Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Dodge Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While replacing rear brake drums in my garage, it became necessary to jack the vehicle to raise the rear left side and remove the rear left wheel. I broke the lug nuts loose while the vehicle was on the ground, then, using the jack supplied with the vehicle, I followed the procedure outlined in the owner's manual to position the jack in the recommended location toward the left rear at the identified jacking location. I raised the vehicle just enough to remove the wheel. As I was spinning the lug nuts off, the car fell off the jack. This occurred because rust had compromised the structural metal at the jacking location and the weight, while the car was being raised, crushed the weakened steel. Fortunately, I was not too close and was not caught under the wheel or other body part. …
1999 Dodge Caravan, shock tower rust, this is not just cosmetic rust, this is serious structural problem where the suspension can fail by breaking up through the shock tower and collapse the from end of the vehicle. This is a defect by Chrysler and they should pay for the repair. I have two Dodge caravans and both have the same shock tower rust problems. Even the Dodge dealers keep many repair kits in stock because of the large demand. As the Dodge carvans get older, there will be an increased number of failures and possible safety issues. The vehicles are only 10 years old, and have this type of problem is just wrong.
I was driving slowly through the local meijer's parking lot when I hit a pothole. This would not normally be a cataclysmic event but this time the strut tower collapsed allowing the wheel to hit the inner fender. I was traveling at less than 10 MPH so there were no injuries but if this were to have happened at highway speeds death would be guaranteed. There is no reason for any vehicle less than 10 years old to have the degree of structural rust that this van has. I have since seen many more vans with the same structural issues as mine.
The left hand strut tower on my 1999 Dodge Caravan has almost rusted through and I was told by mechanic that it is not safe to drive. Local Dodge dealer said this is not covered under any warranty or recall and that it's only a comestic problem. They want $2200 to repair which is more than value of vehicle. Everything I have read indicates this is absolutely a safety issue and would cause a crash if driving when the strut tower completely fails. Why is there not a recall for this well known and docemented safety problem?
Corroded strut tower on driver's side 1999 Dodge Caravan. Mechanic says this is a very common problem for 1998-1999 model years. Bulletin 23-044-02 describes the problem as "cosmetic." mechanic says repair (using Chrysler repair kit) should run $350-450 usd. If Chrysler is and has been aware of this "safety related" issue for so long, why are they not responsible for the repair. I believe this should be a recall item for the manufacturer.
The strut tower on the driver's side of my 1999 Dodge Caravan has completely rusted out, causing the strut to burst through into the engine compartment below the windshield. A auto body repair man said this is a very serious structural and safety issue. In researching a fix for this problem, I discovered that hundreds of Dodge Caravan, town and country, and Plymouth voyager models were susceptible to this dangerous engineering failure.
During an inspection of our van it was noted that the drivers side strut tower is rusting through. After looking into this issue on line I noticed many cases with exactly the same problem. I am trying to determine if there is any recourse to get this condition repaired. Also I am trying to determine if there is some type of warning before this condition fails resulting in an accident.
I have a 1999 Dodge Caravan in which the strut housing is rusting out. I inquired about it some time ago but Dodge did not have a fix. This problem is a common occurrence with this vehicle . It is now at the point where it will punch through and cause the car to crash on the right side of the car.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that the body of the vehicle was separating from the strut mounts. He feels that the strut mounts will detach soon and cause the vehicle to crash. The current and failure mileages were 155,000. Updated 06/08/09 updated 06/09/09.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Dodge Caravan. He stated that the vehicle lift gate handle rusted causing the rear door not to operate. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The failure and current mileages were 144,000. Updated 10/27/10.
Body complaints in other Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 1999 Dodge Caravan?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the body & structure of the 1999 Dodge Caravan, 5% of the model year's 555 complaints. The component named most often is body (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Dodge Caravan body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 1999 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 1999 Dodge Caravan body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 123,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to body & structure 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.