Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Dodge Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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. …
I bought a 1998 Dodge Caravan from falls church motors falls church va after a couple of months of driving I started to notice and feel a wobble in the front left drivers front tire a few months later I had a flat while the van was parked it took me and two other men to loosen the lugs on the tire to get of the tire the jack while the van in the air bent and the van fell to the side I pulled one of the men away from the van as I saw it falling toward us we got another jack and got the van back up in the air and put the donut on I than a short time later got on the highway and the donut flew off the van if it were in traffic it could have killed me and other on the highway a couple of month later the timing belt broke and the water pump I thought the van was still under warrant of the extended warranty from falls church motors I later found out it was not they I thought fixed the timing …
Consumer states left front side of vehicle appears to be lower than the right and the brakes wear down only on the front left side, vehicle skidded when brakes were being applied which caused an accident consumer was advised front caliper, rotor and brake pads were needed because they were worn, dealership advised consumer they could not explain why vehicle was skidding, consumer is having to replace the rotor, caliper and brake only on front side every 8000 miles, consumer was advised by delearship that this type of vehicle is known to have problems with the brakes and would probably have to be replaced every six months. Key would not turn in ignition, dealer attempted to remove cylinder and it broke, dealer replaced. Tape dragged in the tape player, dealer replaced. At times when starting vehicle, there is no radio, lights, or horn, dealer could not find any problems. …
I purchased my vehicle in 2000. Two months later my transmission went. 16 months after that my motor went. I had to let my vehicle sit for nine months not being able to drive it and yet still making payments on it before I could afford to replace to the motor. So 3 weeks ago I had the motor replaced and now my transmission has gone again. Supposedly it was replaced with a factory rebuilt transmission the first time around. This seriously upsets me that the transmission has gone again. I still owe 2 and 1/2 years of payments on this vehicle and I am back to I cannot drive it again because I cannot afford to get it fixed. I was told of some factory problem with the transmissions and I wondered if this could be the reason that my vehicle is out of commission again. For the amount of money this used vehicle is costing me I would have been better off to buy a new one. …
While passing a tractor trailer on rt 422 west of pottstown without warning my rmp's shot up and I lost power. My check engine light came on. I pulled off the shoulder of the highway. The transmission was slipping and not shifting correctly. I was able to get my Caravan to quigley motors which is the local Dodge dealership. The diagnosis was 3rd gear was totally destroyed and they found alot of metal fragments in the pan. It's going to cost me $2500. To fix it. The Chrysler corporation needs to acknowledge that there is a well documented problem with this transmission and should rectify the situation. It is my first Chrysler vehicle and it will probably will be my last. The service that I received at quigley motors was horrendous. My van was there an entire week before they could get it in to give me a repair estimate. 5 star service??? I don't think so!
While my wife and daughter were driving, the timing belt on her 1998 Dodge Caravan (2.4 l)broke. The car immediately died in the middle of the street creating a very hazardous situation for my family. Looking at the recommended maintenace on this car I noted that there is no recommended maintenance for the timing belt until 120,000 miles. Thus, since the car only had 72,000 miles, this belt broke far earlier than it should have. I feel that this should not have occurred. Since this can create a very hazardous/dangerous situation if it occurs on a busy street or on a freeway, Dodge should determine whether this is becoming a common problem with this car and if so whether it should notify owners that the belt should be examined far earlier than at 120,000 miles or if the car should be recalled and the timing belt replaced.
My daughter's van with 2 kids inside. (1) no cause. Four failures of same parts. Belt and related pulleys. Dealer(s) can't repair properly. (numerous similar problems noted on the net.) (2)repeated serpentine belt failure - 98 Dodge Caravan, 3.0l engine. Causes instant power steering loss, engine overheating and more. Could easily lead to loss of control, injury or death. (3) parts replaces 4 times. Not fixed, belts still squeal and will come off again.(just found out aftermarket Goodyear and gates kits are available with redesigned pulleys and belt to address this problem. Chrysler dealer mentioned nothing about them) if only some of what I have read is correct, this should be a safety-related recall.
My 98 Dodge Caravan sport is having repeated problem with the serpentine belt and belt tensioner. From a quick search on the web it appears to be a common problem, that the belt would slip off when it gets wet. I have experienced this problem 3 times so far, twice in jan 2006 and another one just today (nov 06). I cannot trust the van anymore, I cannot tell when this problem is going to happen again and when it does, the van lost power steering and would overheat. Lost of power steering can be extremely dangerous especially when trying on a freeway, and being easily overheat would leave me stranded at possibly isolated places. This is a problem that takes repeated fixing yet would not resolve.
Engine complaints in other Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1998 Dodge Caravan?
NHTSA has 138 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1998 Dodge Caravan, 22% of the model year's 629 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline › belts and associated pulleys (46 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Dodge Caravan engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1998 Dodge Caravan, though it has 5 recalls 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.
At what mileage do 1998 Dodge Caravan engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 10 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling 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.