Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Dodge Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
** note call consumer to get more info*** my mother bought brand new min van from Dodge, she has for 8 months. She drove in county road. She hit pothole in 40 MPH then air bag blew up. She not able to see road when air bad blow up, that cause van run off right side shoulder. County road have a lot cure. Van has not hit till, she can not see road and wheel go stay straight while road is cure. She have claim to Dodge twice and still deny. She lost everything. I gave her my old truck for her to drive. I and my mother have talk with insurance to find out what going on. He say it have to wait for recall. So now this recall airbag finally come out. She have to go hospital because her head hit by steel wheel.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Dodge Caravan. While driving approximately 35 MPH, another vehicle collided with the contact's vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle did not have air bags and the horn malfunctioned. The contact received injuries to the left shoulder, neck, back, and head that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an auto mechanic facility with pending diagnostic results. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 296,000.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Caravan. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 04V480000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted (eastchester Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, 4007 boston road, bronx, ny) and a repair appointment was scheduled. After two hours of waiting at the dealer's, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, but offered no assistance. Also, whenever the vehicle was started, oil fumes were noticed and the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 11,444. Parts distribution disconnect.
While driving 40 MPH vehicle was involved in a frontal collision. Traffic suddenly stopped, and consumer's vehicle hit another vehicle. Front air bags did not deploy. Driver sustained neck injury. Front passenger's chest was bruised from the seat belt. Four passengers in the rear sustained minor injuries. All passenger were wearing seat belts. Front passenger was taken to the hospital for treatment. There was no indication or warning that there was a problem with the air bags before the collision. Chrysler was sending a technician to inspect the vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated, the horn failed, and the radio failed. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bag clock spring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was made aware of NHTSA campaign number: 04V480000 (air bags); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the passenger side of the contact. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained a contusion on the shoulder. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the air bags were faulty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure and current mileage was 127,000.
Dt*: the contact stated while coming to a stop at 40mph the contact hit another vehicle in the passenger side and the frontal airbags did not deploy. The airbag light was not illuminated prior to the accident. The vehicle sustained frontal damage and was deemed totaled by the insurance agency. The passenger and driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries and both were wearing seatbelts. A police report was filed at the scene. The manufacturer was alerted.
Dt: the contact's vehicle rear ended another vehicle at 35 MPH and none of the airbags deployed. There was extensive damage to the front of the vehicle. The contact was wearing a seat belt. However, she sustained injuries when her chest struck the steering wheel. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was towed to a towing garage. An insurance adjustor has not inspected the vehicle due to the holiday. No repairs have been made.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Dodge Caravan. While driving 50 MPH under normal driving conditions, the vehicle was struck on the driver's side. The vehicle spun, overturned on its side, and crashed into a ditch. Only the passenger side air bag deployed. The driver was flown to the emergency room and is in a coma. The contact has copies of the police report. The engine size was unavailable. The current and failure mileages were 89,938.
While driving at 45 MPH, the consumer's vehicle was two cars behind a stopped vehicle, making a u turn. The first vehicle was struck in the rear, and the second vehicle bounced back and collided with the front of the consumer's vehicle. The consumer and passenger were wearing seat belts, but the airbags did not deploy. One passenger sustained a bruised chest and abdomen. The vehicle was totaled.
Related recalls
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…
NHTSA investigations
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…
Airbag complaints in other Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2000 Dodge Caravan?
NHTSA has 69 complaints about the air bags of the 2000 Dodge Caravan, 15% of the model year's 470 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (21 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Dodge Caravan airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-480 (air bags, Oct 6, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Dodge Caravan airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 25 crashes, 0 fires and 25 injuries to air bags 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.