IllustrationI HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS, ALL SAID THIS WAS VERY COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) DISCUSSED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
1995 Dodge Caravan
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Caravan years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Dodge Caravan are substantially higher than the model-year median of 182.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Caravan years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 26 of 489 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
53 crash reports6 fire reports35 injury reports
What owners actually said
489 reportsDRIVER'S DOOR HAS PREMATURELY SEPARATED FROM THE HINGES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. AS A RESULT THE DOOR COULD OPEN WHILE DRIVING, CREATING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *AK *ML
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP,THE ONLY TIME IT DOESN'T STALL IS WHEN THE CONSUMER PUT HI-OCTANE GAS. YH
AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED. MJS
HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99V113000. CONTACTED DEALER & SET APPOINTMENT. TOOK VEHICLE IN ON GIVEN DATE. AFTER ARRIVING, WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. WOULD NOTIFY WHEN PARTS WERE IN. ALSO, INFORMED OWNER SHE COULD DISCONNECT WIRES UNTIL PART CAME IN. *AK
WHEN TURNING A CURVE OR HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD STEERING COLUMN FEELS LOOSE AND ALSO JERKS. VEHICLE HAS A HAD A LOOSE BOLT IN THE COLUMN. PROBLEM EXISTS AGAIN.*AK
RECALL WORK COMPLETED ON THE AIR BAGS FOR (99V-113/FALSE DEPLOYMENT), HOWEVER DURING VEHICLE COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER AIRBAGS RESULTING IN INJURY TO CONSUMERS. MJS
WE RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS IN AUGUST OF 1999. TOOK THE VAN TO AUDUBON CHRYSLER CENTER IN HENDERSON , KY. TO BE CHECKED OUT. WE WERE TURNING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY WHEN A CAR TOPPED THE HILL HIT US. THE POLICE, THE WRECKER DRIVER, AND THE BODY SHOP GETTING US AN ESTIMATE , COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT ACTIV…
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WE RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS IN AUGUST OF 1999. TOOK THE VAN TO AUDUBON CHRYSLER CENTER IN HENDERSON , KY. TO BE CHECKED OUT. WE WERE TURNING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY WHEN A CAR TOPPED THE HILL HIT US. THE POLICE, THE WRECKER DRIVER, AND THE BODY SHOP GETTING US AN ESTIMATE , COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE. THEY HAD TO HAUL OUR VAN ON A FLATBED TRUCK COULD NOT TOW IT IN. MY HUSBAND HAS A BRUISE ACROSS HIS STOMACH AND A KNEE BLEEDING AND BRUISED. I HAVE A CRACKED RIB PLUS BRUISES AND FOOT AND KNEE BRUISES. BOBBY MISSED TWO DAYS WORK, AND I HAVEN'T WORKED SINCE THE WRECK ON THE 30 OF NOVEMBER. TODAY IS THE 9 OF DECEMBER. MY QUESTION IS HOW MANY 95 VANS ARE THERE OUT ON THE ROAD WITH THE SMA AIR BAGS PROBLEM? WOULD THERE BE ANY SURIVORS IF THEIR AIR BAGS DON'T GO OFF? A VERY CONCERNED CUSTOMER. *AK
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AT 30 MPH AND NEARLY CAUSED IMPACT FROM REAR BY VEHICLE BEHIND. TRANSMISSION MECHANIC STATED THAT CHRYSLER WAS AWARE THAT THE OVERDRIVE HUB AND PLANET (ORIGINALLY MADE FOR 3.0 AND 3.3 LITER ENGINE) WERE NOT SUFFICIENT FOR 3.8 LITER ENGINE. LATER MADE LARGER PART, BUT DID NOT RECALL PART OR NOTIFY O…
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VEHICLE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AT 30 MPH AND NEARLY CAUSED IMPACT FROM REAR BY VEHICLE BEHIND. TRANSMISSION MECHANIC STATED THAT CHRYSLER WAS AWARE THAT THE OVERDRIVE HUB AND PLANET (ORIGINALLY MADE FOR 3.0 AND 3.3 LITER ENGINE) WERE NOT SUFFICIENT FOR 3.8 LITER ENGINE. LATER MADE LARGER PART, BUT DID NOT RECALL PART OR NOTIFY OWNERS. HE WAS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT THROUGH WORKING FOR DEALERSHIPS. STATED THE DEFECT IS KNOWN BY DEALERSHIPS AND NOT REPORTED TO CONSUMERS. THIS CAUSES THE SUDDEN LOCKUP OF THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD JUST EXITED THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY VAN LOCKED UP. I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE ROLLED IF IT HAD LOCKED AT 70MPH ON I-10. *AK
RE: DOORS AND LATCHES PROBLEM. CAN DOCUMENT VISIT TO DEALER 3/26/96 ALTHOUGH PROBLEM STARTED EARLIER. THEY ALIGNED DOORS WHICH WERE SAGGING BUT WOULDN'T LOOK AT LOCKS. YESTERDAY, 11/29/99 THE LOCK ON THE DRIVERS DOOR FAILED COMPLETELY. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME HOLDING THE DOOR. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE BODY SHOP, THE GUY SAID, WITHOUT E…
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RE: DOORS AND LATCHES PROBLEM. CAN DOCUMENT VISIT TO DEALER 3/26/96 ALTHOUGH PROBLEM STARTED EARLIER. THEY ALIGNED DOORS WHICH WERE SAGGING BUT WOULDN'T LOOK AT LOCKS. YESTERDAY, 11/29/99 THE LOCK ON THE DRIVERS DOOR FAILED COMPLETELY. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME HOLDING THE DOOR. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE BODY SHOP, THE GUY SAID, WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT, WHAT WAS WRONG. THE DOORS SAG, A PLASTIC CASING IN THE LOCK WEARS DOWN AND BINDS THE TUMBLERS AND THE SCREWS HOLDING THE LOCK/LATCH IN FALL OUT. HE SAYS HE SEES THIS 2-3 TIMES A WEEK ON CARAVANS BUT CHRYSLER WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE PASS. SIDE DOOR LATCH WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED ALTOGETHER. HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT WAS WORKING AT ALL GIVEN ITS CONDITION. IT WILL COST ME 375-400 TO FIX BOTH DOORS. THE LATCHES ARE $100 A PIECE, AND THE GUY SAID THEY WOULD FAIL AGAIN GIVEN THEIR CONSTRUCTION. RE: ENGINE/AC PROBLEM I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT. IF YOU USE THE AC FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME, THE CAR CUTS OFF, ESPECIALLY WHEN ROUNDING A CORNER WHILE IN MOTION. IT CAN BE RESTARTED BUT THE IDLE MUST BE KEPT HIGH FOR OVER 10 MINS BEFORE IT WILL KEEP RUNNING AGAIN. IT FORCES ME TO BRAKE WITH MY LEFT FOOT JUST TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING. IT ALWAYS DOES THIS WITH THE AC, BUT ALSO OCCURS OTHER TIMES RANDOMLY. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MOST DANGEROUS THING ABOUT MY CAR. I AM SCARED TO LET MY TEENAGERS DRIVE IT. I WORKED FOR A COMPANY IN BALTIMORE AND DROVE A VAN LIKE THIS ONE ON MY JOB. THAT VAN HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I PUT IT IN THE SHOP, THEY DID $800 WORTH OF WORK, REPLACED EVERYTHING THEY COULD THINK OF, BUT WHEN I GOT IT BACK, IT DID THE SAME THING THAT VERY NIGHT. I CAN OFFER MORE DETAILS IF YOU CALL. THE DEALER SUPPOSEDLY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. THEY SPECULATED WHAT IT WAS, TOLD ME IT WAS ROUTINE MAINTENACE AND WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. YET WASN'T LISTED IN THE MANUAL FOR MAINTANENCE. RE: PARKING BRAKE. THIS HASN'T WORKED RIGHT FOR ALMOST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.
Official recalls
199V113000 · Air Bags
May 6, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THE WIRING THAT INITIATES THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD ELECTRICALLY SHORT CIRCUIT TO GROUND. A SHORT CIRCUIT TO GROUND THAT EXISTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE "ON" OR "START" POSITION CAN CAUSE THE AIR BAG(S) TO INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN INJURE A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERFORM AN ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. ANY SHORT CIRCUITS IDENTIFIED IN EITHER THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INITIATOR WIRE CIRCUIT WILL BE REPAIRED.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
6DP03002 · Steering Column Separation
Opened May 7, 2003 · Closed Jul 22, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:column
MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.
PE97049 · Air Bag Circuit/windshield Wiper Motor
Opened Nov 18, 1997 · Closed Mar 17, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
There is no summary currently available
EA97003 · Integrated Child Seat Belt Lockup
Opened Jan 31, 1997 · Closed Aug 19, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Child Seat
THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT IDENTIFYING A SAFETY DEFECT AND OUTLINING THE PROPOSED REMEDY.RECALL NUMBER 98V-185 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS SAFETY RECALL.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Child Seat
THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT IDENTIFYING A SAFETY DEFECT AND OUTLINING THE PROPOSED REMEDY.RECALL NUMBER 98V-185 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS SAFETY RECALL.
Child Seat
THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT IDENTIFYING A SAFETY DEFECT AND OUTLINING THE PROPOSED REMEDY.RECALL NUMBER 98V-185 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS SAFETY RECALL.
DP96014 · Defective Air Bag Crash Sensor
Opened Nov 14, 1996 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
CFAS SENT A FOLLOW-UP LETTER ON DECEMBER 12, 1996, TO CHANGE THE INTENT OF THE PETITION TO AIRBAG AGGRESSIVITY AND DEPLOYMENT VARIABILITY.NHTSA RECEIVED THE LETTER ON 12/12/96; ACCORDINGLY, THE PETITION DUE DAY WAS CHANGED TO APRIL 12, 1997.CFAS PETITIONED THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR AND/OR DEPLOYMENT SYSTEMS FOR THE 1991-92 CHEVROLET CORSICA/BERETTA, 1990-92 FORD TAURUS, AND 1994-96 CHRYSLER MINIVANS ARE DEFECTIVE.CFAS ALLEGE THAT INFORMATION ON LOW SPEED CRASHES HERE OCCUPANTS HAVE SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES SUGGESTS [THAT THE ABOVE VEHICLES] HAVE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR AND/OR DEPLOYMENT SYSTEMS.
SQ96016 · Integrated Child Seat Belt Lockup
Opened Sep 18, 1996 · Closed Feb 4, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:integrated Child Seat
ODI CONTINUES TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING LATCHING/RETRACTOR MECHANISM PROBLEMS.CHRYSLER'S ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEM INDICATES THAT OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES ARE NOT ADHERING TO THE CLEANING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SEAT.THE SEAT APPEARS TO MALFUNCTION IF CRUMBS OF FOOD OR BEVERAGE RESIDUE ACCUMULATES ON THE LATCHING TONGUE IN THEWELL LOCATED BETWEEN THE CHILD'S LEGS.ODI HAS 19 COMPLAINTS OF RETRACT LOCKUP.SEVEN OF THESE COMPLAINTS REPORT CUTTING THE STRAPS TO REMOVE THE CHILD.TWO OF THE SEVEN CONSUMERS ALLEGE THE CHILD WAS CHOKING.CHRYSLER REPORTS 60 OWNER/FIELD REPORTS WHICH INDICATED 19 HARNESSES WERE CUT TO REMOVE THE CHILDREN.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO FULLY ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AND TO EVALUATE THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION'S RATIONAL FOR NOT CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN.
PE96008 · Safety Blt Latch Operation
Opened Jan 25, 1996 · Closed Jun 28, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available