Equipment complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% | 41,000 miles |
| 2006 | 2 | 1% | 87,000 miles |
| 2005 | 4 | 1% | 93,000 miles |
| 2004 | 3 | 5% | 37,000 miles |
| 2003 | 4 | 2% | 61,000 miles |
| 2002 | 10 | 4% | 40,000 miles |
| 2001 | 7 | 3% | 67,000 miles |
| 2000 | 8 | 2% | 100,000 miles |
| 1999 | 5 | 1% | 50,000 miles |
| 1998 | 10 | 2% | 59,000 miles |
| 1997 | 6 | 1% | — |
| 1996 | 11 | 1% | 66,000 miles |
| 1995 | 5 | 1% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accessories, trailer hitches and other equipment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Description: I was involved in an accident on 10 jan 2010 while driving my 2005 Dodge Caravan sxt. The accident was initially caused by an individual carrying furniture in the back of his pick-up truck. The furniture fell out of the back of the truck forced myself and another driver in front of me to slam on our brakes. I immediately applied my brakes however the ABS did not engage and I skidded into the Chevy silverado truck that was traveling in front of me. I left two 50ft skid marks (my estimate) behind me. Ultimately, the failure of the ABS system caused me to impact the rear of the silverado. Additionally, and just as importantly, my air bags did not deploy upon impact. I was later informed by Dodge/Chrysler, who I complained to, that based on the area of impact the sensors were not damaged, which in-turn was the determining factor why they didn't deploy. …
Driving 2005 Dodge grand Caravan on highway at posted 55 MPH, bang sound under van, pulled over within 10th of mile, spare tire had come loose, was trapped under van, spare tire appears to never have been used, raised van up with a large rock placed under front wheel, drove up rock and with the decline of highway allowed van to come up high enough then pulled spare tire out, wife burned arm on exhaust pipe when pulling tire out, have not had spare tire placed back under van or inspected as of yet.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Dodge Caravan. While the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to use the horn, but it did not work. Approximately four days after the horn failure, the air conditioning failed as well. The contact suffers from a health condition and has been forced to monitor her vitals twice a day due to the failure. Approximately two days later, the radio failed and the instrument panel lights illuminated. There were no warning indicators prior to the failures. The manufacturer has not been notified and the vehicle has not been repaired. The current mileage was 40,000 and failure mileage was 37,000.
On board computer maps almost caused another car to run into me... He was distracted using his map while driving. The solution is have map systems nonfunctional while car is moving. A simple sensor could do this and save a lot of lives. All makes and models not just Dodge.
I had a flat tire and tried to use the spare. However, the winch to lower the spare tire had stripped gears and would not lower. This is only the third time I've ever used it. I finally had to take it to the dealer to have it repaired. They charged $265.
The passenger side rear tire was rubbing the wheel well. The inner fender wheel cover had been modified for the handicap wheel chair causing the fuel tank and hoses to be off center. Modifications were not made by Chrysler.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that the radio wires would short circuit whenever the radio was activated. There was a recall related to the failure under NHTSA campaign id number 04V531000 (equipment). The VIN was not included in the recall. In addition, the driver's side exterior and interior sliding doors would not unlock. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also mentioned that the fuel tank hose was replaced previously. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
After starting the vehicle and putting it into drive, the vehicle suddenly accelerated to a speed of 45-50 MPH without my having pressed the accelerator. The rmp gauge was fluctuating wildly and the engine emitted a loud "revving" sound. I immediately applied the brakes which reduced the speed of the vehicle to only approx. 25-35 MPH. In order to bring the car to a complete stop, I had to "stand" on the brakes (pressing extremely hard). At this point the engine stalled. When my mechanic test drove the vehicle to determine the problem, he, too, indicated what difficulty he had "controlling" the car and was almost in an accident. The car was ultimately taken to d'ambrosio Dodge in downingtown, pa for repair. The mechanic told me he was familiar with this type of problem, indicating to me I am not the first person to have this happen. …
Related recalls (2)
Equipment › Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.
On certain Mini vans, condensation from the instrument panel air conditioning ducts May drop through vent holes in the top of the radio and result in a short circuit that subsequently sends direct current to the rear speakers.
Remedy: Dealers will add a special tape to the top of the radio to prevent the potential of water intrusion. The recall began on January 31, 2005. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Equipment › Other › Labels
On certain minivans and 4x2 pickup trucks, the vehicle certification label May have gross axle weight ratings (gawr) that exceed the maximum tire load capacity as defined in federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
Remedy: Owners will be provided with vehicle certification label overlays containing corrected information relative to vehicle gawr and tire size. Owner notification began March 1, 2004.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Caravan years have equipment problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1996 (11), 1998 (10), 2002 (10), 2000 (8) and 2001 (7) model years. Equipment complaints make up 1% of all complaints for the 1996.
Is there a recall for Dodge Caravan equipment problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 04V-531 (radio/tape deck/cd etc., Nov 2, 2004); 03V-505 (labels, Dec 10, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Dodge Caravan equipment problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles; 44% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the electrical › radio/tape deck/cd etc. (26 mentions), followed by the mechanical › accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift (5).
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.