Most common 2002 Dodge Dakota problems
Share of the 678 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Dakota complaints by model year
Best Dakota years: 2009, 2010, 2011. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001, 2002, 1999, 1998. Compare all years →
2002 Dodge Dakota recalls (5)
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift
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).
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.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Upper ball joint
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.
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.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
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.
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.
Equipment › Other › Labels
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."
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.
Electrical system › Wiring
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2002 Dodge Dakota:
Upper ball joint separation
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.
What 2002 Dodge Dakota owners say
Suspension all 226 →
Consumer received recall 04V596000 concerning upper ball joints. While driving 10 MPH suddenly the right front wheel came off, causing the vehicle to strike the ground. Vehicle sustained front end damage. The police arrived, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the consumer made contact with his insurance company. It was discovered later there was a recall for the upper ball joints. Currently, the insurance company was not filing the consumer's claim. Consumer contacted the manufacturer, who sent an independent contractor to examine the vehicle, and consumer heard nothing from the manufacturer since then.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the rear end differential fractured causing the vehicle to spin 90 degrees into the right lane and crash. The specifics of the crash were not available. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
Brakes all 213 →
I had just purchased the car 2 weeks earlier. I was accelerating to merge onto the freeway and the accelerator stuck at 60 MPH. No matter what I did to the pedal, it was stuck at 60 MPH. The brakes would not work either. I was in a runaway car on a busy freeway. I tried to negotiate the traffic for 2 miles then decided I needed to get off the freeway. I started to smash into the freeway off-ramp retaining wall in the effort to slow the truck down which it did to some degree. Then had to barrel through a red light with flashers and horn going and to stop the truck I deliberately rammed it into a wrought iron fence, 2 landscaping boulders and a light post. The airbag also failed. I was rushed by ambulance to the hospital with head trauma and concussion, broken glasses that cut my eyebrow. I have pictures. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. While driving various speeds, the front passenger side brakes seized without the brake pedal being depressed. In addition, the contact noticed smoke coming from the front passenger side where the brake was located. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the calipers or the brake lines needed to be replaced. The contact independently replaced the brake lines, brake calipers, and brake pads; however, the failure recurred and the contact noticed smoke and fire coming from the front passenger side where the brake was located. The contact was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was not filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 165,000.
Transmission & drivetrain all 89 →
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.
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. …
2002 Dodge Dakota engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 22 / 19 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 18 / 17 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 14 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.9L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 11 / 15 / 13 |
| 5.9L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 15 / 12 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Dodge Dakota a good car?
Based on 678 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Dakota rates avoid: 3.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Dakota at the same age. It is one of the Dakota years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Dodge Dakota?
The suspension — 226 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front › control arm › upper ball joint. Next are the brakes (213) and transmission & drivetrain (89).
How many recalls does the 2002 Dodge Dakota have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2002 Dodge Dakota, the most recent from December 4, 2007 (column shift). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Dakota?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2010 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 2001, 2002, 1999 and 1998. See the full Dodge Dakota years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Dodge Dakota problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 39,000 miles; 62% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.