Complaints
946
Crashes
71
Fires
23
Injuries
37
Fatalities
3
Recalls
0
Worst 2002 Dodge Dakota Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#1162 complaints
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint
Avg mileage:36,430 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:2
#269 complaints
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Avg mileage:41,469 mi
Crash-related:1
#368 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
Avg mileage:29,639 mi
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Dodge Dakota.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint | 162 | 3 | 2 | 36,430 mi | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 69 | 1 | — | 41,469 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 68 | — | 1 | 29,639 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 58 | 5 | 7 | 48,671 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 40 | 3 | — | 29,868 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 39 | — | 1 | 145,979 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 28 | 8 | — | 33,536 mi | |
| Suspension:Front | 28 | 1 | — | 30,936 mi | |
| Brakes | 26 | 1 | 2 | 100,344 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 23 | 3 | — | 85,906 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 20 | 2 | — | 58,214 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 17 | — | 1 | 47,115 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 15 | — | 3 | 43,889 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 14 | — | — | 98,605 mi | |
| Airbags | 13 | 10 | — | 106,470 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 13 | 12 | — | 57,231 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 11 | 2 | — | 30,852 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 10 | 1 | 2 | 71,765 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 10 | — | — | 29,691 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 10 | — | — | 20,784 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 10 | — | — | 22,516 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 9 | — | — | 18,538 mi | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift | 9 | 3 | — | 63,768 mi | |
| Body Structure | 9 | 2 | — | 71,634 mi | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 8 | — | — | 33,770 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 7 | — | — | 15,646 mi | |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 7 | — | — | 33,707 mi | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 7 | 1 | — | 33,661 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 6 | — | 1 | 36,000 mi |
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint
162
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Avg Miles
36,430
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
69
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
41,469
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
68
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
29,639
Hydraulic Brakes
58
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
7
Avg Miles
48,671
Automatic Transmission
40
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
29,868
Electrical Faults
39
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
145,979
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
28
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
—
Avg Miles
33,536
Suspension:Front
28
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
30,936
Brakes
26
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
100,344
Transmission / Drivetrain
23
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
85,906
Steering Defects
20
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
58,214
Suspension Failures
17
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
47,115
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
43,889
Headlight/Taillight Failures
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
98,605
Airbags
13
complaints
Crashes
10
Fires
—
Avg Miles
106,470
Air Bags:Frontal
13
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
—
Avg Miles
57,231
Tire Defects
11
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
30,852
Engine & Cooling
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
71,765
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
29,691
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
20,784
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
22,516
Gasoline Fuel System
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
18,538
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift
9
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
63,768
Body Structure
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
71,634
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
33,770
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
15,646
Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
33,707
Steering:Rack And Pinion
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
33,661
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
36,000
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Dodge Dakota. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Dodge Dakota Years
2002 Dodge Dakota — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Dodge Dakota reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2002 Dodge Dakota has 946 NHTSA complaints, 71 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint with 162 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Dodge Dakota?
Top reported problems: Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint (162 complaints, avg 36,430 mi); Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint (69 complaints, avg 41,469 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor (68 complaints, avg 29,639 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Dodge Dakota?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 49,934 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Dodge Dakota?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Dodge Dakota include 71 crash-related reports, 23 fire reports, 37 injuries, and 3 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Dodge Dakota have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 Dodge Dakota as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2002 Dodge Dakota?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Dodge Dakota reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Dodge Dakota
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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