Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Dodge Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Owner states that while driving at 55-60 MPH another vehicle cut vehicle off, causing it to flip over on its side and slide. Owner notes that his rear hatch came open after he had recall work done for faulty lift gate latch.owner also notes that his son was thrown out off vehicle.
First, we were running the A/C on the highway for about 15 minutes and when we got off onto another freeway and stopped for a traffic signal the engine stalled. Every time we stopped it failed again. Then the A/C also caused the check engine light to come on on the interstate at 65 MPH and remain on, we took to a repair shop and the diagnostic showed a bad EGR valve. Then the rear liftgate support has broken causing the liftgate to fall onto a person and caused injury to the head.
Passengers side door was defective, and at bottom of door panel, has separated. Also, drivers side door will not unlock from outside, can only unlock it from inside. Sometimes passengers door will not stay closed. Consumer states that the passengers door is totally dislocated at the bottom hinge and will not stay fastened, it sometimes will open while vehicle is in motion, drivers side door will not open from the outside.
While vehicle is in motion locks on all doors will lock and unlock. Also, interior lights will flash on and off. Dealership said that passenger's side sliding door switch is probably defective and causing this to occur. The dealer replaced the 3 failed switch. Also, the customer hood release cable was installed.
When the sliding door shuts the locks become jammed. The locks have to be locked and unlocked over and over, in order to get them unjammed. Dealer has not seen vehicle. This happens sporadically. Locks have experienced problems since ownership.
Hood latch broke off from hinges; and May causes additional damages if enough air come in contact under the hood and forced it upward. Dealer notified and refused to repair unless cost goes to consumer. Can NHTSA help with this matter.
There's a crack in the driver's door that is causing the door to shift down ward and fail to line up with the latch. Door had to be tied to keep it closed. The vehicle is not being driven because of the door.
Re: doors and latches problem. Can document visit to dealer 3/26/96 although problem started earlier. They aligned doors which were sagging but wouldn't look at locks. Yesterday, 11/29/99 the lock on the drivers door failed completely. I had to drive home holding the door. When I took it to the body shop, the guy said, without even looking at it, what was wrong. The doors sag, a plastic casing in the lock wears down and binds the tumblers and the screws holding the lock/latch in fall out. He says he sees this 2-3 times a week on caravans but Chrysler won't do anything about it. The pass. Side door latch will have to be replaced altogether. He couldn't understand why it was working at all given its condition. It will cost me 375-400 to fix both doors. The latches are $100 a piece, and the guy said they would fail again given their construction. …
Center seat came unlatched from the floor attachment and rear door latch came loose and the door came open during impact. Tt
Passenger's side sliding door fails to stay latched. Would pop open when driving. The panel gauges do not register correct information. Would work every now and then (intermittently).
Door Lock & Latch complaints in other Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are door lock & latch problems on the 1995 Dodge Caravan?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the locks & latches of the 1995 Dodge Caravan, 4% of the model year's 489 complaints. The component named most often is doors › latch (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Dodge Caravan door lock & latch problems?
No. NHTSA lists no locks & latches recall for the 1995 Dodge Caravan, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to locks & latches 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.