2002 Dodge Dakota vs 2002 Dodge Ram 1500
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Dodge Dakota | 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 678 | 815 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 55 | 22 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 55 | 55 |
| Fire reports | 18 | 14 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 12–19 | 12–16 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 40,000 mi | 71,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Dodge Dakota | Dodge Ram 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 226 | 71 |
| Structure | 18 | 278 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 177 | 30 |
| Power Train | 89 | 99 |
| Electrical System | 52 | 93 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 34 | 58 |
| Steering | 44 | 44 |
| Air Bags | 28 | 46 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 39 | 24 |
| Clunking / rattling | 37 | 10 |
| Stalling | 32 | 55 |
| Rust / corrosion | 26 | 20 |
| Brake problems | 19 | 0 |
| Overheating | 15 | 9 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 10 |
| Check engine light | 5 | 9 |
2002 Dodge Dakota
2002 Dodge Ram 1500
Compare all Dodge Dakota vs Dodge Ram 1500 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.