2002 Dodge Dakota vs 2002 Toyota Tacoma
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 Toyota Tacoma |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 678 | 333 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 55 | 135 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 55 | 26 |
| Fire reports | 18 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 12–19 | 16–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 40,000 mi | 120,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Dodge Dakota | Toyota Tacoma |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 226 | 82 |
| Structure | 18 | 180 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 177 | 11 |
| Power Train | 89 | 21 |
| Electrical System | 52 | 7 |
| Steering | 44 | 9 |
| Air Bags | 28 | 19 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 34 | 4 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 39 | 8 |
| Clunking / rattling | 37 | 17 |
| Stalling | 32 | 6 |
| Rust / corrosion | 26 | 176 |
| Brake problems | 19 | 0 |
| Overheating | 15 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 5 | 0 |
2002 Dodge Dakota
2002 Toyota Tacoma
Compare all Dodge Dakota vs Toyota Tacoma 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.