10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
67,231 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2002 Dodge Dakota Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #23

Jun 102022

Dakota

  • miles

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

My 2002 Dodge Dakota sometime will not go into park. other times it will jump out and go into reverse. this has caused my vehicle to roll backwards and destroyed neighbors mailbox. to get it into park takes several tries. I now must use my parking brake anytime I am parked.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #22

Apr 102018

Dakota

  • 211,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. When attempting to drive the vehicle, the gear shifter failed to shift out of gear. When the shifter finally shifted out of gear and into drive, it would shift back into park. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to keffer Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram (located at 8214 E independence blvd, charlotte, nc 28227, (704) 532-1050) where the contact was informed that they would need to take the steering column apart, grease it up, and put it back together because the vehicle was not under a warranty nor included in a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 211,000.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #21

Jan 252019

Dakota

  • 156,000 miles
The car goes into park, but park does not engage. I'm able to remove the key. The column shows park but the car continues to roll. I see that 2002 Dakotas have a recall for this problem but my VIN # doesn't show a recall for this problem.

- Kirkland, WA, USA

problem #20

Nov 162017

Dakota

  • 190,000 miles

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

Recall G38 / the trans shifter started to not go into park at times and then slip out now it will not go into park at all..shifter stops at reverse and I have looked at shifter ajustment and no problem there, the recall said it did not apply to my VIN.but I am having same problems listed as the recall state's other's have, did I miss something and iam in recall added later?

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #19

Sep 072017

Dakota

  • 96,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. While driving 50 mph on the highway, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle stalled without warning. There were no warning indicators illuminated prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to galeana's van dyke Dodge (28400 van dyke ave, Warren, mi 48093, (586) 573-4000) where the contact was informed that the vehicle was under recall for the gear shifter, and that the gear shifter and the ignition needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000.

- Sterling Heights, MI, USA

problem #18

Dec 012016

Dakota

  • 127,249 miles
My truck will not go into park all other gear selections are available but no park. Additionally I'm able to turn the key back to the off position & take the key out. I pulled into work & was unable once I pulled into a parking place to put my truck into park. I ended up having to stay with my vehicle foot on the brake until someone blocked my wheels with a piece of firewood because the parking brake has also failed. Chrysler has a recall for 2001 & 2002 models for this very issue. After calling the dealer & Chrysler my truck is surprise* not covered under recall G28. I no longer feel safe as this truck is my only method of transportation. Chrysler needs to honor their recalls!

- Newcomerstown, OH, USA

problem #17

Feb 122016

Dakota

  • 99,999 miles

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

The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. On several occasions, the vehicle failed to disengage from the park position. The contact also stated that, when placed in park position, the vehicle would roll forwards or backwards on several occasions. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 07V555000 (power train). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 99,999.

- Sanford, NC, USA

problem #16

Dec 192015

Dakota

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. While attempting to shift the gear from park to drive, the shifter jammed. The failure recurred intermittenly. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

- Garden City, MI, USA

problem #15

Nov 212015

Dakota

  • 148,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into park. The contact had to engage the emergency brake in order to prevent the vehicle from rolling away. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 148,000.

- Aurora, CO, USA

problem #14

Sep 112015

Dakota

  • 49,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. The contact stated that on several occasions the vehicle was unable to be shifted out of park. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was repaired in 2008 under NHTSA campaign number: 07V555000 (power train), but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 49,000.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #13

Jan 052015

Dakota

  • 65,500 miles

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

The shifter will not move from park position. I contacted Chrysler due to the recall for that specific problem with that year model. They informed me that it is VIN # related problem (it is a specific VIN numbers that it is related to). I informed them that I'm experiencing the same exact same problem that all sites, reports and blogs are talking about. The final answer is to take my car to be diagnose, depending on the report they may or may not pay for the repairs. How it is different this problem from the problem that I'm having?!

- North Augusta, SC, USA

problem #12

Jan 032008

Dakota 8-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
Ignition/park interlocksystem. Automatic transmission. Shifting lever sticks in park. Cannot shift gear out of park.

- Pearl, MS, USA

problem #11

Sep 022012

Dakota

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. While parked, the contact was unable to move the gear shifter out of park while the ignition key was removed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The technicians advise the contact that the gear shift blocker and bracket assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 07V555000 (power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000 and the current mileage was 90,000.

- Lincoln , NE, USA

problem #10

Jul 082009

Dakota

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. The contact started the ignition and was unable to shift out of park and into drive until after several attempts. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the steering column shift interlock would need to be replaced. There was a recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 07V555000 9power train: Automatic transmission: Lever and linkage: Column shift); however the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- West Orange, NJ, USA

problem #9

Apr 222002

Dakota

  • 300 miles
My 2002 Dodge Dakota has low power and doesn't shift properly doesn't always down shift when I come to a full stop & down shift out of fourth gear to third on its own. Seems to be more often with age of vehicle.

- Cabot, AR, USA

problem #8

Sep 242008

Dakota

  • miles
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota. While the vehicle was parked on the street with the engine turned off, the gear shifter automatically moved out of the park position into reverse. The vehicle rolled without warning. The contact was stationed behind the moving vehicle, but was able to move out of the way. He attempted to open the driver's side door to change the gear shifter and was struck by the door. The vehicle rolled over his right leg, struck a curb, and crashed into the trees. The police and ambulance were not called to the scene. The contact sustained severe injuries. There were no damages to the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence and has not been repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Altamont , NY, USA

problem #7

May 252005

Dakota 8-cyl

  • miles
2002 Dodge Dakota right front wheel bearings and the hub needed to be replaced. The consumer experienced intermittent problems with the air conditioner. Hot spot on the front rotors caused pulsation when braking. The vehicle's transmission made noise and intermittent delayed shifting. The right front hub and bearing were replaced. The right front outer tie rod end was replaced. The left front upper ball joint was replaced.

- Manahawkin, NJ, USA

problem #6

Dec 072004

Dakota 6-cyl

  • miles
The consumer believes that the scope of the ball joint recall should be expanded. The ball joints on the consumer's vehicle failed yet the vehicle was not covered under the consumers 100K miles limited warranty. The vehicle's transmission also failed. The consumer stated that the vehicle transmission stalls and gets stuck in low gear when the engine is cold.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #5

Apr 152003

Dakota

  • Automatic transmission
  • 67,000 miles
Truck had problems of switicng into 2nd while driving at 70mph plus. Had it looked at three times. In April the transnission went. The reverse gear blew up and blew into the case and aslo runined the radiator. Thanks Dodge !!

- Webster, MA, USA

problem #4

Feb 152003

Dakota

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,500 miles
The truck has had sever problems with acceleration and stalling. It also makes a clunking noise when turning the vehicle. There have been numerous amounts of problems with at leat 15 days total in the shop.

- Castle Rock, CO, USA

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