Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
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).
My car failed its state inspection due to excessive corrosion on the strut towers. When informed I asked the shop if they knew of this problem. They referred me to a technical service bulletin TSB 23-044-02 issued in oct of 2002 which affected my minivan which I was never informed of stating that minvans built between 1996-2000 have this problem and need to be immediately corrected. I went to a Chrysler dealer who informed me that the repair would be in excess of 1300 dollars and that since no recall had ever been issued that they wouldn't cover the repair even though they had issued the bulletin. If the repair isn't made the car will not be able to pass the pa state inspection as the inspector has deemed the car unsafe to drive in its current condition. …
I was told by several people I could report an issue here. I have a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan. Although, the vehicle has 185K miles and runs awesome, the strut tower on the drivers side as almost disintegrated., the passenger side iis still solid as a rock. Come to find out, this has been an ongoing issue for about 6 model years. My question is why has Chrysler not made and attempt to assist owners with this fix. The cause is a dumb one and has been addressed on 2003 and newer models. The cost to fix one side is about $400 for one side and nearly $650 for both sides. This is a lot of money to spend on someonelses mistake. Metal on metal will not remain solid for ever, myself as a chef knows this. When I asked around for estimates,. …
Strut tower housing on drivers side of vehicle under the hood is severely rusted. Upon taking the vehicle to a mechanic to have it repaired, I was informed that this is a common problem with this type of vehicle and has to go to a body shop for repair. I took the vehicle to a body shop who informed me that there have been 4 other customers come in with the same issue in the same place on the same model of vehicle within the last year. This causes a huge safety concern as this housing is what holds the strut in place on the vehicle. If the weakened structure fails, the pressure of the strut will cause the strut to fly off and out of the vehicle with great force. This will not only cause the suspension to fail, but the velocity of the strut itself would be a safety concern. …
Strut tower assembly corrosion (struts assembly could collapse) I am proud owner of Dodge vehicles for many years and drive a 98 Grand Caravan. When the vehicle was taken for a strut repair the mechanic refused to replace the struts as he found the corrosion and said its a safety issue.to my surprise this is a very important safety issue for many American families who own a similar model minivan. I want the safety authorities to look into this matter immediately. All the vehicles with a similar problem should be recalled immediately before someone is injured or god forbidden looses their loved one in an accident. Came to know that this has been a common issue in these minivans and surprise the inspite of knowing the issue there was never a recall ???. …
Dt: consumer complained about a rack and pinion steering and other problems. Consumer drove over a rough pothole with a metal flatbed on top at a low speed. While driving at a street at 25 MPH consumer made a right turn and there was popping noise in the steering wheel. The noise was evident only when turning to the left or right. Took vehicle back to dealer, who said there was a problem with front alignment , but that was all. However, insurance company noted there were problems with rack and pinion steering /front alignment/ radiator, and the transmission pan. Also, consumer noted the engine light was constantly on and it smoked after driving a long period of time. Oil was changed regularly. Vehicle has had a recent front end alignment but no other repairs.
A body shop technician indicated that the strut towers were so seriously rusted as to present a safety hazard. He recommended either replacing the vehicle or repairing the damage immediately, as all it would take is for us to hit a pothole and have the suspension fail completely easily causing loss of control of the vehicle. Chrysler has issued a technical service bulletin (#23-044-02) regarding this issue and although there are a large number of reports of this defect in your database, Chrysler are unwilling to reimburse me to fix the problem as the vehicle is now out of warranty.
I have a 1998 Grand Caravan se with 85000 miles on it. I noticed rusting and cracked metal in the area of the upper strut mount. I contacted the local dealer, and was told this was common, but there was nothing they could do. Also contacted Chrysler customer service in detroit, and was also told there was nothing they would as the vehicle was out of the 3 year/36000 miles warranty. I sincerely hope this situation is looked into before someone gets hurt. I can't imagine what would happen if one of the struts goes launching through the hood!
Tl contact owns a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan. The driver drove the vehicle to a local repair shop to have all four tires replaced. After replacing the tires, the mechanic stated that the front driver's side shock tower was corroded. The dealer stated that there were no recalls; therefore, they were not liable for the repairs. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was unavailable. The current mileage was 120,400 and failure mileage was 120,015. Updated 03/23/09. Updated 03/24/09.
Front strut cone on passenger side is rusted, leaving a 3 x 3 inch gap besides the strut mount. Had an estimate done for repair which is approximately 1.3K including labor on one side. Car runs great at 157.7K miles, recently had to buy a new gas pump, water pump, ABS sensor, and brake caliper on drivers side. All leading up to 1.2K in repairs including labor. Chrysler/Dodge should have a recall on this issue as this can be a potential risk on the road, specially on highway commutes.
The car is on it's third transmission. We like the Caravan as a package, but quality is lacking and problematic. The most critical problem is body rust through. The drivers side shock mount tower is rusted through and Chrysler owner relations refusing to fix it. Never mind that the dealers say the problem is prevalent and Chrysler used to fix it but recently stopped paying for (perhaps due to financial and market conditions).
Suspension complaints in other Grand Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the suspension of the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan, 9% of the model year's 559 complaints. The component named most often is front (22 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension 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 suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 119,000 miles.
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.