Three problems related to driveshaft have been reported for the 2002 Dodge Dakota. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Rear end locked up going down highway at approximately 45 mph, sent me sliding into the slow lane and then off of the highway into a driveway coming to a halting stop with my tailgate was still partially in a heavily traveled highway. The driveshaft also dropped down and eventually came completely off and I had to call a roll back to come get truck. I have had this 2002 truck for the past 11 years and I have never been notified by dodage that this could be a major issue. All in all it has been a good truck. This incident really scared me, as I work out of this truck with my business and now I have to suffer a loss for not being able to work until I spend a good some of money to fix this issue so I am able to use it again.
: the contact stated the drive shaft fell off the vehicle while driving 25 mph on a paved secondary road in clear dry conditions, damaging the transfer case. The vehicle was towed to an independent service shop. The service dealer and manufacturer were contacted. Updated 10/25/06.
Ongoing vibration in rear axle at highway speeds. Dodge has rotated and rebalanced original tires, had goodyear replace all 4 tires with new tires 3 times, has sent the truck to big-o for road force balancing 3 times, has rebalanced original driveshaft and then replaced the driveshaft with a new one all to no avail. Has been in for repairs 14 times so far. The final time goodyear replaced the tires, their store manager performed his own test for vibration. He mounted and balanced the new tires and then put the truck into the air on a hydraulic lift taking it up to highway speed. He noted the vibration, then removed the tires from the wheels, still noted the vibration and then removed the wheels from the axle and still noted the vibration. This was noted to both repair dealers, also to no avail.