Suspension complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% | 133,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2008 | 6 | 2% | 35,000 miles |
| 2007 | 4 | 5% | 99,000 miles |
| 2006 | 3 | 2% | 32,000 miles |
| 2005 | 17 | 3% | 36,000 miles |
| 2003 | 8 | 4% | 47,000 miles |
| 2002 | 11 | 4% | 56,000 miles |
| 2001 | 32 | 12% | 45,000 miles |
| 2000 | 43 | 9% | 99,000 miles |
| 1999 | 33 | 6% | 107,000 miles |
| 1998 | 37 | 6% | 115,000 miles |
| 1997 | 20 | 3% | 95,000 miles |
| 1996 | 51 | 4% | 100,000 miles |
| 1995 | 11 | 2% | 135,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The 2008 Dodge grand Caravan is a lawsuit waiting to happen it somes with too many problems that I believe the creators if this vehicle knew about but put out for production any how for the love of money. Too many lives are put at risk. Im requesting a brand new car my vheicle has electrical issues that should not be common, ignition issues turn the key, car stalling, sliding door issues you would think a ghost is toiling with you its terrible, I demand some help my car wont start due to electrical concerns that I didnt cause I took good care of my vehicle but yet it still fails. This car stalled and stopped on the highway, wouldnt start on certain occasions its scary
1st started 1 days after purchase of our Dodge , 2008 , Caravan, from mike patton chry-Dodge- Jeep, lagrange, ga , June, 12, 2008. We notice a pulling of the car to the right with hands off the wheel and high rate of over 40 MPH, both on the rrural and interstate driving. Took back to dealer and had to replace what they refer to as a " cam bolt " component on the right front tire. Over the next couple of years we conti to notice a steady pull to right, the alignment was neve out of align we had check twiced. June of 2011 we are having to replace right front tire and after rotation of tire atleast 3 tires for wear on the outside. All these tires have been place on the right front at some time or another due to tire rotation. I believe the cam bolt componment was defective from the manufacture date of the of the vehicle. …
On the way home from a nice vacation (until this happened)with son and grandkids we were getting back onto the highway (thank god it happen before entering highway the right front axle fell apart caused a fire as well. There was no warning at all. A lady that saw this happened was blowing horn to make us stop. I saw the smoke we pulled over got the kids out called 911. A man from the hotel grabbed fire extinguisher and put the fire out. Van had to be towed. It cost me 400.00 for the repair and had to stay in a hotel for 2 more nights. My son had to get a rental car to drive home to get back to work. The garage said he's never saw this happen. I read this has happened on a 2006 Dodge Caravan as well. Is this a common problem with the Dodge 06 and 07 caravans? Has there been any recalls about this or are they waiting until someone gets killed!!!!!!!!! …
I was about to take my vehicle out of town and had my oil changed on March 10, 2010. My husband said he would change the oil at Dodge dealership and at the same time, check why the steering wheel was shaking. The write-up tech or adviser told him without looking, that the cause was due to the tire. Since the dealership was closing and we have warranty on our tires from sears, he headed there for service instead. After the technician from sears couldn't figure out why the tires were causing the shakiness, my husband wanted the tires balance to see if the shakiness will stop. During that procedure, the technician came to found that the tie rods on both side (inner and outer) were damaged. This was causing the front steering wheel to shake. The tires May go in different directions. This is on a 2007 Dodge grand Caravan model. …
Tl contact owns a 2006 Dodge Caravan. A couple of days after the vehicle was purchased, the vehicle began pulling to the right while driving 25 MPH. The vehicle was returned to the dealer two days later for inspection and they stated that the roads were the cause of the failure, not the vehicle. Two weeks later, the vehicle was taken to the dealer again because the issue recurred. The vehicle was inspected and it was determined that the balance bar was off and repaired for free. Two months after the repair, the vehicle was returned to the dealer, but no failures were found. The vehicle then began making a loud thumping sound while driving 25 MPH or greater. The vehicle was taken to a different dealer and they determined that the sway bar failed. The vehicle was out of warranty and the contact would have to pay $1,000 for the repair. …
Tl contact owns a 2006 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that when doing a regular service on the vehicle, he noticed that the right strut separated from the vehicle. The cause of the separation of the right strut was unknown. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Caravan. The contact was traveling 25 MPH around a curve when the front driver side wheel detached from the vehicle and caused the contact crash into a wall in a parking lot. A tow truck driver was called and advised the contact that the ball joint failed. The dealer replaced the tie rod in the wheel well to repair the vehicle. The contact stated that other parts failed because of rust, but did not know what exact parts had failed. The contact stated that he wanted to submit the part the NHTSA investigators for further examination. The failure mileage was 36,000 and the current mileage was 41,000.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Dodge Caravan. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the lower control arm broke in half which caused him to lose control of the vehicle. The wheel bent outward and the rear quarter panel hit the guard rail and the driver was able to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. He called the dealer and was referred to the manufacturer. He called the manufacturer and was told that they would tow it to another dealer to have it inspected. The vehicle was at the dealer at the time the complaint was filed. The current and failure mileages were approximately 60,000.
Related recalls (2)
Suspension › Rear
The braun corporation is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 Chrysler town & country and Dodge caravan mobility conversions which were altered by braun between January 21, 2009 and March 19, 2010. During conversion, the chassis was raised and the floor was lowered to accommodate wheelchair accessibility features.
Remedy: Braun will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on June 4, 2010. Owners May contact braun toll-free at 1-800-488-0359.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
Vehicle description: minivans. The lower control arm pivot bolt could fracture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right lower control arm bolts and nuts. Owner notification began April 30, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Caravan years have suspension problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1996 (51), 2000 (43), 1998 (37), 1999 (33) and 2001 (32) model years. Suspension complaints make up 4% of all complaints for the 1996.
Is there a recall for Dodge Caravan suspension problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 10V-164 (rear, Apr 23, 2010); 01V-152 (lower arm, May 8, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Dodge Caravan suspension problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles; 27% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front (86 mentions), followed by the front › macpherson strut (45).
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.