2002 Dodge Dakota — 3.9L

The 2002 Dodge Dakota sits on the back end of a sharp complaint escalation that began in 1997 and crested at 842 complaints in 2000, with the target year still recording a high 694 complaints — only marginally below 2001's 686 and well above the 295 logged the very next model year, suggesting 2002 is a late peak rather than a typical mid-cycle figure. Recall activity of 12 campaigns is also elevated, consistent with the 1997–2003 stretch where recalls ranged from 10 to 14 annually, and the single open investigation in 2002 is comparatively low against the four investigations opened in 2000. The complaint mix is dominated by Suspension (179) and Service Brakes/Hydraulic (149), which together account for the majority of filings, followed by Power Train (59) and Engine & Engine Cooling (25); the dataset does not specify root causes for these categories. Of greater concern, 58 crash-related and 18 fire-related complaints represent a non-trivial safety exposure for a used purchase. Taken together, 2002 is a higher-risk year than the cleaner post-refresh 2003–2004 models, and a buyer should approach it cautiously — pre-purchase inspection of the suspension and brake systems is strongly advised before committing.