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1999 Dodge Caravan

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Caravan years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Dodge Caravan are substantially higher than the model-year median of 182.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

230 reports with mileage · 325 unknown

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 119 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 102 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 96 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

46 crash reports14 fire reports28 injury reports

What owners actually said

555 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2004
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING, THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10096914

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2004
Air Bags

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V480000. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10096847

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2004
Visibility

BOTH SIDE WINDOWS HAVE FAILED TO ROLL DOWN. PARTS AND LABOR TO CORRECT MALFUNCTION TOTAL $1160.00 FOR BOTH SIDES. UNABLE TO ROLL WINDOS DOWN. PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. MANY PEOPLE THAT OWN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE HAVE HAD THE SAME INCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10095749

6,000 miles · Sep 28, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER THE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF THE ENGINE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED AND SUGGESTED THAT THEY NEEDED TO INSPECT. *AK THERE WAS A TSB FOR THIS ISSUE BUT THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THIS DID NOT PERTAIN TO THIS VEHICLE. *SC JB

NHTSA ODI #10089367

64,308 miles · Sep 16, 2004
Power Train

DIFFERENTIAL PIN CAME LOOSE AND BLEW A HOLE THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION. FAILURE CAUSED VAN TO BREAK DOWN ON THE FREEWAY. TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY RUINED AND WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. POSSIBLE STARTER DAMAGE AS WELL. QUOTES FOR REPAIRS WERE AROUND $3,000, SO WE DECIDED TO JUNK THE CAR. IT WAS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD WITH 62,…

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DIFFERENTIAL PIN CAME LOOSE AND BLEW A HOLE THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION. FAILURE CAUSED VAN TO BREAK DOWN ON THE FREEWAY. TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY RUINED AND WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. POSSIBLE STARTER DAMAGE AS WELL. QUOTES FOR REPAIRS WERE AROUND $3,000, SO WE DECIDED TO JUNK THE CAR. IT WAS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD WITH 62,000 MILES AT THE TIME. '99 DODGE CARAVAN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10091122

110,000 miles · Sep 16, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL SPEED DUE TO LUNGING AND STALLING. DOES THIS WITH OR WITHOUT THE AIR CONDITION ON AND ONLY UPON ACCELERATION. DOES NOT MATTER IF IT IS ON AN INCLINE OR NOT-ALWAYS UPON ACCELERATION. VERY UNSAFE AND I AM VERY WORRIED AS I TRAVEL ALONE WITH A TODDLER IN THIS DAILY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10091109

71,500 miles · Sep 14, 2004
Steering

THIS FAMILY CAR IS NOT A VEHICLE WE DRIVE EVERY DAY. ON (9/10/04), WE WENT TO USE THIS CAR WITH LESS THAN 72,000 MILES ON IT, AND WHEN WE WENT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WE HEARD A SQUELING NOISE FROM THE POWER STERING UNIT. WE FOUND AN AREA OF SEEPAGE OF STERING FLUID UNDER THE VEHICLE. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION WE HAD FO…

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THIS FAMILY CAR IS NOT A VEHICLE WE DRIVE EVERY DAY. ON (9/10/04), WE WENT TO USE THIS CAR WITH LESS THAN 72,000 MILES ON IT, AND WHEN WE WENT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WE HEARD A SQUELING NOISE FROM THE POWER STERING UNIT. WE FOUND AN AREA OF SEEPAGE OF STERING FLUID UNDER THE VEHICLE. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION WE HAD FOUND IT TO BE COMING FROM THE AREA OF THE BASE OF THE POWER STERING PUMP CASTING. THE LEAKING FLUID IS ACTUALLY FLOWING THROUGH THE VOIDS IN THE METAL OF THIS UNIT. NOT ONLY IS THIS A HAZARD TO THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND ITS PASSENGER'S, IT IS A HAZARD TO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THE USE OF POOR QUALITY PARTS AND USED IN OUR TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY. IF A PERSON IS DRIVING ONE OF THESE VEHICLES AND ONE OF THESE UNITS FAILS IT COULD CAUSE CATASROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE PEOPLE INVOLVED. I DO FEEL OBLIGATED TO INFORM YOU OF THIS DEFECT. AS OF 8/17/04 THIS VEHICLE WILL HAVE THIS DEFECTIVE POWER STERING UNIT REPLACED AT THE CHRYSLER DEALER IN KEENE NH. I AM NOT AWARE IF I WILL BE ABLE TO GET THIS UNIT BACK FROM THE DEALER WHEN THEY REPLACE IT.

NHTSA ODI #10090968

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2004
Air BagsElectrical System

CONSUMER PRESSED ON HORN AND IT DID NOT WORK. ALSO, AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10091743

50,000 miles · Aug 31, 2004
Power TrainInjury

I BOUGHT A USED 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE IN 2002 WITH 28000 MILES. THE ORIGINAL MFG WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED SO WE BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY. FROM THE FIRST WEEK THIS CAR GAVE US TROUBLE ENDING WITH A MAJOR ACCIDENT DUE TO GEAR SHIFT. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE GEAR SHIFTED ON ITS OWN FROM DRIVE TO LOW…

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I BOUGHT A USED 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE IN 2002 WITH 28000 MILES. THE ORIGINAL MFG WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED SO WE BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY. FROM THE FIRST WEEK THIS CAR GAVE US TROUBLE ENDING WITH A MAJOR ACCIDENT DUE TO GEAR SHIFT. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE GEAR SHIFTED ON ITS OWN FROM DRIVE TO LOWER GEAR. 5 MIN LATER THE CAR WHEN PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY MOVED FROM PARK TO REVERSE ON ITS OWN. SINCE I WAS OUT OF THE CAR I WAS RUN OVER BY THE CAR CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES BUT I WAS LUCKY THAT I DID NOT DIE. THE FATALITY RATE IS OVER 50% IN SUCH ACCIDENT BUT I ESCAPED WITH RIB FRACTURES, INTERNAL BLOOD LOSS AND EXTENSIVE BRUISING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10088877

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages

THE REAR DOOR ON MY 1999 DODGE CARAVAN WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE UNLESS YOU LOCK AND UNLOCK IT A NUMBER OF TIMES USING THE REMOTE DEVICE. PHYSICALLY UNLOCKING THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE WILL NOT OPEN IT; IN AN ACCIDENT, THE OCCUPANT CAN NOT RELY ON THIS EXIT; THE DEALER DOES NOT CONSIDER INABILITY TO OPEN THE DOOR AS A SAFETY…

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THE REAR DOOR ON MY 1999 DODGE CARAVAN WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE UNLESS YOU LOCK AND UNLOCK IT A NUMBER OF TIMES USING THE REMOTE DEVICE. PHYSICALLY UNLOCKING THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE WILL NOT OPEN IT; IN AN ACCIDENT, THE OCCUPANT CAN NOT RELY ON THIS EXIT; THE DEALER DOES NOT CONSIDER INABILITY TO OPEN THE DOOR AS A SAFETY OR WARRANTY ITEM AND CHARGE ME $83 TO FIX.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10088804

Official recalls

5

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.

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.

01V119000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor

Apr 11, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN VAN, WAGON, PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, IT WILL NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECT OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 20, 2001. 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.

99V116000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

May 6, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS BUILT FOR FLEET SALES ONLY. THE HEADLAMP MODULE DOES NOT IDENTIFY THE PARK LAMP AS "DRL" AS REQUIREMENT OF FMVSS 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108.

Remedy: ALL FLEET OWNERS/OPERATORS WILL BE MAILED NON-REMOVABLE DECALS WITH THE REQUIRED "DRL" LETTERS.

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

6

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).

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