10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Dodge Dakota electrical problems

electrical problem

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2002 Dodge Dakota Owner Comments

problem #6

Jan 032005

Dakota 4WD

  • Manual transmission
  • 43,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle was taken to dealer for the upper ball joint recall. Dealer told consumer that the lower ball joints wore out as well, and needed to be replaced. Manufacturer stated no recall. Recall campaign; NHTSA campaign id number : 04V596000 dealing with upper ball joints. The recall did not include the lower ball joints with the same defect. NHTSA campaign id number : 04V216000; dealing with the windshield wiper motor. The consumer stated that the windshield wiper motor was serviced and had at least one failure since the repair. NHTSA campaign id number : 03V389000 dealing with the dash wiring harness repaired by the dealer.

- Evergreen, CO, USA

problem #5

Aug 022004

Dakota 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,000 miles
2002 Dodge Dakota 52000 miles first the seat belt light comes on while driving, then all the guages on the dash go dead for about three seconds. Odometer also will not record any mileage also. Then the gauges reset normal. This happens only when the inside gets hot from the sun. Turning the air on and cooling the inside helps to stop or slow down the pulsing of the guages from dead to normal. Replaced central timing unit computer. Did nothing, old unit put back in.next step is to replace dash cluster.

- Onalaska, WI, USA

problem #4

Jun 282003

Dakota 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,000 miles
2002 Dodge Dakota R/T. issue in wiring harness/electrical causes the 5amp fuse regilating the instrument panel lighting to blow regularly, causing a lose of all instrument panel lighting.

- Kirkland, WA, USA

problem #3

Nov 102003

Dakota

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving 70 mph driver noticed sparks were coming from underneath the dashboard. The driver was able to pull over to the shoulder. Vehicle caught on fire.

- Warsaw, OH, USA

problem #2

Dec 222001

Dakota 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 500 miles
Dimmer switch on 2002 Dodge Dakota gets excessively hot after lights are on for several hours with dimmer switch in the in dim position. It is hot enough to burn a child's hand. Switch was replaced three times by dealer and still no change. Dealer refuses to do anything else to fix the problem. I have notified their customer service department, recall department and their Corp. Headquarters.

- Tobyhanna, PA, USA

problem #1

Jun 172002

Dakota

  • miles
The day the truck was picked up, the instrument cluster light fuse was blown. After replacing the fuse, lights were fine for about 3 weeks. Fuse blew again, returned truck to dealer. They looked over the system and said it was a lose wire to the fuse box. Two days later, fuse blew again. They then ordered a new instrument cluster. In the meantime, I continue to replace fuses as they blow. Now it is impossible to replace fuse, as they blow immediately. Dealer now has truck and replaced the instrument cluster still blows the fuse. Truck is now at dealer while they troubleshoot. Truck is unsafe to drive at night without instrument lights.

- Columbus, GA, USA

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