2002 Dodge Dakota Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 226 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the 2002 Dodge Dakota, 33% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 35,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “ball joints” (60% of reports).
- 226suspension complaints
- 35,000median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $950typical repair cost reported by owners
- 24%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ball joints: mentioned in 135 of 226 complaints (60%)
- Front end: mentioned in 58 of 226 complaints (26%)
- Quad cab: mentioned in 28 of 226 complaints (12%)
- Upper lower: mentioned in 27 of 226 complaints (12%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical suspension repair on the 2002 Dodge Dakota at $950, and half of them between $740 and $1,700.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2008), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 169 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 226 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 2 an injury.
Dodge Dakota suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Dakota | 1 | 2% | 60,500 |
| 2010 Dakota | 2 | 6% | 44,200 |
| 2008 Dakota | 5 | 5% | 67,171 |
| 2007 Dakota | 13 | 9% | 47,000 |
| 2006 Dakota | 25 | 9% | 47,000 |
| 2005 Dakota | 51 | 11% | 45,000 |
| 2004 Dakota | 45 | 22% | 32,047 |
| 2003 Dakota | 100 | 34% | 34,900 |
| 2002 Dakota | 226 | 33% | 35,000 |
| 2001 Dakota | 236 | 35% | 46,129 |
| 2000 Dakota | 282 | 35% | 50,000 |
| 1999 Dakota | 342 | 53% | 55,500 |
| 1998 Dakota | 217 | 40% | 62,000 |
| 1997 Dakota | 142 | 32% | 62,000 |
| 1996 Dakota | 12 | 6% | 45,000 |
| 1995 Dakota | 17 | 8% | 21,794 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks equipped with four-wheel drive (4x4), if moisture leaks into the front suspension upper ball joint, evacuation of the lubricant and corrosion of the joint may cause the joint to wear over an extended period of time. This could cause a clunking noise in the front suspension, which may not always be heard by the vehicle occupants.
Risk: Excessive wear in the upper ball joint may allow it to separate, which could result in loss of control of the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front suspension upper ball joints. This safety improvement campaign began on december 21, 2004. Owners can contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Front driver side tire and hub assembly completely broke free from the vehicle this is a follow up from my first intial report to chrysler and also nhtsa phone conversation in which i did a report to both and paid 2500.00 which i still have receipt of paying to have fixed...father had a 2000 dodge…
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…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge dakota. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the rear end differential fractured causing the vehicle to spin 90 degrees into the right lane and crash. The specifics of the crash were not available. A police report was filed and there were no injuries…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 Dodge Dakotas have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 226 owner complaints about suspension for the 2002 Dodge Dakota (33% of the 678 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Dodge Dakota suspension?
Yes: 1 safety recall list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do suspension problems start?
The median reported mileage is 35,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix suspension problems on the 2002 Dodge Dakota?
Owners report a typical cost of $950 (half paid between $740 and $1,700), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the 2002 Dodge Dakota?
The most frequent phrase is “ball joints”, in 135 of 226 complaints, followed by “front end” (58).
Other 2002 Dodge Dakota problems
See all 2002 Dodge Dakota problems or suspension problems across all Dakota years.