2002 Dodge Dakota Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/12/2026

40Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints

5.9%Of all 678 complaints

#5Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT162 · 23.9%

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT69 · 10.2%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR68 · 10%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC58 · 8.6%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION40 · 5.9%

Share of the 678 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2002 Dodge Dakota overview page.

What owners report

“THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THIS DODGE DAKOTA CLUB CAB 4X4 SHIFTS WITH SUCH FORCE IT THROWS THE PASSENGERS NECK AROUND. IT HANGS IN LOWER GEARS…”NHTSA complaint 10021210 — filed 06/07/2003

“UNSAFE CONDITION INVOLVING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MANIFESTED ITSELF AT APPROXIMATELY 4,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL ENTER OVERDRIVE MODE AT APPROXIMATELY…”NHTSA complaint 10016742 — filed 04/30/2003

“FRONT END LINKAGE. TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT OUT. FRONT END HAS A POPPING NOISE AGAIN ( SAME AS BEFORE) TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT OUT AND CAUSES THE…”NHTSA complaint 10013847 — filed 04/02/2003

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 Dodge Dakota have power train:automatic transmission problems?

Power Train:automatic Transmission is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2002 Dodge Dakota: 40 of 678 complaints on file (5.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2002 Dodge Dakota have in total?

678 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 55 involved a crash, 18 involved a fire, 32 reported injuries, and 2 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.