Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Dodge Dakota
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Dodge Dakota has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns and 678 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E064000 REPLACEMENT HUB UNITS/ABS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V555000 PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E065000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E024000 REPLACEMENT AIR INTAKE SYSTEMS/DEBRIS CAN ENTER NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E011000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS/LEAKS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V596000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/BALL JOINT WEAR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V216000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MOTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V505000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/FMVSS 102/CERTIFICATION LABEL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V389000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/HEADLAMP/DASH WIRING HARNESS CHAFE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 226 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 176 complaints
- Power Train 88 complaints
- Electrical System 52 complaints
- Steering 44 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 34 complaints
Of the 678 complaints on file, 55 report a crash and 18 a fire; across all 678 complaints, owners report 32 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Dodge Dakota has numerous recalls and complaint reports, particularly regarding the suspension and brakes. With 12 recall campaigns and 678 complaints, it suggests potential reliability issues. However, specific failure mileages and costs remain unclear due to limited data.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| suspension | 80,000–110,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | common |
| brakes | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| power train | 90,000–120,000 miles | $800–$2,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission fluid check
- Suspension inspection
- Coolant system flushing
- Battery replacement
- Tire rotation and balancing
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Clunking noises in suspension
- Brake pedal soft or spongy
- Slipping or jerking in transmission
- High engine temperature
- Dashboard warning lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Dodge Dakota at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.