10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,716 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Dodge Dakota:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #9

Mar 212003

Dakota

  • 1,000 miles
Water leaking in floor board. Water will be standing about an inch deep. Check tsb #2301004. It leaks everytime it rains. Dodge knows about the problem but they haven't done a recall.

- Brookhaven, MS, USA

problem #8

Dec 282016

Dakota

  • 50,279 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the entire rear step bumper was corroded. While driving approximately 60 mph, the driver's side portion bar fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 50,279.

- Warren, MI, USA

problem #7

Jul 012015

Dakota

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. While inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the entire subframe underneath the vehicle was corroded and there were fractures in front of the subframe. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Greenfield, MA, USA

problem #6

Oct 032014

Dakota 6-cyl

  • 125,000 miles
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. The worst part has been the ptsd that I have suffered as a result of the accident -- multiple failure - accelerator, brakes and airbag.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #5

Apr 192014

Dakota 8-cyl

  • 196,730 miles
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.

- Silver Creek, GA, USA

problem #4

Aug 302003

Dakota 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,431 miles
2002 Dodge Dakota club cab P/U has serious water leak to pass side floor. Dealer has had interior out of truck 4 times w/O fixing problem. I am personally aware of many other Dakota owners with same exact problem. This appears to be a model wide defect and Dodge has no interest in dealing with damaged owners. Could cause eleectric short/problems as wiring/wiring connections run under carpet on this side of truck. Dealer must have known of leak and failed to disclose to internet buyer and did best to minimize appearance of dampness by "shampooing" carpets for delivery - very dishonest!!!!!!!!!

- Hyde Park, NY, USA

problem #3

Nov 232003

Dakota

  • miles
Passenger side floor fills with water until it wicks through the carpet completely saturating the area.

- Auburn, ME, USA

problem #2

Jun 072003

Dakota 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 14,000 miles
The passanger side floor floods with about a gallon of water every week. So every week for the pase two months, I had to remove the carpet and soak up the water with towles. So far it cause is unknown.

- Hudson, OH, USA

problem #1

Jul 242002

(reported on)

Dakota

  • miles
Quad cab truck has problems with wind noise, /thumping, and posing pain with the ear drums when one of the back windows is opened. Owner did test drive another truck same make/ model and year that exemplified the same problem.

- Fort Lawn, SC, USA