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U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Dodge CARAVAN problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

302 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

65,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 222 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 161 of 302 complaints (53.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues10434.4%
Braking behavior7524.8%
Engine operation3712.3%
Steering behavior155.0%
Transmission and shifting103.3%
Fuel system concerns10.3%

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.

Electrical System
161
Air Bags
41
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
37
Engine
24
Service Brakes
16
Visibility/Wiper
16
Exterior Lighting
15
Unknown Or Other
12
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System161
Air Bags41
Service Brakes, Hydraulic37
Engine24
Service Brakes16
Visibility/Wiper16
Exterior Lighting15
Unknown Or Other12

Electrical System: 161; Air Bags: 41; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 37; Engine: 24; Service Brakes: 16; Visibility/Wiper: 16; Exterior Lighting: 15; Unknown Or Other: 12

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
42
25,000 to 49,999
40
50,000 to 74,999
42
75,000 to 99,999
36
100,000 to 149,999
46
150,000 and above
16
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00042
25,000 to 49,99940
50,000 to 74,99942
75,000 to 99,99936
100,000 to 149,99946
150,000 and above16

Under 25,000: 42; 25,000 to 49,999: 40; 50,000 to 74,999: 42; 75,000 to 99,999: 36; 100,000 to 149,999: 46; 150,000 and above: 16

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (46). 80 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.

2007
1
2008
5
2009
18
2010
28
2011
31
2012
23
2013
9
2014
54
2015
85
2016
20
2017
9
2018
5
2019
4
2020
5
2021
1
2022
2
2023
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20071
20085
200918
201028
201131
201223
20139
201454
201585
201620
20179
20185
20194
20205
20211
20222
20232

2007: 1; 2008: 5; 2009: 18; 2010: 28; 2011: 31; 2012: 23; 2013: 9; 2014: 54; 2015: 85; 2016: 20; 2017: 9; 2018: 5; 2019: 4; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 2

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 104 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 75 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 37 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 10314864 · 2010-02-27 (February 27, 2010)

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES REBUILT. BRAKE PROBLEM INDICATOR LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR CHECK AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS JUST A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER. BRAKES GAVE OUT ONE MONTH AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT (CERTIFIED) SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT AND THAT THE BRAKE WARNING SYSTEM APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED, RENDERING IT USELESS. ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE INFLATION INDICATOR (DEALERSHIP FIXED THIS PROBLEM AND …

Owner-reported narrative. 14,976 miles reported. Look up ODI 10314864 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10342038 · 2010-07-08 (July 8, 2010)

I HAVE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY VAN. ALL WARNING-LIGHT-INDICATORS IN MY INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD TURN "ON" WHILE I'M DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OR STREET. ALSO, I HAVE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MY HEADLIGHTS THAT FLICKER "ON" AND "OFF" BY ITSELF WHILE I'M DRIVING. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE, SPECIALLY AT NIGHT. MY DEALERSHIP HAVE FAILED TO HELP DIAGNOSE THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342038 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10243611 · 2008-09-27 (September 27, 2008)

THE BRAKES DRAG VERY BADLY ON THIS CAR, PRESUMABLY DUE TO SOME FAILURE OF THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS BRAKES ARE BADLY OVERHEATED ALL THE TIME, WHICH IS A SAFETY DEFECT, AND, EVEN WITH DISC BRAKES CAN CAUSE FAILURE. THE MASTER BRAIN FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS LOCATED WHERE IT'S GUARANTEED TO BE SPLASHED BY WATER AND WHERE ANY LEAKAGE FROM THE TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE IS GONG TO FOUL THE CONNECTIONS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243611 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10248083 · 2008-11-09 (November 9, 2008)

10/14/08, 10/17/08, 11/3/08, 11/7/08 - ELECTRONIC FAILURE, LOST STEERING AND BRAKES, CAR STAYED RUNNING, ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT, ALL INDICATOR LIGHT WERE ON. I HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. IT WOULD RESTART BUT ALL LIGHT WERE LIT. 1ST TIME IN THEY SAID IT WAS A BRAKE SENSOR AND SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. 2ND TIME, LIGHT WOULD GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, ALL LIGHTS CAME ON, LOST STEERING AND BRAKES AGAIN. AND. WIRELESS IGNITION NODE REPLACED, WIN MODULE REPLACED, CONTROL ASSEMBLY, INSTRUMENT PANEL HVAC AND ATC AUTOMATIC TEMP REPLACED. …

Owner-reported narrative. 7,802 miles reported. Look up ODI 10248083 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10283430 · 2009-09-09 (September 9, 2009)

PURCHASED VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 08 AND IN AUGUST OF 08 IT WOULD NOT TURN ON WHILE I WAS PICKING MY DAUGHTER UP FROM SCHOOL. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THE SAME THINK HAPPENED TWICE IN NOVEMBER AND AGAIN IN DECEMBER, AGAIN THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. IN APRIL OF 09 IT STALLED AGAIN AT A BALL GAME WHILE IT WAS RAINING AND THUNDERING AND I HAD MY 5 AND 1 YEAR OLD WITH ME. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT TOWED SO THEY COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. TWO DAYS LATER THEY CALL ME AND SAY IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. …

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283430 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10343048 · 2010-07-13 (July 13, 2010)

BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUES AND POSSIBLE FRONT-END ISSUES IN GENERAL, ELECTRICAL ISSUES. HAD TO REPLACE FRONT TIRES AT 18729 MILES. BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED REPLACED AT 24130 MILES. DEALER ONLY AGREED TO COVER ROTORS AFTER MUCH DISAGREEMENT. STATED EVERYTHING ELSE WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEEN COMING ON SINCE LATE 2009, KEEP TAKING IT IN- STATED PROBLEMS WITH O2 SENSORS. PROBLEM STILL NOT FIXED. DEALER STATES WE MUST NEED NEW COMPUTER, AND THAT WILL BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. BRAKES HAVE BEEN MAKING SCREECHING/RATTLING NOISES AGAI…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,297 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343048 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10208215 · 2007-11-07 (November 7, 2007)

AT 1,200 MILES I WAS GOING 70MPH (CRUISE CONTROL "ON") UP A HILL ON RT 40 IN TENNESSEE AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT INTO LIMP MODE 2ND GEAR. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE THE SHOULDER AT 30MPH AND TOOK AN EXIT. ROADSIDE ASSIST TOWED IT TO HELMS DODGE. THEY PULLED A "P0750" DTC CODE (SOLENOID A FAULT I THINK) BUT THE TRANSMISSION HAD RESET AND THEY COULDN'T MAKE IT GO BAD IN 13 MILES OF DRIVING. I ASKED THEM TO CHECK FLUID LEVEL -- THEY SAID THEY WOULD. THEY SAID IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN TO TURN IT OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND IT MAY RESET AGAIN. BUT, I MA…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,974 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208215 at NHTSA ↗