Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Dodge Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated the air bags warning indicator was illuminated, and the horn and cruise control became inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 176,000.
Pulled vehicle out of garage and shortly after fire started to come up out of the dash. Complete loss. Called fire department to try to put the fire out but it spread in a matter of minutes.. This was not my car but my mother in laws.
Was coming home when I smelt a burning smell. I pulled over to see what it was and could not find anything wrong, but still smelt the smell. I turned back on the car to pull over more in the light to see what was going on (it was dark). When I turned back on the car nothing on the dashboard worked, no blinkers, no temp gauge, no gas gauge, no RPM, no speedometer. About three hours later, still at the gas station I decided to press the trip button and everything came back on but my door ajar button flashes on and off including the lights that come one when the door opens, with the dinging and the locks go crazy. Needless to say, no I did not drive it because I thought for sure it would catch fire. But it seems that this problem has occured to several people they have just failed to report it so it has not been recalled! …
2001 Dodge Caravan - A/C system & dash/electrical instrument panel and lights - had vehicle for only a couple of weeks, total failure of A/C system. Dealer replaced system. System worked approximately three (3) years, then had another total failure of system, along with fan speed switch no longer working medium and high speeds. Vehicle past warranty so had private mechanic replace evaporator. Had to pull dash out to replace evaporator, as no access to make repair under hood, cost of $1,500 due to labor intensive pulling dash for A/C repair. After dash pulled out and reinstalled, dash lights went out a few days after A/C repair. Took vehicle back to private mechanic, stated instrument panel components were falling off, paper/adhesive adhering components to dash dry rotted and no longer sticking. Needed new panel at cost of $1,000. These items were repaired in summer months. …
I bought a brand new 2001 Dodge Caravan se and had engine & electrical problems. Just a few months later, while driving over the bridge out of new york city, the car filled up with white smoke of a really toxic smell. Greenish brown fluid leaked out at my feet. Several times I went to have it fixed, all the fluids would leak out of the bottom of the car, I would take it back to only have it happen again. Finally they clamped a hose underneath the car causing fluids to swish back and forth in the dash area shorting out the electrical system and my lights would flash on and off. (very dangerous vehicle with children). Went through the lemon law unit with a judge that did not usually work in that court, and lost the case after paying a lawyer $2000. That went out on disability! I had no justice and stopped paying on the car. …
2001 - Dodge Caravan - left rear tail light fell out, hanging on by wires. Took to private mechanic, said dealer had to fix. Took to dealer, stated could not reinstall, needed whole new unit for dry rotted rubber gasket. Took vehicle to home depot, bought 1 tube of black exterior silicone caulk. Drove vehicle home, and cleaned area around rear tail light. Pushed light back into place and caulked around dry rotted rubber. Taped tail light to body assembly (be careful to use tape which will not damage vehicle). Left vehicle to sit still for 24 hours as caulk dried. Made this simple repair myself for $2.86 when the dealer wanted over $500 to repair. What a rip off when they can't even make a vehicle that lasts, they have to price gouge their customers.
Since late spring 2008, the headlights on my 2001 Dodge Caravan have intermittently flickered and gone out, then come back on. This continued off and on until I had the vehicle repaired at a vehicle electrical system expert (enormis, erie pa) in July of 2009. They replaced the fuse box for the vehicle at a cost of approx $430. They indicated that they have had to do this with approx. Six other vehicles recently. This was an extremely dangerous situation, having your headlights go out at night on an interstate highway while traveling 60 MPH, especially while it is raining. I have the original part:there should be a recall of these vehicles and I want to be re-imbursed!!! I am an attorney and know a dangerous defect when I see one!!!!
Dt: the caller complained about electrical system problem. He states that headlights will turn off at night without warning. The windshield wipers will shut off as well. Sometimes the headlights and windshield wipers will come back on, and sometimes they won't come on at all. Also, the horn blows, and the dashboard lights will be on, and the automatic headlights will not shut off when the vehicle is turned off. Dealer said they do not know what the problem is. Another dealer replaced the body control module. Manufacturer said to continue to work with dealer.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Dodge Caravan. When she started the vehicle it began to shake uncontrollably and responded as if it would stall. The vehicle was driven to the dealer who stated that the body control module failed and needed to be replaced at the owners expense for $1000. The dealer will also perform diagnostic testing in order to determine additional failures that could have caused the control module to fail. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure and current mileage was 85,000.
Vehicle experiences electrical problems. When the vehicle is parked for more than 8 hours the battery dies. Also, some of the lights will come on, and some won't. Owner contacted the dealer, and was told that it will cost $90.00 just to have the vehicle looked at. Consumer stated that the electrical problems started with the radio, then escalated with the head lights turning on then off while driving. Dealership refuses to inspect van under the recall relating to this problem.
NHTSA investigations
Headlight malfunction
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation after receiving reports from consumers that their headlights would malfunction in various ways from flickering to complete non-illumination.headlight operation is monitored by the vehicle's body control module (BCM) and front control module (fcm).odi is upgrading this preliminary evaluation to an engineering analysis (ea05-009) to further examine…
Headlight malfunction
Owner reports indicate allegations of improper headlight operation of one or both headlights.some report intermittent outage or dimming.many report that the condition is random; it sometimes does not repeat and lasts for a very short duration.
Electrical complaints in other Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2001 Dodge Caravan?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the electrical system of the 2001 Dodge Caravan, 11% of the model year's 257 complaints. The component named most often is horn (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Dodge Caravan electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2001 Dodge Caravan, though it has 3 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 2001 Dodge Caravan electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 3 fires and 1 injury and 1 death to electrical system 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.