Most common 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan problems
Share of the 290 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Grand Caravan complaints by model year
Best Grand Caravan years: 2020, 2007, 2006. Years to avoid: 2008, 2016, 2005, 2010, 1996. Compare all years →
2002 Dodge Grand Caravan recalls (5)
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.
Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
On certain minivans equipped with 3.3 or 3.8l v-6 engine, the upper power steering cooler hose May split and cause a fluid leak.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the upper power steering cooler hose. This recall began on September 27, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Structure
Certain pickup truck, van, and Mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by American technology components, inc. These units contain a courtesy light or lights that might overheat when the wire harness is exposed to excessive moisture and road salt.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. Owner notification began March 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
On certain Mini vans, the fuel tank control valve weld joint could separate resulting in a possible fuel leak.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and replace it if necessary. Owner notification began October 28, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…
Child seat
Vehicle description: certain Mini vans fail to comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." the owner manuals supplied with these vehicles do not indicate which seating positions are equipped with tether anchorages and child restraint anchorage systems as required by the standard.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with the necessary child restraint system information. Owner notification is expected to begin October 8, 2001.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan:
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…
Speaker fire in the rear of the vehicle
On July 7, 2004, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation based on consumer complaints alleging an interior vehicle fire starting in the area of the driver side rear speaker.daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) informed odi that condensation from the instrument panel air conditioning ducts May drip onto the radio and into vent holes on top of the radio.this can result in a short circuit…
Fuel tank leak
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.
Power liftgate latch
This investigation was opened as pe04-054 regarding reports of alleged power liftgate (plg) opening while driving.the investigation was upgraded on November 22, 2004 based on information provided by daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) in its September 17, 2004 response to pe04-054.
What 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan owners say
Air bags all 59 →
I rolled into the woman in front of me and my airbags deployed. There was no damage to either car except for the airbags. The driver airbag smacked me in the face and chest and thumb. I was only going about 3 MPH because I had stopped and the woman in front of me had stopped and we were both going forward to merge into traffic at a really slow speed. I rolled into her and a second or two later the airbag deployed. Updated 12/03/15
On 12/25/2010 my family and I was driving in our 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan sport, VIN # [redacted]. We slide on ice and snow going down a hill and at about 35-40 MPH we smashed into a tree head on. Both airbags failed to deploy and both front seat belts did not lock. Lucky no big injuries. The whole front end, metal bar, radiator, hood and frame were all damaged. If the tree would have been any larger, we would have had serious injuries.
Steering all 53 →
Dt*: the contact stated while parked at a stop light white smoke came from the heating vent on the passenger side of the dash board. The smoke began to turn black and flames erupted from the dashboard vent. The contact pulled off of the road. The fire department extinguished the fire however, they could not determine the source of the fire. Prior to the incident, the contact smelled something similar to plastic burning. The contact reported the same smell intermittently three to four months prior to this incident. The dealership determined there was a hose leaking fluid and it was replaced. The contact does not recall the type of fluid leaking or the type of hose that was replaced. The smell continued however, the dealership could not determine the source of the smell. Updated on 05/30/2006.
I was driving when my car just turn off,I turn back on whit no problem and time later passes again,sometimes turn off 2 or 3 times a day and sometimes work fine, the computer shows no code, and I change many thing trying to fix it, spark plugs, relay fuel pump, spark plug wires, relay starter. I went whit the mechanic for check the fuel pump and is good. Don't know what else to do. I hope you can help me. Thanks.
Transmission & drivetrain all 42 →
My van,2002 Dodge Grand Caravan, randomly stalls while driving down the street/road whether on straight road or a curve, or with a full tank of gas or less,gas seems to be irrelevant . After stalling will not restart. I have replaced all Mini-fuses,battery, starter,and still will stall. Sometimes while driving above 25 MPH while still moving it will restart on its own. This is a huge safety issue.
On 6/11/03 vehicle was making power steering noises & auto dr locks wouldn't lock at 15 MPH. Replaced power hose, hose clamp & oil trans. Informed I needed new brakes (22, 153 miles & didn't req that they do this when I arrived at shop). 7/2/03 took van in 'cause left rear (driver side) speaker caught on fire while at a gas pump. While at gas pump w/2 of our 4 kids in the car. Brakes that were just replaced prev month were squeaking as well as the steering again. (dealer-brakes squeak 'cause they are metal & there is air in the steering line). 9/23/03 van battery blew up when started. Replaced battery. 12/3/03 steering making noise during turns. Replaced both sway bars links. 12/29/03 steering is very tight & shuddering again & auto lock button on key chain won't work. Ordered new power steering rack & resevoir. …
2002 Dodge Grand Caravan engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 21 / 18 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan a good car?
Based on 290 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Grand Caravan rates average: 37% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Grand Caravan at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan?
The air bags — 59 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal › sensor/control module. Next are the steering (53) and transmission & drivetrain (42).
How many recalls does the 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan, the most recent from November 2, 2004 (radio/tape deck/cd etc.). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Grand Caravan?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2007 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2016, 2005, 2010 and 1996. See the full Dodge Grand Caravan years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 48,000 miles; 51% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.