Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
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).
While driving on interstate 24, near clarksville, tn, at 2015 hours, my headlights completely shut off while driving. After a span of 15-20 seconds with no lights, I had to unsafely pull over on the shoulder of the road. After which my headlights began to flicker on and off, for spans of 1-3 seconds. From the time of the first incident to now, my headlights, internal lights, windshield wipers, and tail lights are all inoperable and unsafe to drive during bad weather conditions, or limited viability due to light. From my research this is an extremely frequent problem with Dodge Dakota and Dodge durango owners, with vehicles made between the years of 01' - 03'. I contacted Dodge about the problem and requested assistance, and they were unwilling to help or fix the problem, even though I told them it was unsafe, and that my situation was not an isolated incident. …
The "security light" on dash was flashing and when it is on the headlights go off and dash lights goes dark and turn signals/brake lights comes on. When security light is off the headlights goes on the dash lights are on and turn/brakes lights goes off. This security light ( on dash) will flash on and off every second or will go on solid - if on solid headlights, dash lights will be off - dome light on and turn/brake lights on. This will happen until vehicle is warmed up to 20 degrees ambient temp. The problem is with the "TCM module" on this vehicle. It does not effect the engine or drive train only the lights ! You can be driving when this happens ! People will thing you are an emergency vehicle or crazy ! …
In oct.2002 my truck shut off while driving down the road. In the past the truck had shut off in reverse or when I was at a dead stop and then press the gas, but this time I had to drive with my foot on the gas and the brake at the same time and then put it in neutral at a stop to keep the gas going. I had also had a problem with my blinkers. You turn the left one on and occasionally the right one will blink to-like "hazard lights". My dash board would also light up while driving or even when I come to a stop at a light. I put it off until the driving down the road. The dealership said it was a computer problem and the truck had been doing it since day 1, they couldn't find the problem to the blinkers. Also the A/C condesation line had a crack in it and was leaking into my passenger side floor-that was a second trip. …
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 timer module (ctm) failing possibly due to the same defect that lead to a 2003 recall. Why not 2002? I now cannot drive at night because I had to disconnect it resulting to certain things not being able to work right due to the erratic behavior. I would like to see other model years being included in the recall cause this part is well over $200 to replace. It is suffering from the exact same problems that the recall for 2003 states.
This vehicle, 2002 Dodge Dakota, was driven during the day for some months. In October, 2013 I stayed out late and as I turn the head lights on, a few seconds after all the lights started to blink non stop, even all the dashboard lights. Fortunately I was not far from home, I had to turn all the lights off to get home. An additional alarm system, evs 11 mopar electronic vehicle security systems, was installed when the vehicle was purchased. At first I thought it was the alarm system malfunctioned, I had the alarm system removed but the problem was not solved. I eventually took the vehicle to the Dodge dealer and was told that the BCM needed to be replaced, after a diagnostic test was done. To replace this part is very expensive.
Dt: while applying the brakes at no particular speed there was abnormal operation of the windshield wipers, horn, and lighting system. All of them came on and off all by themselves. The consumer has not taken vehicle to a dealer but planned to do so. The consumer was referred to an independent mechanic, and he could not determine the cause of the problem. No corrections or repairs have been made. No explanation as to why this occurred. This only happened when brake pressure was applied. NHTSA recall 03V389000 was issued but it was for the manual transmission vehicles only-the consumer has an automatic transmission.
I experienced the same failure as many other 2002 Dodge Dakota owners in which the lights stop working or begin to flash without warning. In this instance, the parking lamps, instrument panel, and courtesy lamps flicker on and off. The headlights only seem to participate in the flashing part of the time. It appears likely the problem will be the central timer module, however due to cost I have not yet replaced it. I have determined the problem is neither the switch, relay, or lights. The symptoms are identical to those posting the central timer module defect.
The module controlling my 2002 Dodge Dakota's headlight's, windshield wipers, interiot lights failed. Symptoms are shockingly close to those of the recall (I do have a manual transmission). Headlights failed, brights failed, wipers failed. Only turn signals horn and caution lights remain. Dealer refuses to admit it is related to recall. Symptoms are the same! What do I do about this!?
Traveling through town at 20:30 pm at approximately 35 MPH when all of a sudden the headlights shut off completely. I was able to pull over to the side of the road, but then the headlights began flashing for 1 to 3 seconds but then would shut off for a few seconds and do it again. Then the interior dome light starts flashing and flickering. The turn signals, and brake lights work.
No known event or indication of failure occurred prior to incident. Headlights, dash lights, interior lights, fog lights, door locks, keyless entry, intermittent wipers all ceased to function. This occurred at dawn on a rainy day. Had this occurred during the evening hours an accident May likely have occurred. Repair pending.
Headlight complaints in other Dakota years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2002 Dodge Dakota?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the lights of the 2002 Dodge Dakota, 3% of the model year's 678 complaints. The component named most often is tail lights (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Dodge Dakota headlight problems?
No. NHTSA lists no lights 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 headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 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.