Most common 1998 Dodge Caravan problems
Share of the 629 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Caravan complaints by model year
Best Caravan years: 2014, 2015, 2013. Years to avoid: 2005, 2000, 2008, 1996, 1997. Compare all years →
1998 Dodge Caravan recalls (5)
Air bags
On certain minivans, the driver's air bag May become disabled due to a failure of the clockspring, which is located in the hub of the steering wheel.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly on all covered vehicles with 70,000 miles or less. For those vehicles with more than 70,000 miles, daimlerchrysler will offer an extended lifetime warranty under which it…
Air bags › Frontal
On certain Mini vans, the clockspring assembly May have been wound incorrectly during the vehicle assembly process.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly on all vehicles with 70,000 miles or less. An extended lifetime warranty will also be placed on this component for all affected vehicles, regardless of mileage.
Seat belts › Rear/other
On certain minivans, some trim material can loosen and drop into the rear outboard seat belt assembly, causing the seat belt to become inoperative.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the trim with foam blockers and inspect and replace all 3rd row seat belt assemblies. Owner notification began June 3, 2002.
Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system
Vehicle description: Mini vans built with 3.3l and 3.8l engines have fuel rails with nitrole rubber o-ring seals that can degrade over time. Fuel leakage from the underhood fuel injection fuel rail could result, increasing the likelihood of a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Dealers will install a seal on the vehicle fuel rails to prevent external leakage of fuel from the fuel rail crossover tube, should the existing o-rings continue to degrade. Owner notification began on January 25, 2002.
Child seat
Vehicle description: passenger minivans equipped with integrated child seats. The shoulder harness restraint webbing was incorrectly routed around the metal reinforcement bar on these seats.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the routing of the shoulder belt webbing and any found incorrect will be properly routed.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 7 possible defects involving the 1998 Dodge Caravan:
Driver air bag clockspring failure
Complaints report air bag warning light illuminates, and this May be accompanied with a non-functioning horn and/or cruise control (if equipped).this is indicative of an open-circuit clockspring failure (results in non-functioning driver's air bag), similar to the failure condition that was the subject of daimlerchrysler's recall of model year 1996-1998.5 minivans (recall no.
Dc minivan fuel injector rail leak
There is no summary currently available
Post-collision fuel system integrity
There is no summary currently available
Rear seat belt malfunction
This investigation was opened January 16, 2002, based on seven reports alleging the third row seat belt retractors failed on certain 1997 and 1998 model year caravan and voyager vehicles.the reports indicated a tar like substance entered the retractor mechanism, thus causing the retractor to jam or bind.in this condition the seat belt is rendered inoperable, as the webbing cannot retract or be withdrawn from the…
Post collision fuel system
Driver air bag clockspring failure
The driver air bag clockspring can develop an open-circuit condition resulting in nonfunctional driver-side frontal air bag, horn, cruise control (if equipped), and/or steering wheel radio control (if equipped).in its October 5, 2004 letter to NHTSA, daimlerchrysler stated that it will conduct a safety recall and replace the clockspring assembly on all my 1998.5-2000 daimlerchrysler minivans, built between March…
Air bag clockspring
There is no summary currently available
What 1998 Dodge Caravan owners say
Engine & cooling all 138 →
Tl contact owns a 1998 Dodge Caravan. After parking and exiting the vehicle, the contact noticed flames rising from under the hood. While inside the passenger compartment, the driver felt heat underneath her feet. The vehicle was towed to a garage and labeled as destroyed. The fuel pump and radiator were previously replaced. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer. The purchase date was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 148,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Dodge Caravan. While driving 40 MPH over a puddle, the serpentine time belt detached from the engine. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 119,000.
Transmission & drivetrain all 103 →
Vehicle was parked in a level parking lot, and while idling in neutral vehicle suddenly slipped into reverse inadvertently. Then, vehicle rolled backwards into another vehicle's left side panel in front of the left rear wheel. The consumer was caught in the drivers side door and dragged to the ground.
On my way home from the dealership I heard a noise in the front end when I arrived home I called a mechanic the next day. He looked at my van on that Monday to find the stabilizer bar broke and zippity strip to the strut which was also bad. The dealer let me drive 180 miles with my son in the vehicle, and the front end was like this. The following week I was driving down the road and white smoke started to come from the vents so I returned to the mechanic and paid $105.00 to have freon with dye ran through my system to find the evaporator was bad and needed replaced, which would cost at least $860.00. Then at 36 days of ownership and only 64000 miles the constant velocity joint is bad and a new transaxle is going to have to be put in this week. …
Air bags all 99 →
Tl* the contact owned a 1998 Dodge Caravan. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into a second vehicle. The front end was severely damaged. The driver's side air bag did not deploy. The passenger side air bag deployed although no passenger was present in the vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The driver sustained a head laceration above the right eye, a concussion, a bruised heart and lung, left knee laceration, and chest bruises from the seat belts. Also, both wrists and elbows were injured. A police report was filed. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 135,000.
The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision while driving at 60 MPH. The vehicle hydro-planed,struck the medium, went over 5 lanes and crashed into the guard rail. The frontal air bags failed to deploy upon impact. The driver sustained minor injuries including a sore neck and buries. The consumer's son was operating the vehicle at the time of the accident. The light on the dash always indicated that the air bags were enabled.
1998 Dodge Caravan engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 22 / 19 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 22 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Dodge Caravan a good car?
Based on 629 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Caravan rates avoid: 3.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Caravan at the same age. It is one of the Caravan years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Dodge Caravan?
The engine & cooling — 138 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline › belts and associated pulleys. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (103) and air bags (99).
How many recalls does the 1998 Dodge Caravan have?
There are 5 recalls for the 1998 Dodge Caravan, the most recent from October 6, 2004 (air bags). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Caravan?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2015 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005, 2000, 2008, 1996 and 1997. See the full Dodge Caravan years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Dodge Caravan problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 15% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.