Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
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).
2002 Dodge Dakota pu truck headed east on interstate highway went out of control, left the road, flipped once & landed upside down in the median. The right front tire appeared chewed up. The right rear wheel came completely off from its mounting & the hubcap was still on the rim. The wheel was placed in the back of the truck when it was towed away. The vehicle was totaled. Updated 06/27/06
While driving 25 MPH, the consumer heard a noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. A few seconds later the vehicle went to one side and collided with a tree. The consumer was knocked unconscious in the collision. The cause of the collision was the spindle and the wheel separated from the vehicle. The manufacturer and the dealer were aware of the problem.
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 on all four tires. There have been no previous problems with the tires. Because the tires were no longer covered by warranty he replaced all four tires with a different brands. He experienced no further problems after the tire replacement. There were cracks on 3 of the 4 tires. Updated 11/29/05.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. The vehicle has centerline wheels, model tomahawk series-escape. While driving approximately 15 MPH and proceeding to turn left, the front passenger side wheel exploded. There was massive air loss from the wheel. The contact pulled to the side of the road and changed the wheel. The failure occurred on two separate occasions and the wheels were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the defective wheels and provided reimbursement. The contact was concerned of the safety risk involved. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 86,000 and current mileage was 88,000.
Spare tire fell off vehicle while vehicle was in motion. No redundancy in the mechanism that holds the spare tire in place. Metal clip that fits in the center bore of the wheel is the only thing holding the spare tire in place. In the case of my vehicle the clip had rusted and failed allowing the spare tire to fall off the vehicle. If this had occurred on a busy road at speed it could have been very dangerous.
My husband's truck was struck on the rear driver's side. Almost @ the bumper. Police report stated damage to the other vehicle "negligible". My husband was killed. He was partially ejected. The truck rolled over on him. Great road/weather conditions. Light traffic-just the 2 vehicles. 45 MPH speed limit. His back tires were both ripped from the vehicle. All he ever hit was a curb. He was killed instantly.
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 joints were not loose enough to be replaced.
A banging noise was coming from underneath the vehicle. The driver pulled over and the noise stopped. While driving, the noise escalated repeatedly. The consumer was able to drive to a mechanic. The mechanic informed the driver that the hub assembly needed to be replaced please provide additional information. Tire was barely attached.
The left rear original Goodyear wrangler rt/s p265/70r16 tire on my 2002 Dodge Dakota 4wd pick-up truck has belt separation. The truck has only 17,685 miles on it. The truck is used throughout the year primarily as a spare vehicle when the car is being used. I was unable to locate the dot number.
The truck has had sever problems with acceleration and stalling. It also makes a clunking noise when turning the vehicle. There have been numerous amounts of problems with at leat 15 days total in the shop.
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Dakota years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2002 Dodge Dakota?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2002 Dodge Dakota, 3% of the model year's 678 complaints. The component named most often is lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Dodge Dakota wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires 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 wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 27,000 miles, and 46% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries and 1 death to wheels & tires 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.