2002 Dodge Dakota: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 946 complaints
946
Total Complaints
38,000mi
Median Mileage
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
Top Issue
71
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

20,000 25th Percentile
38,000 Median Mileage
64,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
162
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
69
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
68
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
58
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
40
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
39
SUSPENSION:FRONT
28
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
28
SERVICE BRAKES
26
POWER TRAIN
23

Severity Assessment

71
Crashes
23
Fires
37
Injuries
3
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"CONSUMER WAS IN TRAFFIC, APPLIED BRAKES, AND PEDAL WAS HARD. HE PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, AND RELEASED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK"
"CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT SEVEN MILES WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKES VEHICLE WENT INTO TRAFFIC WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER HAD TO SHIFT VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, AND PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP.*AK"
"EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING. TOP OF STEERING WHEEL MUST MOVE ABOUT 8 INCHES TO CHANGE DIRECTIONS. 4 INCHES FROM CENTER TO EACH SIDE."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28