1990 Dodge CARAVAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
215 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
140,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 44 of 215 complaints (20.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 38 | 17.7% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 3.7% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 3.7% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 2.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 1.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 44 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock | 39 |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate | 17 |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut | 11 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 8 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 44; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock: 39; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate: 17; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut: 11; Structure:Body:Door: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 211 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 148 |
| 1996 | 33 |
| 2000 | 16 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
1995: 148; 1996: 33; 2000: 16; 2001: 6; 2002: 4; 2003: 5; 2004: 1; 2007: 1; 2009: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 38 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000775 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
PAINT ON 1990 DODGE CARAVAN IS PEELING OFF.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000775 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005828 · 2003-02-14 (February 14, 2003)
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. AT 48,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER, GLENN E. THOMAS DODGE IN SIGNAL HILL. THEREAFTER, EVERY 15,000 TO 25,000 MILES OR SO, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED, PROBABLY 5 TIMES NOW; THE COMPUTER FOR THE TRANS HAS FAILED TWICE, THE MOTOR COMPUTER FAILED 2 TIMES, THE POWER WINDOWS BROKE OFF THEIR TRACKS, THE SLIDING DOOR JAMMED SHUT AND WOULDN'T ALIGN. NOW THE PAINT JOB ON MY WHITE 1990 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (WITH WOOD TRIM) IS PEELING OFF, MOSTLY ON THE ROOF (WHERE IT IS AL…
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005828 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010150 · 2003-03-08 (March 8, 2003)
I OWN A 1990 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH THE MOTOR. ONE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK THE ACCELERATOR STUCK OPEN. I PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE AND REMOVED THE AIR CLEANER COVER AND MAP SENSOR TO SEE WHAT WHY THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK OPEN. I FOUND A SQUARE PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE TABLE WITH A HOLE IN THE TOP. I WANTED TO FIND OUT HOW IT GOT THERE SO I TOOK THE AIR CLEANER OUT AND FOUND THAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO HOLD THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION FILTER IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CANISTER. THE BAD THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT I WAS ON ICY ROADS AND THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 227,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020031 · 2003-05-16 (May 16, 2003)
THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE'S SEAT BELTS WERE NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED FOR A PERSON 5'4". THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020031 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031378 · 2003-07-29 (July 29, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD SMELL LIKE GAS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086757 · 2004-08-13 (August 13, 2004)
DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM PULLED OVER AND STOPPED SAW WHAT LOOKED LIKE STEAM COMING FROM THE MOTOR. IT WAS DAYLIGHT OUT DID NOT NOTICE THAT HEADLIGHTS DIDN'T WORK JUST THE RUNNING LIGHTS TILL A FEW HOURS LATER. AFTER HAVING HEATER ON HEADLIGHTS WILL COME ON BUT SMELL WHAT SEEMS LIKE WIRES BURNING AND THE SPEAKER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE MAKES A CACKLING NOISE. OTHERWISE YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE HIGHBEAM SWITCH TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS ON.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10086757 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10183038 · 2007-02-20 (February 20, 2007)
I STARTED NOTICING A SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE 1 WEEK BEFORE THE FAILURE. IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN IT WAS COLD AND ONLY WHEN TURNING LEFT. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE A BAD U-JOINT. ON THE MORNING OF 2-16-07 8:15 AM I WAS TURNING LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. IT CHEWED UP ONE OF THE BEARINGS (WHICH A MECHANIC LATER TOLD ME WAS NOTORIOUS FOR GOING OUT) AND DROPPED THEM ALL OVER THE ROAD. I WAS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH NO WAY TO GO ANYWHERE, BLOCKING TRAFFIC. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I WAS AL…
Owner-reported narrative. 87,534 miles reported. Look up ODI 10183038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10257567 · 2009-02-05 (February 5, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO STOP INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE FAILURES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE PUMP AT THE COST OF OVER $400. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 90V145000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE), BUT WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR BEING VERBALLY ABUSIVE TO THE REPRESENTATIVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 141,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10257567 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
89V237000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Reported: 1989-12-27 (December 27, 1989)
THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
Consequence: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.
NHTSA campaign record ↗90V145000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Differential Proportional Valve
Reported: 1990-08-10 (August 10, 1990)
INCORRECT SCREWS MAY HAVE BEEN USED IN INSTALLING THE LOAD SENSING BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE TO ITS BRACKET CAUSING THE CLAMPING LOAD TO BE LESS THAN INTENDED.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN INCONSISTENT FRONT TO REAR BRAKEBALANCE WITH POTENTIAL FOR REAR BRAKE SKID UNDER HEAVY BRAKING CONDITIONS.
Remedy: REPLACE PROPORTIONING VALVE TO BRACKET SCREWS WITH PROPER LENGTH SCREWS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗91V053000 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 1991-04-10 (April 10, 1991)
INBOARD FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY STRAPS CAN SUFFER FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE STRAP NEAR ITS ANCHOR POSITION.
Consequence: FATIGUE FAILURE OF SAFETY BELTS IN A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT CONDITION RESULTS IN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: REPLACE FATIGUED STRAPS OR RETROFIT STRAPS WITH A REINFORCEMENT PLATE AND REMOVAL OF AN ANTIROTATION TAB TO PREVENT FATIGUE FAILURE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗