2002 Dodge GRAND CARAVAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
290 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
48,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 195 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 290 complaints (12.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 58 | 20.0% |
| Braking behavior | 41 | 14.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 32 | 11.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 27 | 9.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 3.8% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 3.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 35 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 31 |
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Steering | 18 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 15 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 15 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections | 14 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 12 |
Air Bags: 35; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 31; Electrical System: 25; Steering: 18; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 15; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 15; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections: 14; Air Bags:Frontal: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 44 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 56 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 39 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 44; 25,000 to 49,999: 56; 50,000 to 74,999: 39; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 16
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (56). 95 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 52 |
| 2004 | 57 |
| 2005 | 32 |
| 2006 | 24 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2008 | 23 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2002: 20; 2003: 52; 2004: 57; 2005: 32; 2006: 24; 2007: 23; 2008: 23; 2009: 7; 2010: 12; 2011: 6; 2012: 8; 2014: 4; 2015: 6; 2016: 1; 2017: 5; 2018: 2; 2019: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 58 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 32 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 10007945 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
I PURCHASED OUR 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ON 4-1-2002 AND IT WAS IN THE SHOP THE FIRST TIME FOR THE POWER STEERING COOLER AND HOSES LEAKING ON 4-25-2002. THE DEALER FIXED IT AND IT WAS LEAKING AGAIN ON 4-29-2002, THEN 4-30-2002, THEN 5-2-2002. THE WEATHER GOT WARMER SO IT DIDN'T SEEM TO LEAK. THEN IT STARTED GETTING COLD AGAIN IN THE FALL AND IT STARTED LEAKING AGAIN. SEEMS WHEN THE TEMP DROPS BELOW 21 DEGREES, IT LEAKS. CHRYSLER SENT A FACTORY ENGINEER TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE WHY IT COULDN'T BE FIXED. HE STATED THAT CHRYSLER IS H…
Owner-reported narrative. 850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008302 · 2003-03-01 (March 1, 2003)
POWER STEERING FAILED. HEARD A WHINING SOUND WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, A SHORT TIME LATER I WAS ALMOST UNABLE TO MAKE A TURN INTO A PARK, BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 4,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021198 · 2003-06-07 (June 7, 2003)
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT 3.3 LITER,18,000 MILES ON ODOMETER WHEN PURCHASED,VEHICLE WANTS TO PULL TO RIGHT, AND BRAKES PULSATE WHEN APPLIED. NOTIFIED DODGE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED, (LEE DODGE,WEST BROOK,MAINE) BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD "THEY" COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM????? I TOLD THEM I FELT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT,THEY SUPPOSEDLY DID THE ALIGNMENT,AND VEHICLE STILL PULLS TO RIGHT! AT THIS POINT THEY HAD A TECH. GO WITH ME,THE TECH EXPLAINED THAT HE FELT IT WAS THE CROWN OF THE ROAD, I …
Owner-reported narrative. 18,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021774 · 2003-05-28 (May 28, 2003)
BRAKE SHOES ARE COMPLETELY WORN OUT WITH ONLY 17,500 MILES ON VEHICLE. *TT *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 17,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021774 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032545 · 2003-08-11 (August 11, 2003)
2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION UNLESS PROBLEM COULD BE DUPLICATED. SAFETY HAZARD: DRIVER MAY INADVERTENTLY EXIT VEHICLE WITH GEAR SELECTOR IN REVERSE POSITION. VEHICLE MAY SUDDENLY MOVE AND CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. EVENTUALLY, TRANSMISSION ENGAGES IN REVERSE, TAKING BETWEEN 15 SECONDS TO ONE MINUTE. CYCLING GEAR SELECTOR AND CHANGING ENGINE RPM SEEM TO HAVE NO INFLUENCE ON WHEN TRANSMISSION MAY ENGAGE IN REVERS…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023547 · 2003-06-22 (June 22, 2003)
MY VAN WAS BOUGHT NEW AND IS JUST ABOUT 1 YEAR OLD. I HAVE BEEN HAVING MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD GO 30 MPH BY ITSELF ALTHOUGH I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE. THIS EVEN HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON AN ICY ROAD. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS NORMAL. ALL THE VEHICLE'S LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES, SOMETIMES LOCKING MY KEYS IN IT BEFORE I CAN GET THEM OUT. THREE MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE HEATER AND AIR DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. A FIRE BURNED THE DRIVER'S DO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030741 · 2003-08-04 (August 4, 2003)
I OWN A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH APPROXIMATELY 11,000 MILES. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND THEY INDICATED IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL DAYS TO CHECK OUT THE WIRING. AS AN ELECTRONIC ENGINEER I FIND THIS TO BE BIZARRE. THE CAR HAS LOW MILEAGE AND THE IMPLICATION OF THE DAYS TO CHECK RESPONSE IS THAT THERE IS A FRAYED WIRE SOMEWHERE AS THE CONNECTOR HAS CHECKED OUT ALL RIGHT. IF THE CAUSE IS A CHAFED WIRE THEN THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW COMPROMISING TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030741 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023091 · 2003-06-15 (June 15, 2003)
RECALL REPLACEMENT OF GAS TANK THAT MIGHT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH MY ENGINE LIGHT TURNING ON NOW I FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM IS COMING THROUGH THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM PURGE (GROSS) LEAK ENGINE CODE P0455 GIVEN TO ME BY THE CAR ITSELF, MY CAR WILL BE TAKEN TO DEALER ON THIS CONDITION MONDAY JUNE 16,2003 AND I THINK THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE REPAIR OF THE RECALL. MY MAIN COMPLAINT IS THAT I'VE BIN AT THIS DEALER THREE TIMES WITH REPAIR DONE OR CHECK DONE ON PROBLEMS TO MY VEHICLE AND THREE TIMES I GET NO PROOF THAT THE VEHICLE WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088036 · 2004-08-17 (August 17, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ENGINE SHUT OFF. DEALER STATED THAT FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED WHICH ENABLED FUEL TO REACH THE ENGINE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007688 · 2003-02-17 (February 17, 2003)
ON FEB 16 MY WIFE LOST THE POWER STEARING ON OUR 2002 DODGE GRAND CARRIVAN [MINNI-VAN] ON 17 FEB 03 I CALLED THE GARAGE THAT SOLD US THE VAN AND DISCRIBED THE PROBLEM. THEY { SERVICE MANG.] TOLD ME ON THE PHONE THAT I PROBLEY HAD A BROKEN POWER STEARING HOSE. I HAD THE VAN TOWED TO THE GARAGE AND THEY MADE MORE STATEMENTS OF A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE HOSES BRAKEING IN THE COLD WEATHER. IT HAS BEEN EXTREAMLY COLD IN MAINE THE PAST WEEK OR SO -20 TO -30 DEGREES. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS. I CAN NOT BELIVE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007688 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026678 · 2003-07-07 (July 7, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 5-10 MPH VEHICLE STALLED AND THEN COMPLETELY LOCKED UP COMING OFF OF A RAMP. UPON STARTING AGAIN IT STARTED TO JERK. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026678 at NHTSA ↗