1994 Dodge CARAVAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
413 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
102,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 50 of 413 complaints (12.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 48 | 11.6% |
| Braking behavior | 45 | 10.9% |
| Steering behavior | 31 | 7.5% |
| Engine operation | 29 | 7.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 1.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 1.2% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 50 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 31 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock | 30 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 22 |
| Air Bags | 20 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 18 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 17 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 17 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 50; Air Bags:Frontal: 31; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock: 30; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 22; Air Bags: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 18; Electrical System:Ignition: 17; Structure:Body:Door: 17
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 5
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 391 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 | 145 |
| 1996 | 82 |
| 2000 | 83 |
| 2001 | 37 |
| 2002 | 31 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1995: 145; 1996: 82; 2000: 83; 2001: 37; 2002: 31; 2003: 17; 2004: 3; 2005: 6; 2006: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 48 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 45 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 31 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 10003707 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITH: THE BALL JOINT, AXLE, STABILIZER, AND THE STRUTS-DRIVING IS BUMPY. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003707 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004184 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 60MPH HAD TREAD SEPARATION ON LEFT REAR TIRE. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004347 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMERS VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005986 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
CONSUMER INQUIRES WHY THERE WAS NO RECALL ON 1994, DODGE, CARAVAN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005986 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005989 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT A RECALL CONCERNING 1994, DODGE, CARAVAN.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005989 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006944 · 2002-05-31 (May 31, 2002)
THE CLOUDY LENS COVER REDUCES THE HEAD LIGHT COVERAGE, REDUCING VISIBILITY. *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*762509
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006944 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007041 · 2000-10-15 (October 15, 2000)
DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED WHILE ROUNDING A BEND CAUSING ME TO ALMOST FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE SEAT BELT I WOULD HAVE FALLEN OUT. AFTER THE DOOR OPENED I SWERVED LOOSING CONTROL HOWEVER THERE WASN'T AN ON COMING VEHICLE AT THE TIME. FROM THE FORCE OF THE DOOR SWINGING OPEN BOTH OF THE JOINTS BROKE OFF AND THE SERVICE MAN AT OUR LOCAL DEALER INFORMED US THAT HE SEES MANY OF THESE PROBLEMS ON THE 1994/1995 MODELS. I HAD ALL OF THE RECALLS DONE TO DATE INCLUDING THE REAR LATCH THAT I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH. I HAVE ALS…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016806 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)
CHRYSLER GEN 3 SEAT BELTS ARE UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016806 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.
00V305000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Reported: 2000-10-12 (October 12, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH 2-SPOKE LUXURY WHEELS MANUFACTURED JULY 1992 THROUGH JUNE 1993; OR EQUIPPED WITH 4-SPOKE SPORT WHEELS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1992 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1993. THE STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE STAMPING CAN CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN.
Consequence: IF THE STEERING WHEEL SEPARATES FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN, LOSS OF CONTROL CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING WHEEL FOR CRACKS AND ANY WHEELS WITH CRACKS WILL BE REPLACED. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL HAVE A REINFORCEMENT PLATE INSTALLED TO PREVENT STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION IN THE EVENT CRACKING OCCURS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V113000 · Air Bags
Reported: 1999-05-06 (May 6, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THE WIRING THAT INITIATES THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD ELECTRICALLY SHORT CIRCUIT TO GROUND. A SHORT CIRCUIT TO GROUND THAT EXISTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE "ON" OR "START" POSITION CAN CAUSE THE AIR BAG(S) TO INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY.
Consequence: INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN INJURE A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERFORM AN ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. ANY SHORT CIRCUITS IDENTIFIED IN EITHER THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INITIATOR WIRE CIRCUIT WILL BE REPAIRED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V213000 · Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments
Reported: 1999-09-02 (September 2, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THE BOLTS USED TO ATTACH THE STRUT TO THE BODY AND THE REAR LIFTGATE CAN ACCUMULATE FATIGUE DAMAGE IF THREE FACTORS COMBINE. IF THE BOLT IS LOOSE, THE GAS STRUT IS OVER-PRESSURIZED, AND THE FREQUENCY OF OPENING AND CLOSING CYCLES IS HIGHER THAN FOR THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER, THE BOLT CAN FAIL.
Consequence: PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR IF THE BOLTS BREAK ALLOWING THE LIFTGATE TO FALL SUDDENLY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR LOOSE FASTENERS, IF THE FASTENERS ARE LOOSE, THE STRUT (AND INTEGRAL BOLTS) WILL BE REPLACED. IF THE BOLT SHOWS EVIDENCE OF TORQUE, THE BOLT WILL BE REMOVED, LARGER WASHERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING WASHER AND THE BOLT WILL BE REINSTALLED AND HAND TIGHTENED TO THE TARGET TORQUED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗