KnownCarProblems2002 Dodge Dakota Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 678 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Dodge Dakota, most often about the suspension (33% of complaints, typically around 35,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Dakota model year since 2000 and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2002 Dodge Dakota problems
Suspension
226 complaints · 33%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
2002 Dodge Dakota dealer identified lt ball joint/control arm assembly in need of replacement @ 42,000 mi. Problem existed some 6000 - 7000 prior based on drivability/noise. Veh has had repeated evap leak since 14,000 mi.
I have a 2002 Dodge dokota sxt 2wd that has a clunking sound similar to that which I have heard described in regard to a front ball joint problem. I have spoking with other persons who also have 2wd dakotas and have hed to replace the ball joints well before they should be. I currently have 43,00 miles on the vehicle…
Brakes
212 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 31,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, disc, drum.
I have had to turn my front rotors on my 2002 Dodge Dakota 4.7l, 4WD quad cab 4 times in 40,000 miles. The dealership blames it on rain cooling the rotors too fast. I do strictly highway driving, and the vibration that occurs is nerve racking. I have seen many complaints on consumer sites regarding this. Please…
Both front brake rotors needed to be replaced with approximately 30,000 miles on truck. The brakes had been checked regularly during the recommended maintenance and no indication of trouble had been made prior to the failure.
Transmission
89 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, clutch assembly, axle hubs.
I have had several alarming failures with my Dodge Dakota quad cab. It is a 2002 v6 auto transmission pw pl. I have had the ball joints replaced because of the recall, my transmission has failed (twice), my front hubs & spindles completely disintegrated and could have killed my family, my water pump has failed and had…
Tl contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. While applying pressure to the brakes, the vehicle attempted to stop and then drastically jerked forward. The contact placed the vehicle into neutral. In addition, while approaching a traffic sign, the vehicle jerked forward and crashed into another vehicle. A police report was…
Electrical
52 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition, horn.
I have a 2002 Dodge Dakota quad cab. Problem: the key, once inserted into the ignition it will not rotate and thus not start the truck. It is as if the ignition is locked up. After removing, reinserting, and trying to start the truck numerous times, it finally will start. It does not do this everytime, but in the past…
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…
Steering
44 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 36,000 miles. Parts named most often: linkages, rack and pinion, column, gear box (other than rack and pinion).
I had a brake and rotor job done at 36000 miles by a local mechanic and found that my rack and pinion is leaking at the boot and there is to much play from tie rods. Dealer ship will do nothing to help exept charge me $3750 to fix it. I do not no how long the problem has been there. Anouther dealership told me it was…
Upper and lower ball joints required replacement after 2,000 miles of ownership. This was brought to the dealers attention. The dealer would not fix the problem, stating it was a wear item. It should have been caught and fixed before offering the vehicle for sale, but they claim otherwise. I was forced to replace both…
Engine
38 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
I have had several alarming failures with my Dodge Dakota quad cab. It is a 2002 v6 auto transmission pw pl. I have had the ball joints replaced because of the recall, my transmission has failed (twice), my front hubs & spindles completely disintegrated and could have killed my family, my water pump has failed and had…
On our way to the hospital (after dark) when the oil pressure went to '0' and check engine light came on. Truck started slowing down (as if downshifted) and smoking. About the time we got to the shoulder of the road it backfired and a flash came from the back of the truck and it died. I have a 2002 Dodge Dakota. We…
Air bags
28 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
I was in a rearend collission that pushed my vehicle into the one in front . It pushed my tailgate in 20+" and shoved everything into the motor. The truck was totaled.I contacted daimler-chrysler who told me the airbags were not made to deploy in a rear end collission. Only if the vehicle is moving forward with…
I was in a rear end colission on 2-18-05 that totaled my 02 Dakota quadcab.the impact drove me into the vehicle in front of me and pushed everything into the motor.the airbags did not deploy.this is the second Dodge that I've seen that had severe frontal damage and the airbags did not deploy(it was an 02 full size).I…
Wheels and tires
21 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 26,500 miles. Parts named most often: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs, bead, tread/belt, hub.
Dt: the contact has a pickup truck that has original factory goodyear wrangler st tires, p215/75r15. When the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop for maintenance the technician noticed slits up to three inches long on the sidewall above the bead running with the circumference of the tire down to the inner fabric…
Consumer heard a noise in the front end when the brake pedal was depressed, when making right turns and when down hill. Upon inspection of the front end by a mechanic it was determined that front driver side tire and front upper ball joint were loose. Vehicle was then taken to a dealership who indicated that the ball…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Dodge Dakota recalls
Transmission: column shift
Risk: Either of these conditions could allow the vehicle to roll away causing a crash without warning.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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" position with the ignition key removed (or in the "lock" position). This can also allow the ignition key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the "park" position.
Suspension: upper ball joint
Risk: Excessive wear in the upper ball joint may allow it to separate, which could result in loss of control of the vehicle.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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 the joint may cause the joint to wear over an extended period of time. This could cause a clunking noise in the front suspension, which may not always be heard by the vehicle occupants.
Visibility and wipers: windshield wiper/washer
Risk: Driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front windshield wiper module. Owner notification began on july 12, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
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 loss of front windshield wiping capability.
Equipment: labels
Risk: Improperly loading your vehicle can cause tire failure and result in a crash.
Fix: 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 contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-992-1997.
Full defect summary
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 safety standard no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
Electrical: wiring
Risk: This could affect driver visibility, could prevent a driver from sounding a warning by using the horn, and, when the turn signals are inoperative, the driver cannot use them to signal intent to turn, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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 wipers, turn signals, horn or lighting systems.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Upper ball joint separation
Summary
Daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) is recalling the target population of approximately 600,000 my 2000 through 2003 durango and dakota vehicles with four-wheel drive to replace the front suspension upper ball joints with redesigned parts that do not have the joint integrity concerns and have substantially improved joint retention capacity (NHTSA recall no. 04v-596).though dcc does not admit to a safety-defect in the subject components, odi believes that the facts in this investigation show otherwise.because of the low rates of separation incidents in the remaining subject vehicles, a safety-related defect has not been identified in those populations and further use of agency resources does no
Questions about the 2002 Dodge Dakota
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Dodge Dakota?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: suspension (226 complaints, typically around 35,000 miles); brakes (212 complaints, typically around 31,500 miles); transmission (89 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Dodge Dakota have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 4, 2007 (transmission). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Dodge Dakota?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Dakota model year since 2000, with 678 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.