2008 Dodge CARAVAN: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 104 | 34.4% |
| Braking behavior | 75 | 24.8% |
| Engine operation | 37 | 12.3% |
| Steering behavior | 15 | 5.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 3.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 ↗
Owner report 10216619 · 2008-01-31 (January 31, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER 6 AND 7 YEAR OLD SONS WERE BOTH SLIGHTLY LEANING OVER THE SEAT, AND ONE OF THEM PRESSED A BUTTON. THE SEAT SUDDENLY RELEASED AND PINNED BOTH CHILDREN BETWEEN THE WELL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TAILGATE. THEY WERE BOTH COMPLAINING THAT THEY COULD NOT BREATHE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND RELEASED THE TAILGATE. BOTH CHILDREN FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THEIR HEADS STRUCK THE CEMENT. THE SEVEN YEAR OLD SUSTAINED A BUMP ON HIS HEAD AND STATED THAT HIS HEAD HURT. THE POW…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,497 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239046 · 2008-08-20 (August 20, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK, THE DOORS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SPRAYED WIPER FLUID, AND THE HORN SOUNDED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER THREE TIMES AND THE ECM WAS REPLACED DURING THE MOST RECENT VISIT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 700. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF THE DEALER THE CONSUMER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER NOT WORKING WAS DUE TO NO OUTPUT SIGNAL FROM THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. WH…
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239639 · 2008-08-25 (August 25, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETECT THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,400.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239639 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 10264178 · 2009-04-05 (April 5, 2009)
I BOUGHT A 2008 CARAVAN FROM A LOCAL DEALER, THE FIRST ROAD TRIP WE TOOK THE FRONT BRAKES GOT HOT AND PULLED TO THE LEFT, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO LOSS POWER, WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VAN FOR LONG DISTANCE, WHAT CAN I DO? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10264178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10264817 · 2009-04-09 (April 9, 2009)
2008 DODGE CARAVAN REAR DOOR THE AUTOMATIC DOOR WAS BEEPING IT WAS CLOSING AFTER I PUSHED THE BUTTON. I DROPPED MY KEYS AND REACHED DOWN TO GET THEM FORGETTING THE DOOR WAS CLOSING. THE DOOR CAME DOWN ON MY RIGHT ARM JUST BELOW THE SHOULD CAUSING A LARGE BRUISE. THE DOOR CONTINUED CLOSING AFTER IT HIT ME. THIS IS THE 2ND INCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THE VAN SINCE I PURCHASED IT DEC. 31, 2008. THE OTHER TIME IT WAS A SIMILAR INCIDENT I DROPPED SOMETHING AND THE DOOR HIT ME QUITE HARD IN THE HEAD AND DID NOT STOP CLOSING. I BELIEVE THE DOOR SH…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10264817 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
10V148000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
Reported: 2010-04-13 (April 13, 2010)
THE BRAUN CORPORATION IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND DODGE CARAVAN COMMERCIAL ENTERVANS WHICH WERE ALTERED BY BRAUN BETWEEN JANUARY 21, 2009 AND MARCH 19, 2010. DURING CONVERSION, THE CHASSIS WAS RAISED AND THE FLOOR WAS LOWERED TO ACCOMMODATE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES. IN RAISING THE CHASSIS, THE FUEL FILL PIPE COMES INTO CLOSER PROXIMITY TO THE LEFT REAR TIRE. IN ROUGH OR AGGRESSIVE DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE TIRE MAY INTERMITTENTLY CONTACT THE FUEL FILL PIPE.
Consequence: CONTACT BETWEEN THE TIRE AND FUEL FILL PIPE MAY WEAR A HOLE IN ONE OR THE OTHER COMPONENTS OVER TIME. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL IN THE EVENT OF TIRE PRESSURE LOSS, OR A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE EVENT THE FUEL PIPE IS COMPROMISED.
Remedy: BRAUN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BRAUN TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-488-0359.
NHTSA campaign record ↗10V164000 · Suspension:Rear
Reported: 2010-04-23 (April 23, 2010)
THE BRAUN CORPORATION IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND DODGE CARAVAN MOBILITY CONVERSIONS WHICH WERE ALTERED BY BRAUN BETWEEN JANUARY 21, 2009 AND MARCH 19, 2010. DURING CONVERSION, THE CHASSIS WAS RAISED AND THE FLOOR WAS LOWERED TO ACCOMMODATE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES. IN RAISING THE CHASSIS, THE REAR SPRING HATS COME INTO CLOSER PROXIMITY TO THE REAR TIRES. IN ROUGH OR AGGRESSIVE DRIVING SITUATIONS THE TIRES MAY INTERMITTENTLY CONTACT THE REAR SPRING HATS.
Consequence: CONTACT BETWEEN THE TIRE SPRING HAT MAY WEAR A HOLE IN THE TIRE OVER TIME. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL IN THE EVENT OF TIRE PRESSURE LOSS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: BRAUN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BRAUN TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-488-0359.
NHTSA campaign record ↗