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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 · Jan 6, 2003
Suspension

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM POP, CAUSING THE AXILE TO BRAKE. PH

NHTSA ODI #10002100

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2003
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE HORN HAD COMPLETELY GONE OUT. PH SCC

NHTSA ODI #10002099

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 2002
Air Bags

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH CAUSED THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL NOT TO WORK. TS THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLOCKSPRING.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10001414

49,888 miles · Dec 20, 2002
Trailer Hitches

VEHICLE WAS IN A T-BONE ACCIDENT AND THE REAR WHEEL FELL OFF UPON IMPACT. ON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED THAT THE REAR CASTING THAT HOLDS THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY HAD CRACKED OVER TIME, WHICH CAUSE THE REAR WHEEL TO COME OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ODI #10001295

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER NOTICE WHILE TRAVELING INTERMITTENT STRONG GAS SMELL IN SIDE VEHICLE OR WHILE FUEL TANK IS FULL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ODI #10001111

45,000 miles · Dec 18, 2002
Fuel System, GasolineFuel System, Other

1999 DODGE CARAVAN: STRONG FUEL ODERS ENTER CARGO/PASSENGER AREA OF VEHICLE - ODERS ALSO NOTICIBLE OUTSIDE OF VAN. FUMES ARE POTENTIAL FOR SPONTANIOUS COMBUSTION. ALSO, EXPOSURE TO GAS FUMES (DURING EXTENDED TRIPS AND OVER CUMULATIVE TIME) CAN BE HARMFUL TO MAJOR ORGAN COMPONENTS WITHIN THE HUMAN BODY - ESPECIALLY TO DEVELOP…

Read full complaint

1999 DODGE CARAVAN: STRONG FUEL ODERS ENTER CARGO/PASSENGER AREA OF VEHICLE - ODERS ALSO NOTICIBLE OUTSIDE OF VAN. FUMES ARE POTENTIAL FOR SPONTANIOUS COMBUSTION. ALSO, EXPOSURE TO GAS FUMES (DURING EXTENDED TRIPS AND OVER CUMULATIVE TIME) CAN BE HARMFUL TO MAJOR ORGAN COMPONENTS WITHIN THE HUMAN BODY - ESPECIALLY TO DEVELOPING INFANTS. A FORMER COMPLAINT WAS SUBMITTED USING ODI ID: 748730 SURROUNDING DATE: 09/06/2001. "COMPONENT: FUEL: FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY: TANK SUMMARY: SMELL GASOLINE COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK, A SMALL AMOUNT OF GAS WAS LEAKING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK, DUE TO THE ROLLOVER VALVE WAS LEAKING ON THE FUEL TANK, REPLACE FUEL TANK." THE CONCLUSION LEADS THE READER TO BELIEVE THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR IGNITION IF VEHICLE SHOULD BE IN PROXIMITY OF AN UNEXTINGUISHED CIGGARETTE, EX: AT A STOP LIGHT ONCE A DRIVER/PASSENGER IN PROXIMITY PLUCKS A BUTT NEAR VEHICLE. THE FINDINGS ALSO LEAD THE READER TO BELIEVE THE ROLL OVER VALVE WILL FAIL WHEN CAPSIZED CONTRIBUTING TO CATISTROPHIC IGNITION/EXPLOSION.

NHTSA ODI #10000206

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CLIMBING UP A HILL THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER. THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 00B26800. BUT HIS VEHICLE VIN DOES NOT MATCH. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

NHTSA ODI #8024222

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2002
Power Train

THIS IS THE THIRD DODGE I'VE OWNED THAT THE TRANSMISSON HAS FAILED. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN PROBLEM BUT I THOUGHT IT HAD BEEN CORRECTED BUT I GUESS IT HASN'T. I'M HAVING IT REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE AND WOULD LIKE FOR DODGE TO PAY FOR IT. DT

NHTSA ODI #770215

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2002
SeatsCrash

AFTER MY ACCIDENT THE BACK SEAT HAD POPPED OFF THE TRACK AND WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE CAR. I WAS ALMOST STOPPED AND THE MAN WHO HIT ME WAS DOING MAYBE 30 MPH. I BROUGHT IT UP TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA AND THEY SAID THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHY IT DID BUT THE SEAT IS BACK IN PLACE SO DONT…

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AFTER MY ACCIDENT THE BACK SEAT HAD POPPED OFF THE TRACK AND WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE CAR. I WAS ALMOST STOPPED AND THE MAN WHO HIT ME WAS DOING MAYBE 30 MPH. I BROUGHT IT UP TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA AND THEY SAID THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHY IT DID BUT THE SEAT IS BACK IN PLACE SO DONT WORRY ABOUT IT. I CALLED DODGE THE COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME SINCE THERE WAS NO MAJOR PROPERTY DAMAGE OR NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES THEY WEREN'T GOING TO CHECK OUT WHY THE SEAT POPPED OUT. DT

NHTSA ODI #770092

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2002
Electrical System

A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE THE HORN COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON THEN I HONKED THE HORN AND IT HONKED DIFFERENT THAN NORMAL, NOT A FULL HONK. THE NEXT DAY THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON AND WHEN I WENT TO HONK THE HORN IT DIDN'T WORK ANYMORE,THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME NOW. DT

NHTSA ODI #769628

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