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U.S. public vehicle records

Dodge CARAVAN problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

8,326 owner complaints analyzed

56 distinct recall campaigns

70,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1984 to 2017 model years. Data snapshot: . 2,740 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 766 of 8,326 complaints (9.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1,36216.4%
Transmission and shifting7999.6%
Steering behavior7759.3%
Electrical and battery issues5716.9%
Engine operation4455.3%
Fuel system concerns2633.2%

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.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission
766
Air Bags
748
Electrical System
734
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
621
Air Bags:Frontal
280
Vehicle Speed Control
252
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
248
Electrical System:Horn
236
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train:Automatic Transmission766
Air Bags748
Electrical System734
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip621
Air Bags:Frontal280
Vehicle Speed Control252
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine248
Electrical System:Horn236

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 766; Air Bags: 748; Electrical System: 734; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 621; Air Bags:Frontal: 280; Vehicle Speed Control: 252; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 248; Electrical System:Horn: 236

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
356
25,000 to 49,999
510
50,000 to 74,999
622
75,000 to 99,999
490
100,000 to 149,999
522
150,000 and above
240
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000356
25,000 to 49,999510
50,000 to 74,999622
75,000 to 99,999490
100,000 to 149,999522
150,000 and above240

Under 25,000: 356; 25,000 to 49,999: 510; 50,000 to 74,999: 622; 75,000 to 99,999: 490; 100,000 to 149,999: 522; 150,000 and above: 240

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (622). 5,586 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.

1995
1,416
1996
616
2000
808
2001
738
2002
792
2003
660
2004
515
2005
321
2006
192
2007
187
2008
220
2009
207
2010
267
2011
210
2012
145
2013
110
2014
227
2015
330
2016
113
2017
78
2018
84
2019
52
2020
14
2021
7
2022
6
2023
8
2024
1
2025
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19951416
1996616
2000808
2001738
2002792
2003660
2004515
2005321
2006192
2007187
2008220
2009207
2010267
2011210
2012145
2013110
2014227
2015330
2016113
201778
201884
201952
202014
20217
20226
20238
20241
20251
20261

1995: 1,416; 1996: 616; 2000: 808; 2001: 738; 2002: 792; 2003: 660; 2004: 515; 2005: 321; 2006: 192; 2007: 187; 2008: 220; 2009: 207; 2010: 267; 2011: 210; 2012: 145; 2013: 110; 2014: 227; 2015: 330; 2016: 113; 2017: 78; 2018: 84; 2019: 52; 2020: 14; 2021: 7; 2022: 6; 2023: 8; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1,362 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 799 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 775 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 507350 · 1996-08-13 (August 13, 1996)

EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 507350 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 967796 · 1995-06-27 (June 27, 1995)

EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE DID NOT HOLD VEHICLE WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE ROLLAWAY. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967796 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 962945 · 1995-04-03 (April 3, 1995)

ROD IN TRANSMISSION FAILED, EQUIPPED WITH AUTO TRANSMISSION. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962945 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 960858 · 1995-03-01 (March 1, 1995)

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, LINES LEAKING. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960858 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 962847 · 1995-03-29 (March 29, 1995)

THE BOLT CONNECTING THE STEERING HAVE COME LOOSE. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962847 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 960115 · 1995-02-16 (February 16, 1995)

STEERING COLUMN FELL APART WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960115 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 975054 · 1995-11-17 (November 17, 1995)

ELECTRICAL WIRING TO DOOR LOCKS & TO POWER WINDOWS BREAKS MAKING THEM NON FUNCTIONAL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 975054 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 960998 · 1995-03-03 (March 3, 1995)

RIGHT-SIDED ELECTRICAL SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN ACTIVATED FOR EXITING VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960998 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 503074 · 1996-04-10 (April 10, 1996)

INTERMITTENT STALLING WHEN SHIFTING TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503074 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 979337 · 1996-02-15 (February 15, 1996)

WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCE ENGINE STALLING/SHUTDOWN WHEN TURNING OR AT 55MPH, THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 979337 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 721560 · 2000-04-17 (April 17, 2000)

VEHICLE PROCEEDING DOWN FREEWAY-LEFT REAR TIRE DISINTAGRATED. WHEN TIRE BLEW-THE TIRE COMPONENTS COMPLETLY TORE OFF THE FUEL FILLER INLET HOSE, AT THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING ENTIRE CONTENTS OF FUEL TANK TO POUR ONTO ROADWAY. THIS IS A SIXTEEN PASSENGER CHURCH VAN. FUEL DID NOT IGNITE. IF IT WOULD HAVE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL SITUATION- PERSON FILLING THIS FORM OUR IS J.P. SARVER- CHIEF OF POLICE- HASTINGS POLICE DEPT. [phone removed], WHO IS ALSO AN ACCIDENT SCENE RECONSTRUCTIONISTS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721560 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 725120 · 2000-07-08 (July 8, 2000)

THE CAP OVER THEN END OF THE 5/16 INCH DIAMETER TUBE FOR DRAINING THE FUEL TANK DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THE TUBE WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL. THE RUBBER ON THE CAP WAS CRACKED AND MUSHY. THIS NOT ONLY ALLOWED THE FUEL TO LEAK OUT, BUT ALSO ALLOWED WATER TO RUST THE FUEL LINE THAT WAS UNDER THE DRAIN CAP. OTHER RUBBER COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM APPEAR TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. THEREFORE, I SUSPECT THAT THIS DRAIN CAP IS MANUFACTURED FROM INFERIOR RUBBER. THE DEALER SAID THE MANUFACURER DOES NOT HAVE THIS CAP IN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 725120 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2001
3
2002
4
2003
3
2004
1
2005
4
2006
2
2007
0
2008
2
2009
2
2010
2
2011
0
2012
0
2013
0
2014
0
2015
0
2016
0
2017
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20013
20024
20033
20041
20054
20062
20070
20082
20092
20102
20110
20120
20130
20140
20150
20160
20171

2001: 3; 2002: 4; 2003: 3; 2004: 1; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 0; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 0; 2012: 0; 2013: 0; 2014: 0; 2015: 0; 2016: 0; 2017: 1

Year-by-year records

Dodge CARAVAN model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
1984133Not available
19853630
1986371-2
1987540-1
1988792+2
198914420
19902153+1
19914089+6
199256790
19936738-1
19944133-5
19953071-2
19969329+8
19975357-2
19985345-2
199952950
20004684-1
20012573-1
20022454+1
20031953-1
2004641-2
20055374+3
20061732-2
2007810-2
20083022+2
200911820
201017220
2011780-2
20128700
20133000
20142000
20152300
2016200
201711+1