18 of the 946 complaints about the 2002 Dodge Dakota are about the body and structure — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 70,000 miles.
18
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #11014945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* 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.
NHTSA complaint #10938567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH THAT CAUSED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO FLY OPEN. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A BROKEN LEG, SEVERAL BROKEN RIBS, AND BRUISES TO THE BODY. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED A BROKEN ARM. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #10816524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* 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.
NHTSA complaint #10731662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #10702732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #10584102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT ON THE ENTIRE VEHICLE HAD BEGUN TO PEEL ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH CLEAR COAT ON THE PAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10386208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE FRAME THAT HELD THE FRONT LEFT TIRE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN THEN DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME WAS BEYOND REPAIR AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED ANY OF THE MESSAGES THAT THE CONTACT HAS LEFT FOR THEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
NHTSA complaint #10363772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE FRAME HAD BEGAN TO SHOW SIGNS OF RUST AND THE ENTIRE REAR BUMPER WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #10346208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
PAINT ON THE HOOD, ROOF AND FENDERS IS PEELING.
NHTSA complaint #10284723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
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!!!!!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10053202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR FILLS WITH WATER UNTIL IT WICKS THROUGH THE CARPET COMPLETELY SATURATING THE AREA.
NHTSA complaint #10048859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE AND HUSBAND HAVE BEEN EVERYWHERE TO TRY TO GET HELP FOR 2002, DODGE, DAKOTA PICK. TRUCK FILLS UP WITH WATER, AND NO ONE CAN FIND OUT WHERE THE WATER IS COMING FROM. CONSUMMER STATES THAT THEY HAD WINDOWS/SEALS/VENTS, AND WHOLE TRUCK GUTTED OUT A NUMBER OF TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. TRUCK HAS BEEN SERVICED 9 TIMES, 6 OF THOSE TIMES FOR WATER DAMAGE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BAFFLED THE MECHANICS THAT TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10032178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #10025553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. *NLM *AK THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: KNOCKING IN THE SUSPENSION(4 ATTEMPTS TO FIX), THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT, THE DRIVER DOOR HAD A WIND NOISE AND WATER LEAKED, THE TAILGATE HANDLE WAS LOOSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN COUPLED, AND THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLTS WERE FOUND LOOSE. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10021656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
SPEEDODOMETER READS LOWER THAN ACTUAL SPEED, CAUSING DRIVER TO GO FASTER. TS.
NHTSA complaint #10001434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
DISCOVERED WATER UNDER CARPET IN DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD. LEAK WAS FOUND TO BE A FAULTY/UNINSTALLED BODY SEAM/SEAL. MR
NHTSA complaint #767765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
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. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #8014635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.