Most common 1999 Dodge Caravan problems
Share of the 555 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 →
1999 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…
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.
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Vehicle description: certain van, wagon, pickup trucks, passenger and sport utility vehicles, fail to comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the front seat belt retractor May not comply with the requirements of the standard.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt retractor. Owner notification began August 20, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
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.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Vehicle description: Mini vans built for fleet sales only. The headlamp module does not identify the park lamp as "drl" as requirement of FMVSS 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Remedy: All fleet owners/operators will be mailed non-removable decals with the required "drl" letters.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 6 possible defects involving the 1999 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
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 1999 Dodge Caravan owners say
Air bags all 119 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Dodge Caravan se. The contact stated when the vehicle is started, the air bag warning light would illuminate on the instrument panel and remain illuminated. In addition, the vehicle horn was inoperable. The contact received notification of a recall campaign (NHTSA campaign id number: 04V480000: air bags) which she believed was directly related to the failure. The recall letter advised a new clock spring would be installed in the steering column. The vehicle had not yet been taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The contact stated the vehicle had previously been involved in a crash but there were no injuries. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 147,750.
Air bag failure: (allstate claim# 4706508639, policy# 099082579) both front airbags failed in my 1999 Dodge Caravan (4 cyc) in a collision involving multiple impacts, rear and front. My est. Speed was 35. Est. Speed of person who hit me from behind was 55. The person who hit me was inattentive and never applied brakes before hitting me. I had 6 teenagers in my vehicle at the time. I was hit 3 times from behind, which forced me to hit the truck in front of me twice. I suffered a contusion in the back of my head and whiplash. My daughter and 2 of her friends complained of pains at the base of their skulls as well. Her friends refused treatment. My daughter was sitting in front with me.
Engine & cooling all 105 →
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the serpentine belt failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the serpentine belt needed to be replaced. The serpentine belt was replaced however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken back to the dealer a third time where the serpentine belt was replaced again however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not notified the third time. Additionally, The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V268000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that a friend had jumped his vehicle due to the battery had failed when gasoline started to spill onto the engine. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. …
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle failed to function as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the timing belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Transmission & drivetrain all 96 →
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the serpentine belt failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the serpentine belt needed to be replaced. The serpentine belt was replaced however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken back to the dealer a third time where the serpentine belt was replaced again however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not notified the third time. Additionally, The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V268000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that a friend had jumped his vehicle due to the battery had failed when gasoline started to spill onto the engine. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. …
I notified the first incident to the dealer about its speed sensor, over the phone, which blew away just after the two weeks of buying this car from his showroom. Last month, the break went bad and were not covered under the warranty, I had to end up replacing the rotor and complete brake set, paying around $300 from my pocket, from a midas in pennsylvania. The third incident was most dangerous, and don't know how I saved the life of my two little kids including the one with 11months infant baby, the automatic transmission blew away while driving normally and lost control on the downhill, in the city of norristown, since its break and the entire system went off due to the failure of automatic transmission and I eventually took a great risk of pulling the car all be myself on the sidewalk and somehow protected each of my family members. …
1999 Dodge Caravan engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Single-speed | 2WD | 37 / 33 / 35 MPGe | 70 mi |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 24 / 20 | — |
| 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 / 21 / 17 | — |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Dodge Caravan a good car?
Based on 555 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Caravan rates avoid: 2.8× 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 1999 Dodge Caravan?
The air bags — 119 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the engine & cooling (105) and transmission & drivetrain (96).
How many recalls does the 1999 Dodge Caravan have?
There are 5 recalls for the 1999 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 1999 Dodge Caravan problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 84,000 miles; 18% 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.