10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
3,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #20

Jul 222004

Caravan

  • miles
Dashboard guages inoperative, no speedometer, gas guage, temp guage. This failure should be a safety issue. Research shows it has happend to other vehicles.

- West Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #19

Aug 012003

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
1996 Dodge Caravan suffers from intermittent "body control module". one of the possible symptoms of this failure is random failures of the windshield wipers. This failure is unpredictable and apparently widespread over several model years. The body control module is replaceable only at Chrysler dealers who charge over $700 to replace this module. They have contracted with some national service facilities to repair the modules (including "united radio" in syracuse NY) but these service facilites are contractually prohibited from performing repairs on modules submitted by anyone except daimler-Chrysler. This failure is dangerous and daimler/Chrysler is using it as a cash-cow instead of repairing it at no charge.

- Keene, NH, USA

problem #18

Oct 152002

Caravan

  • miles
Seems to be a common problem for Caravan, safety is definitely compromised without the horn operating properly.

- Eagan, MN, USA

problem #17

May 012002

Caravan

  • miles
No summary.

- Franklin, TN, USA

problem #16

Aug 012002

Caravan

  • miles
Failure in safety components, horn and airbag also cruise control. Electrical failure where airbag warning indicator light is constantly "on" horn and cruise control components no longer function. Items are out of warranty, but since they involve safety features, a recall for electrical failures in the steering column/dash area is requested.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #15

Jan 012001

Caravan

  • miles
Air bag light remains on, cruise control does not work, and horn does not work.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #14

Aug 142002

Caravan

  • miles
Fire started while driving. Spread quickly, fully involved total loss. Insurance adjuster familar with Dodge fires. Thank god children weren't in and strapped at the time.

- Lake Placid, NY, USA

problem #13

May 282002

(reported on)

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Windshield wipers are inoperable due to defective body control module. Dealer contacted.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #12

Oct 222001

Caravan

  • miles
Consumer was traveling on highway and noticed a burning smell. Airbag light came on dashboard. There was no horn, and a small fire started in the back of panel. Dealership was aware of problem.

- Ft Hood, TX, USA

problem #11

Oct 011998

Caravan

  • miles
Problem has been on going since 1998... till present... modular has been replaced 4 times... and dash board keeps going out... the odometer, millage, speedodmeter, gas gauge, millage numbers go out, lights for park, nuetral, drive, low, etc, go out, (while driving, or when you shut vechile off or when you start it) windshield wipers go on spontaniously, parts have been replaced 3 times now, , and this time have been told that they don't know how to fix the problem.

- Lyndhurst, NJ, USA

problem #10

Mar 302001

(reported on)

Caravan

  • miles
When interior lights are turned on, using the dimmer switch setting, while the vehicle is running, the dimmer switch starts to burn, interior lights dim and go off and on, and a electrical fire smell fills the vehicle.

- Lancaster, PA, USA

problem #9

Mar 212001

(reported on)

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While traveling, air bag light illuminated for 1 year. Dealer has been contacted. Consumer lost horn and cruise control. Possibly failure of the clock spring assembly.

- Chaple Hill, NC, USA

problem #8

Mar 202001

(reported on)

Caravan

  • miles
While traveling and without any indication air bag indicator/horn, and dashboard went out.

- Loganville, GA, USA

problem #7

Dec 112000

Caravan

  • miles
Blower motor resistor rusted/connector harness burnt -- burning smell in vehicle.

- Feeding Hills, MA, USA

problem #6

Sep 062000

(reported on)

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Intermittently electrical systems malfunctioned, causing windshield wipers and instrument panel to malfunctioned.. computer chip in the windshield wipers has been replaced; however the problem has reoccurred.

- Idaho Falls, ID, USA

problem #5

Apr 172000

Caravan

  • miles
Van shuts off while driving or will not start......once it shuts down U have to wait 15-30 min before it can be started, wipers will shut down or will keep going after car has been shut off.....will runn at whatever speed they want.

- Troy, MI, USA

problem #4

Oct 271999

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer was driving at 25mph on the highway. He was looking in his rear mirror and he noticed smoke trail. Gasoline was dripping from underneath the pipe, and the car was on fire. When he applied brakes, the car kept moving. The vehicle cut off in the middle of highway traffic going 55 mph due to a faulty fuel pump which the manufacturer replaced. 15 months later fuel began to leak from underneath the vehicle causing fire while the customer was driving.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #3

May 311999

Caravan

  • miles
We have more failures that you don't have room for in this questionnaire. We have a huge file on this vehicle and want out of it. It is a lemon!

- Houma, LA, USA

problem #2

Mar 181997

Caravan

  • miles
Integrated child seat wont retract when pulled out. Weatherstripping on drivers door fell off found out the drivers door was not aligned properly. Constant belt noise especially during wet conditions. Dealer must repeatedly tighten them. Brakes pulsate when applying them. Replaced numerous components on rear brakes. Fuel tank would not read fuel level correctly. Dealer had to replace fuel tank, fuel pump, and other components and said the fuel tank was bowed. Dual sliding doors have to be repeatedly adjusted because they become difficult to slide. Driver's side window regulator broke for no apparent reason. Right rear child safety seat had hole in the buckle. Replaced battery once.installed child safety belt extensions due to recall. Van is now back in shop for unknown problems, will not start.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #1

Nov 041996

Caravan

  • miles
While the vehicle was parked in the off position. A fire took place on the passenger side, burning the whole vehicle.

- Grandville, MI, USA