Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 135 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 103 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

45 crash reports23 fire reports26 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

135 reports

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100,000 miles · Jun 30, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

MAIN BELT KEEPS SLIPPING OFF DEALERSHIP SERVICED IT SEVERAL TIMES. THE BELT FINALLY BROKE IN HALF WHLE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10026266

72,000 miles · Jun 10, 2003

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

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WHILE PASSING A TRACTOR TRAILER ON RT 422 WEST OF POTTSTOWN WITHOUT WARNING MY RMP'S SHOT UP AND I LOST POWER. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CARAVAN TO QUIGLEY MOTORS WHICH IS THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS 3RD GEAR WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND THEY FOUND ALOT OF METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE PAN. IT'S GOING TO COST ME $2500. TO FIX IT. THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND SHOULD RECTIFY THE SITUATION. IT IS MY FIRST CHRYSLER VEHICLE AND IT WILL PROBABLY WILL BE MY LAST. THE SERVICE THAT I RECEIVED AT QUIGLEY MOTORS WAS HORRENDOUS. MY VAN WAS THERE AN ENTIRE WEEK BEFORE THEY COULD GET IT IN TO GIVE ME A REPAIR ESTIMATE. 5 STAR SERVICE??? I DON'T THINK SO!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10021362

Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN DUE TO THE SERPENTINE BELT FALLING OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10022571

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AND PASSING THROUGH WATER VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AND WILL NOT RESTART DUE TO THE SERPENTINE BELT FALLING OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10022038

69,023 miles · May 12, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10018559

113,711 miles · Apr 27, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

1998 CARAVAN 3.3L ENGINE BELT TENSIONER COMPLETELY BROKE OFF OF ENGINE MOUNT CAUSING LOSS OF USE OF ALL ACCESSORIES DRIVEN BY SERPENTINE BELT. NO PREVIOUS BELT PROBLEMS AS NOTED BY OTHER OWNERS. DEFECTIVE BELT TENSIONER WAS FOUND LAYING LOOSE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10016571

35,000 miles · Apr 4, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE SERPENTINE BELT BECAME DISCONNECTED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10015218

3,700 miles · Apr 4, 2003

Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFire

THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WHICH WAS BROKE AND RUBBED AGAINST THE SERPENTINE BELT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE, ALSO THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED. *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10011644

50,000 miles · Apr 3, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

REAR MAIN SEAL LEAKED, WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO USE 3 QUARTS OF OIL PER WEEK. MR...*AK

NHTSA ODI #10012396

137,000 miles · Mar 16, 2003

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN 2000. TWO MONTHS LATER MY TRANSMISSION WENT. 16 MONTHS AFTER THAT MY MOTOR WENT. I HAD TO LET MY VEHICLE SIT FOR NINE MONTHS NOT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE IT AND YET STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT BEFORE I COULD AFFORD TO REPLACE TO THE MOTOR. SO 3 WEEKS AGO I HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE AGAIN. SUPPOSEDLY IT WAS REPLACED WITH A FACTORY REBUILT TRANSMISSION THE FIRST TIME AROUND. THIS SERIOUSLY UPSETS ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE AGAIN. I STILL OWE 2 AND 1/2 YEARS OF PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND I AM BACK TO I CANNOT DRIVE IT AGAIN BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. I WAS TOLD OF SOME FACTORY PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS AND I WONDERED IF THIS COULD BE THE REASON THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF COMMISSION AGAIN. FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THIS USED VEHICLE IS COSTING ME I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF TO BUY A NEW ONE. THE VEHICLE IS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10010546

Official recalls

04V480000 · Air Bags

Oct 6, 2004

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY BECOME DISABLED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE CLOCKSPRING, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE HUB OF THE STEERING WHEEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION WILL MANIFEST ITSELF THROUGH ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP, AND COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A DRIVER'S AIR BAG OPEN CIRCUIT, IF THE PART IS NOT REPLACED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL COVERED VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. FOR THOSE VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 70,000 MILES, DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL OFFER AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY UNDER WHICH IT WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING AT NO CHARGE IF IT FAILS. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL ALSO REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED ON THEIR VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

02V293000 · Air Bags:frontal

Nov 7, 2002

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.

Consequence & remedy

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON THIS COMPONENT FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL ALSO REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED ON THEIR VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 18, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

02V076000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Mar 8, 2002

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, SOME TRIM MATERIAL CAN LOOSEN AND DROP INTO THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRIM WITH FOAM BLOCKERS AND INSPECT AND REPLACE ALL 3RD ROW SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 3, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

00V268000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System

Sep 13, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS BUILT WITH 3.3L AND 3.8L ENGINES HAVE FUEL RAILS WITH NITROLE RUBBER O-RING SEALS THAT CAN DEGRADE OVER TIME. FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE UNDERHOOD FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A VEHICLE FIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SEAL ON THE VEHICLE FUEL RAILS TO PREVENT EXTERNAL LEAKAGE OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE, SHOULD THE EXISTING O-RINGS CONTINUE TO DEGRADE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2002. DUE TO THE LARGE QUANTITY OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THE OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE PHASED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. HOWEVER, IF A VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE O-RINGS, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO A DEALER TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

97V231000 · Child Seat

Dec 15, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINT WEBBING WAS INCORRECTLY ROUTED AROUND THE METAL REINFORCEMENT BAR ON THESE SEATS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE CHILD SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ROUTING OF THE SHOULDER BELT WEBBING AND ANY FOUND INCORRECT WILL BE PROPERLY ROUTED.

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

EA04013 · Driver Air Bag Clockspring Failure

Opened Jun 4, 2004 · Closed May 25, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal

THE DRIVER AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING CAN DEVELOP AN OPEN-CIRCUIT CONDITION RESULTING IN NONFUNCTIONAL DRIVER-SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG, HORN, CRUISE CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED), AND/OR STEERING WHEEL RADIO CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED).IN ITS OCTOBER 5, 2004 LETTER TO NHTSA, DAIMLERCHRYSLER STATED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL AND REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL MY 1998.5-2000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER MINIVANS, BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1998 AND AUGUST 2000, WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS.IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE A LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR THIS COMPONENT ON MY 1998.5-2000 MINIVANS, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE.THE DETAILS OF THE CORRECTIVE ACTION ARE DESCRIBED IN DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S LETTER (SEE RECALL NO. 04V-480).THE AGENCY BELIEVES THAT FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS WITH RESPECT TO THOSE VEHICLES COVERED ONLY BY THE LIFETIME WARRANTY.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE PAGE 2 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

RQ04001 · Driver Air Bag Clockspring Failure

Opened Jan 28, 2004 · Closed Jun 4, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal

COMPLAINTS REPORT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, AND THIS MAY BE ACCOMPANIED WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING HORN AND/OR CRUISE CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED).THIS IS INDICATIVE OF AN OPEN-CIRCUIT CLOCKSPRING FAILURE (RESULTS IN NON-FUNCTIONING DRIVER'S AIR BAG), SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE CONDITION THAT WAS THE SUBJECT OF DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S RECALL OF MODEL YEAR 1996-1998.5 MINIVANS (RECALL NO. 02V-293).THIS RECALL QUERY HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-013).

PE02004 · Rear Seat Belt Malfunction

Opened Jan 16, 2002 · Closed Mar 11, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:rear/other

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED JANUARY 16, 2002, BASED ON SEVEN REPORTS ALLEGING THE THIRD ROW SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FAILED ON CERTAIN 1997 AND 1998 MODEL YEAR CARAVAN AND VOYAGER VEHICLES.THE REPORTS INDICATED A TAR LIKE SUBSTANCE ENTERED THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM, THUS CAUSING THE RETRACTOR TO JAM OR BIND.IN THIS CONDITION THE SEAT BELT IS RENDERED INOPERABLE, AS THE WEBBING CANNOT RETRACT OR BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE RETRACTORS FOR USE.RECALL SCOPE:THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE 1997 THROUGH 1999 DODGE CARAVAN, PLYMOUTH VOYAGER, AND CHRYSLER TOWN & CONTRY BUILT ON A SHORT WHEEL BASE CHASSIS.THE INCLUSIVE DATES OF PRODUCTION ARE JUNE 1996 THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 1999.RECALL REMEDY: DAIMLERCHRYSLER DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MASTIC SOUND BARRIER PATCHES WITH FOAM BLOCKERS, AS WELL AS, INSPECT AND REPLACE ALL THIRD ROW REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES CONTAMINATED BY THE MASTIC PATCH.

EA01007 · Air Bag Clockspring

Opened Feb 21, 2001 · Closed Nov 22, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

RQ00008 · Dc Minivan Fuel Injector Rail Leak

Opened Mar 9, 2000 · Closed Mar 18, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

EA99013 · Post Collision Fuel System

Opened Jun 11, 1999 · Closed Aug 10, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap

No summary supplied.

PE99010 · POST-COLLISION Fuel System Integrity

Opened Feb 3, 1999 · Closed Jun 11, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap

There is no summary currently available