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 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist and then stalled. Additionally, the odometer failed to display the correct mileage and the speedometer failed to display the correct speed of the vehicle while the engine revved. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan. While driving 60 MPH, all the warning indicators illuminated and the horn, speedometer, fuel gauge, and cruise control failed to function. The contact called stew hansen Dodge Ram Chrysler Jeep at [phone] (located at 12103 hickman rd, urbandale, ia 50323) and was informed that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 165,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan. While driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle's muffler became louder and the engine stalled. The vehicle could not restart. The contact stated that the vehicle had an abnormal fuel odor prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the muffler, fuel tank, and wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 156,563.
About three or four times a week I will lose my dash guages. The lights and upper dash light will still work but guages won't. After no set amount of time it will power back up and doors will lock down, seat belt light will come on and van will act like it just started (goes through intial start up sequence). Sometimes the van won't start. Key will be turned and van will start up and immediately stall. This will happen three times and then doesn't roll over or anything. Lately van will lock and unlock itself continually while driving, sometimes unlocking itself after alarm has been set risking the loss of valuables in the car while we are away. The check engine light comes on periodically and we take it into dealer and the computers aren't communicating so they replace wires, etc and fixes for a little while but doesn't fix the stalling problem, etc. …
1998 Dodge Grand Caravan. Tried to start it and it would start and die about 3 times and then not start at all. Replace PCM. Worked a couple days and then started again. Read on web boards of this happening to other people and if they hit the dash it would start and when it happened again I hit the dash and it would start. When it wouldn't start all the guages on the dash would not work. This seemed to work. Then when I went over a bump and turned at the same time the van would die. I could put it in "n" and get it started again while I was still turning. This is very dangerous becase you loose power steering while going around a corner. Heard on message borad if you took the instrument cluster off and check the saudering that this woudl solve the problem. Did this but did not solve the problem. Then the fuel gauge would stop reading when it did have gas in it. …
On 3 occasions recently all the dashboard gauges stopped working while I was driving the vehicle. The gauges resumed either on their own after a few moments or after stopping and restarting the van. Dealer could not recreate the problem and the diagnostic code only said that communication had been lost. The technician claimed that he could not find similar issues in his database, but from this website I see there are many others who have experienced this problem. There does not appear to be sure-fire fix. The vehicle is drivable and lights and windshield wipers continue to work while the gauges malfunction. …
Ignition switch at first would give me some trouble by not turning at all. But I was able to eventually get it to work. After some time without failure, it finally did it again, only this time, it would not budge. I tried turning the wheel, I tried to move the shift lever, all in an attempt to see if it was part of the problem. But to no avail. The ignition switch was completely frozen, and the car would not start. When I had to have it towed, the vehicle could not be put into neutral, because the shift lever is in the locked state when the ignition switch was in the off position. The total cost of the repair, not including the tow, was $250.00. Dealer wanted $325.00. This problem leaves you stranded, and the vehicle cannot be moved because the shift lever is locked. Could happen to someone in a remote area, hopefully the weather will be warm at the time! …
After having my transmission replace I noticed everything on my dash was dead, my ABS and alarm set light would come on. It only stayed that way for a few minutes and then everything would come back on, but then the problem only got worse. I would try to start the van but when I did it would shut back off because my dash gauges were not working and my ABS light was on. I have 3 kids and I depend on my van for transportation. I went on a website " topix" and found that there are alot of people with the same problem, also that is how I got this address. It seems like nobody has the right solution, there are just different suggestions. I think there should be a recall so that way everybody can stop wasting money on what repair shops try (say) and let Dodge figure it out and compensate for all of the hassles, missed appointments, and everything else.
1998 Dodge Grand Caravan - when new, recalled for safety belt repair/replacement and air bag clock switch replacement. For about the past 2 years, the interior light switch and instrument panel lights switch from dim to light with a clicking sound but has not been a problem I feel needed immediate addressing. More recently, rear air vents blow cold/warm/hot air when A/C is turned on. However, front vents blow ice cold air. Rear air vents function differently each time we start the car. All these electrical problems cause me great concern for our family of 5 regarding other essential systems that might be affected in the future. After reading all the other problems with this brand, I'm fairly certain we will be purchasing a more reputable brand when we replace our car. What is Chrysler doing to address these numerous electrical problems?
We were driving our Caravan and had to use the horn. Once I pressed the pad for the horn, the air bag light came on, the horn did not blow and then I determined that the cruise control was not working. Before doing any research I had the repairs completed at the dealer. It was a defective clock spring and the cost to replace it came to $269.01. I then came to this site and found dozens of other complaints exactly like mine. I would list everyone I found but I'm sure you can look them up faster than I could type the id numbers. I also found a recall campaign id number 02V293000 on your site. I asked the dealer about this and they claim our Caravan is not included in that recall. I find this hard to beleave since they admit they are defective in the recall so why isn't ours covered under it?
NHTSA investigations
Air bag clockspring
There is no summary currently available
Electrical complaints in other Grand Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan?
NHTSA has 79 complaints about the electrical system of the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan, 14% of the model year's 559 complaints. The component named most often is horn (27 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan, though it has 4 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 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 104,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries 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.