contact airtex customer service department at…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber…

    Remedy: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2006-04-20Engine and engine cooling06E024000 Certain replacement k&n fuel performance kits, p/nos. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, and 57-1530. Also, a small percentage of these kits were sold under the mopar…

    Remedy: K&n will provide owners with a free repair kit along with repair instructions. The recall began on April 20, 2006.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2006-07-31Exterior lighting06E065000 Certain aj motorsport combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the…

    Remedy: Aj motorsport will notify owners and offer reimbursement for the lamps. The recall began on July 31, 2006. Owners may contact aj motorsport at 626-618-2026.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2007-12-24Power train07V555000 On certain van and pickup trucks equipped with automatic transmissions, the ignition/park shift interlock system may become inoperative. This can allow the shifter to be moved out of the "Park"…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the gearshift blocker and bracket assembly free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during January 2008. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2008-11-05Suspension08E064000 Skf is recalling 2,805 hub units, part no. Br930361, sold as a service part for 1997-2004 Dodge Dakota vehicles and 1999-2003 Dodge durango vehicles equipped with 2-wheel drive & rear axle ABS. Due…

    Remedy: Skf will notify owners and replace the defective hub units free of charge. The recall began on November 5, 2008. Owners may contact skf vsm north america customer service at 1-800-644-8999.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2002 Dodge Dakota — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Suspension: 300 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 237 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 93 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 03V389000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 03V505000 · Equipment
  • Recall 04V216000 · Visibility
  • Recall 04V596000 · Suspension
  • Recall 06E011000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E024000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 06E065000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07V555000 · Power train
  • Recall 08E064000 · Suspension
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2002 Dodge Dakota reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Dodge Dakota is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Dodge Dakota?
The most-reported component is suspension, accounting for 44% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2002 Dodge Dakota have?
12 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.