Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Dodge Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While driving 35 MPH vehicle was rear ended and collided into a pole. Upon impact, dual air bags did not deploy. Driver sustained neck and back injuries. The consumer was involved in two accidents with the vehicle in which the air bags did not deploy. Updated 11/7/2005 - the consumer request that the manufacturer investigate the 1995 Dodge caravans for faulty air bags.
Bought a new 1995 Dodge Caravan in May of same year. Short time later a letter notifying us of rear latch door coming open at impact----took care of it. About 3 years after that a 20 amp fuse in position #20 kept blowing, air bag light would come on and rear window wiper would go out. A short time ago while looking up parts for another vehicle at advance auto parts,just for curiosity looked up recalls for the 95 Caravan and found out about the short to ground that exists in the airbag circuit. I never received a recall letter from Dodge. Yesterday the 28th of sept 2009 went to Dodge and they confirmed that there is a problem with this vehicles but they want to charge me for the diagnostic test if it was something else. The diagnostic runs like $110. Now I'm unemployed and my wife is picking up our grandboy from school with this safety item not working properly I'm worried sick. …
We received a recall on the air bags in August of 1999. Took the van to audubon Chrysler center in henderson , ky. To be checked out. We were turning into our driveway when a car topped the hill hit us. The police, the wrecker driver, and the body shop getting us an estimate , could not understand why the air bags did not activate. They had to haul our van on a flatbed truck could not tow it in. My husband has a bruise across his stomach and a knee bleeding and bruised. I have a cracked rib plus bruises and foot and knee bruises. Bobby missed two days work, and I haven't worked since the wreck on the 30 of November. Today is the 9 of December. My question is how many 95 vans are there out on the road with the sma air bags problem? Would there be any surivors if their air bags don't go off? A very concerned customer.
While traveling east on hwy 70 (between morehead city & havelock nc.) my vehicle (1995 Dodge Caravan se) I was struck by another vehicle on the right front side of my vehicle. The impact was such that the axles were knocked out. My passengers air bag deployed and my bag failed to deploy on impact. The bag compartment open after my chest struc the steering wheel. My impact with the wheen was lessened as I was wearing my seat belt (as was my passenger) there was a witness to my air bag failure. The highway patrol were told of the failure by myself as well as by the witness. I am currently ubder a doctors care for extencuve soft tissue damage to the area of my breast bone (internally). My dogdge was totalled out by the nationwide insurance adjuster.
The van was struck from the rear (approx. 35-40 MPH) and was driven into another vehicle. The entire front end of the van was driven in against the motor, both front bucket seat (backs) were broken, the driver seat was facing slightly toward the driver door, the drivers knees were forced into the dash (with her seat belt on) and neither one of the air bags were deployed. Chrysler said this was normal when I contacted them about why the bags didn't deploy.
The air bag and the horn were inoperative. The consumer felt it was due to the defect described in the clock spring recall 02V293000 on later model year vans. The consumers van has never been inspected by a dealer or mechanic to identify what was causing the problem. The speedometer and odometer also stopped working for a few days.
A vehicle hit the consumer in the driver's side rear pushing the vehicle into a landscaping wall and into a tree, the front end of the vehicle was smashed inward, however the airbag experienced no deployment, causing the consumer to sustain injuries, there was a recall on the airbag (99V113) which the consumer did have serviced.
The horn and speed control was inoperative, which was caused by faulty clock spring. The air bag warning light stayed on , because it was discovered the passenger air bag was missing, the bulb was removed from the instrument panel, and the air bag will not deploy in a collision. Scc
While driving 50 MPH vehicle was involved in frontal impact with a deer. Vehicle sustained severe frontal damage. Also, upon impact, driver's and passenger's air bags did not deploy, thus, not protecting the occupant in the crash. Please provide further information and VIN#.
Driving down the highway vehicle was involved in an accident. Upon impact, passenger's side airbag deployed with great force which caused a window to explode clear across the street, causing injury to the daughter.
Related recalls
Air bags
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.
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 investigations
Defective air bag crash sensor
Cfas sent a follow-up letter on December 12, 1996, to change the intent of the petition to airbag aggressivity and deployment variability.NHTSA received the letter on 12/12/96; accordingly, the petition due day was changed to April 12, 1997.cfas petitioned the agency to conduct an investigation to determine whether the airbag crash sensor and/or deployment systems for the 1991-92 Chevrolet corsica/beretta, 1990-92…
Airbag complaints in other Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1995 Dodge Caravan?
NHTSA has 67 complaints about the air bags of the 1995 Dodge Caravan, 14% of the model year's 489 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (35 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Dodge Caravan airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 99V-113 (air bags, May 6, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1995 Dodge Caravan airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 33 crashes, 2 fires and 34 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.