U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Dodge CARAVAN problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

245 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

52,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 155 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 245 complaints (15.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	45	18.4%
Braking behavior	21	8.6%
Electrical and battery issues	19	7.8%
Transmission and shifting	18	7.3%
Engine operation	7	2.9%
Fuel system concerns	5	2.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Electrical System

Air Bags:Frontal

Tires

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Steering

Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Air Bags	39
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	22
Electrical System	18
Air Bags:Frontal	13
Tires	10
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	9
Steering	9
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module	8

Air Bags: 39; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 22; Electrical System: 18; Air Bags:Frontal: 13; Tires: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Steering: 9; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 31; 25,000 to 49,999: 40; 50,000 to 74,999: 43; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 6

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 90 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2002: 20; 2003: 32; 2004: 40; 2005: 53; 2006: 25; 2007: 16; 2008: 14; 2009: 10; 2010: 7; 2011: 5; 2012: 3; 2013: 7; 2014: 6; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 45 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 19 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10009757 · 2003-03-13 (March 13, 2003)

THE VEHICLE SLID ON SOME ICE AND THE FRONT AXLE BROKE IN HALF. DEALERSHIP WORKED ON THE POWER STEERING PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. *TT *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009757 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10022469 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)

THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP, WHICH WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 17,436 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022469 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031881 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)

CONSUMER STATED ROTORS HAD UNEVEN WEAR. THE DEALER INSISTED THE WEAR WAS NORMAL. *AK THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF BRAKE FAILURE. ONE DEALERSHIP STATED THE BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKED WHICH CAUSED SEVERE PRESSURE ON THE ROTORS WHICH CAUSED THEM TO BREAK DOWN. *PH *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031881 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10043946 · 2003-10-15 (October 15, 2003)

PUNCTURE IN GASOLINE TANK AND DEFECTIVE BEARING IN ALTERNATOR.*MR *CB THE BRAKES WERE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AS WELL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043946 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10048070 · 2003-11-17 (November 17, 2003)

IGNITION LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER STATED THAT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 36,202 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048070 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10048295 · 2003-11-19 (November 19, 2003)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING RIGHT TURN SIGNAL TO COME ON WHEN THE LEFT SIGNAL IS ENGAGED AND VISA VERSA/FUEL GAUGE TO READ THE INCORRECT FUEL LEVEL, AND WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH NOT TO RESPOND TO THE CORRECT SPEED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048295 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10040152 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)

PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SLIPPING ON VEHICLE.*MR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT CONTROLLED THE TRANSMISSION ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT CHANGE GEARS PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR THE TRANSMISSION BUT TO DATE THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 9,965 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040152 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10040312 · 2003-09-22 (September 22, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040312 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10009314 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)

THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY.*AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009314 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10089790 · 2004-08-25 (August 25, 2004)

WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION AND THEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE HESITATED THEN STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089790 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10165844 · 2006-08-14 (August 14, 2006)

2002 DODGE CARAVAN'S FUEL PUMP IS DEFECTIVE. THE BATTERY ALSO FAILED. *KB *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165844 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10568723 · 2014-03-12 (March 12, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO WIRES WOULD SHORT CIRCUIT WHENEVER THE RADIO WAS ACTIVATED. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V531000 (EQUIPMENT). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR SLIDING DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FUEL TANK HOSE WAS REPLACED PREVIOUSLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,0…

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568723 at NHTSA ↗