Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Dodge Dakota owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
, I was in a car accident on December 15 because my brakes failed and was hurt across my chest. The impact was strong because for a moment I lost time, but the hospital didn't give any brain scans. My chest hurt severely for a month and I still feel pain when I lift or move a certain way. Anyway I and many other people wondered why my airbag did not go off. I was not able to get my car out of the pound for lack of money but the front was much damaged. Would this fall under the recall that going on with the Takata corp.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. While driving 40 MPH he crashed into a light pole. Upon impact the frontal air bags failed to deploy. As a result he sustained injuries to his back, shoulder and hip on the left side. A police report was filed. The vehicle is currently being inspected by an insurance adjuster. He notified the manufacturer and was advised by a representative that unless the engine comes into the cab, the air bags will not deploy. The failure and current mileages were 93,120. Updated 10/19/09 the consumer stated he suddenly steered towards the pole to avoid being hit by vehicle #2. The manufacturer sent the consumer a letter stating the vehicle failed to reach the correct deceleration speed and found no problems with the system and no codes were present. …
Tl contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. While driving between 55-60 MPH, the contact blacked out. The vehicle veered to the left, clipped a telephone pole, and dropped down 15 feet into a creek. The driver side air bag failed to deploy. The contact climbed out of the window and collapsed. He was transported to the hospital in an ambulance. The contact suffered severe whiplash, and herniated and ruptured one disc in his neck. He now has a titanium plate in his neck and is experiencing back pain, along with difficulty keeping his balance. The insurance company stated that the vehicle was destroyed. The contact has pictures available. Police report number 79061-08 was filed. The current and failure mileages were 61,600.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. While driving 10 MPH in rainy weather conditions, the contact's vehicle was struck head-on by another vehicle traveling approximately 55 MPH. The contact's air bags failed to deploy and there were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The police and ambulance were called to the scene and a report was filed. Two occupants sustained severe injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a collision center. The failure and current mileages were 100,000. Updated 03/04/09. Updated 03/06/09.
I was turning left on to wax rd at a red light going up hill when it was raining the truck right rear tire broke traction put me in a fishtail lost control of the vehicle and flipped the truck on its top damaged the driver side bent the frame caved in the roof busted my windshield I was pulled out by an pedestrian but the airbag did not deploy none of the safety features did not work but the seat belt only. Where the throttle was sticking that gave the impression that I was playing carelessly.
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 contacted daimler-Chrysler and the rep. Told me that any manufacterer vehicle must be accellerating with an impact force to trigger the airbags.talk about a false sense of security.
When the brake pedal was depressed to slow down the vehicle when approaching an intersection at 20 - 25 MPH it failed to do so. As a result, consumer applied more force to the brake pedal. Then, tabs locked up and the vehicle skidded. Vehicle stopped when it smashed into another vehicle. Upon impact, none of the frontal air bags deployed. This incident occurred while driving on a wet road. Prior to the accident, brake pedal vibrated when depressed.
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 accelleration and suddenly hit in the front.what if someone was sitting at a stopsign and another vehicle came in their lane and hit head on?
While driving 35 MPH consumer was approaching a red light while applying the brakes and brake pedal felt like a wet sponge. The vehicle never slowed down. Consumer applied the emergency brake, but a collision occurred. Consumer's vehicle collided with the rear end of the vehicle in front. The consumer was wearing a seat belt, but the drivers side air bag did not deploy. The manufacturer and the dealer were informed of the crash.
Airbag complaints in other Dakota years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2002 Dodge Dakota?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Dodge Dakota, 4% of the model year's 678 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Dodge Dakota airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2002 Dodge Dakota, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Dodge Dakota airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 59,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 23 crashes, 0 fires and 18 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.