10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
18 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
18 / 0
Average Mileage:
33,284 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1998 Dodge Caravan:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #32

Jun 152006

Caravan 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 133,000 miles
: the contact stated a NHTSA recall letter #02V293000, pertaining to the airbag:frontal, was received after having the part repaired. The manufacturer was notified about reimbursement for parts and labor. The manufacturer only agreed to reimburse for parts not labor. The contact would like to be reimbursed for all as promised in the recall letter received. Updated 11/30/06.

- Ambler, PA, USA

problem #31

Oct 112005

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Caravan. The vehicle was involved in a frontal accident at 55 mph. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy, and the seat belt did not restrain. The contact's husband was driving the vehicle and he hit the steering wheel, and his coworker was the passenger, and he went into the windshield. Both occupants where wearing their seat belts and where properly restrained. The air bag warning light was on before recall repairs had been done in July 2005, and horn would not work. After the recall repairs were completed the light did not come back on. There was pre-impact braking to both occupants. This caused injuries to both occupants. The dealership and the manufacturer have been contacted, and they told her they would send her file off to special investigations, and she may hear from back from them, and she may not. This accident occurred on October 11, 2005. T a police report was taken. The accident caused property damage to the vehicle.

- Berwyn, IL, USA

problem #30

Mar 232005

Caravan 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Contact stated on 3-20-05 another van veered into contact's vehicle lane and hit it and ran it into a cement pole. Vehicle was totaled. Upon impact, driver's side air bag did not deploy, but passenger's side air bag deployed. There was one injury. Contact not yet talked to dealer or manufacturer. Contact received a recall letter on 8-8-05 regarding the clock spring in the air bag. She did not think the air bag light illuminated on the dashboard before the accident. Contact owned the car for 14 days prior to the accident.

- Elberton, GA, USA

problem #29

Nov 152004

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
During a vehicle accident the airbags did not deploy. The vehicle was hit on the right front passenger side.

- Henry, TN, USA

problem #28

Sep 072004

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles
While driving between 35-45 mph, going around a curb, the back of the van skidded. This resulted in the vehicle going over a hill, and impacting a tree head on. Upon impact, only passenger's air bag deployed. Also, the seat belt failed to retract. Driver sustained I facial injuries. Vehicle was totaled.

- Ulysses, KY, USA

problem #27

Aug 182004

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,616 miles
Due to the failure of the clock spring assembly. The horn became inoperable and the air bag light illuminate on the the dash board. Although the consumer's vehicle exhibited symptoms of recall 02V-293000, the vehicle was not included due to VIN. The consumer paid to have the clockspring replaced.

- Lynbrook, NY, USA

problem #26

May 162004

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 111,000 miles
The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision while driving at 60 mph. The vehicle hydro-planed, struck the medium, went over 5 lanes and crashed into the guard rail. The frontal air bags failed to deploy upon impact. The driver sustained minor injuries including a sore neck and buries. The consumer's son was operating the vehicle at the time of the accident. The light on the dash always indicated that the air bags were enabled.

- Smyrna, GA, USA

problem #25

Mar 142004

Caravan

  • 125,000 miles
While driving air bag light suddenly illuminated on the dashboard. When this occurred it rendered the horn and cruise control inoperative. Recall 02V290000 was issued for the air bag, but this vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN.

- Paw Paw, IL, USA

problem #24

Jan 302004

(reported on)

Caravan

  • 33,000 miles
Vehicle was involved a frontal crash. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. Dealership was notified.

- Hutchinson, KS, USA

problem #23

Jan 142004

Caravan

  • 151,000 miles
At any speed air bag light stays on. Also, horn is inoperable, and cruise control does not work. There is recall 02V293000 concerning clock spring failure. However, this vehicle is not included in the recall due to VIN.

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #22

Mar 172004

(reported on)

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles
The air bag warning light stayed on which rendered the cruise control and the horn inoperative. There was air bag clock spring recall 02V293000, but this vehicle was not included due to VIN.

- Bushnell, IL, USA

problem #21

Oct 232003

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 94,469 miles
My 98 Dodge Caravan had a failed clockspring, which caused the airbag, horn, and cruise control to not function. Chrysler has a recall on a failed clockspring for 96-98 Dodge Caravan, and clearly states on its website it will reimburse customers for repairs to the clockspring. However, when I brought mine in for repair, and on subsequent phone calls and letters written to Chrysler, they indicate that my build date was not included in the recall. They need to expand the build date to later months in 1998, and consequently increase the amount of cars covered in the recall, because there is obviously a problem with the clockspring during my build date. This will cause people to have non-functioning airbags, cruise control, and horns, and unfortunately, may cause lives to be lost. I believe Chrysler should also reimburse me the $284.20 I had to pay to get the clockspring repaired, as they indicate on their website they will reimburse customers with 98 Caravan for repairs on failed clocksprings. By them not reimbursing me, they are falsely advertising on their website.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

problem #20

Nov 142003

Caravan 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,500 miles
Consumer pressed the horn there was no sound. Airbag light was on while driving. Took vehicle to the dealer for analysis, and mechanic noticed that the clockspring needed to be replaced due to a worn part. The consumer noticed that the air bag light flickered off and on intermittently then eventually remained on whenever the vehicle was operated. At the same time the horn also failed. The consumer contacted the dealer. The dealer was sure that the problem was with the clockspring but the technician was going to charge the consumer to run the test. The clockspring was recall for the 1996-2000 minivans but not the 1998's. the consumer has not had the vehicle repaired because she believes it should be recall and because she cannot afford the repair.

- Westminster, CA, USA

problem #19

Aug 052003

Caravan

  • miles
While driving at normal speed vehicle was involved in front collision, and neither of the air bags deployed. Dealer notified.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #18

Jun 262003

(reported on)

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The air bag light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs. Unfortunately because of the last two numbers in the vehicle identification number, the vehicle was not apart of the recall.

- Bel Air, MD, USA

problem #17

May 012003

Caravan 4-cyl

  • 69,500 miles
The consumer noticed the horn on the vehicle was inoperative. The mechanic stated it was due to a faulty clock spring. There was a recall regarding the issue, however the vehicle identification number was not included. The air bag light had come on.

- Springville, UT, USA

problem #16

Mar 012003

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles
The air bag light illuminated, which caused the horn and cruise control to be inoperative. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated the drivers side frontal air bag had to be repaired.. also the transmission down shifted hard

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #15

Feb 042003

Caravan 6-cyl

  • miles
The clock spring failed on the vehicle, there was a recall regarding the issue, however the vehicle identification number was not included in the recall.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #14

Oct 312002

Caravan

  • miles
While driving, the air bag senor light came on and stayed on along with the horn being inoperative. Dealership indicated that the clock spring was defective.

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #13

Dec 222000

Caravan

  • miles
While driving 45mph another car hit consumer's vehicle from behind and air bags did not deploy.

- Stockton, CA, USA

Read the next 12 complaints »