Dodge Caravan Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 10,523 consumer complaints across the 32 model years of the Dodge Caravan (1984–2015) that have at least 5 complaints. 1996 has the most, with 1,403. Across all years, the part named most often is brakes (1,596 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
Best and worst Caravan years →
All Caravan model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 23 | 46,500 | 0 | 149 | — | Stable |
| 2014 | 20 | 57,192 | 0 | 158 | — | Stable |
| 2013 | 30 | 48,000 | 0 | 153 | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2012 | 87 | 51,500 | 0 | 150 | 39 · Typical | Falling |
| 2011 | 78 | 65,000 | 0 | 117 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2010 | 172 | 51,500 | 2 | 62 | 93 · More | Stable |
| 2009 | 118 | 75,000 | 2 | 50 | 58 · Typical | Stable |
| 2008 | 302 | 65,000 | 2 | 63 | 94 · More | Falling |
| 2007 | 81 | 65,000 | 0 | 33 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 173 | 58,000 | 2 | 41 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 537 | 64,826 | 4 | 66 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 65 | 70,850 | 1 | 48 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 195 | 40,000 | 3 | 29 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 245 | 52,500 | 4 | 25 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 257 | 54,000 | 3 | 25 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2000 | 470 | 75,000 | 4 | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1999 | 555 | 84,000 | 5 | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 629 | 80,000 | 5 | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 714 | 94,500 | 7 | 11 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1996 | 1,403 | 96,000 | 9 | 10 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1995 | 489 | 87,829 | 1 | 2 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 644 | 102,000 | 3 | 2 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 949 | 130,000 | 8 | 1 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 913 | 145,000 | 9 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 617 | 118,772 | 9 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 278 | 140,500 | 3 | 1 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 191 | 185,542 | 2 | 1 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 103 | 122,000 | 2 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 69 | 117,500 | 0 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1986 | 49 | — | 1 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1985 | 49 | — | 3 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1984 | 18 | — | 3 | 0 | — | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Brakes1,596 18%
- Electrical system1,396 16%
- Transmission and drivetrain1,371 15%
- Air bags1,229 14%
- Engine cooling1,151 13%
- Body and structure768 8.6%
- Steering709 8.0%
- Seat belts669 7.5%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2012: “2012 Dodge grand Caravan stops running suddenly while driving. On several occasions over the past week the vehicle will just cut off while driving. So far this has only happened on city streets and not on the highway. On a least one occasion I noticed that I bumped the key. Maybe an ignition problem? This is very dangerous as it happens without warning.”
NHTSA complaint #11204870, filed 2019-04, 156,000 miles2006: “Passenger side air bag exploded. Luckily no injury. Vehicle was not moving. I didn't even know it could do that! I'd like this fixed. Also, two leaks in engine. Oil leak/transmission leak. Is this normal? Leaks are ongoing. Another thing: noticing headlights getting slightly dimmer, then brighter, at night as if some sort of electrical problem? This happens during driving and not driving.”
NHTSA complaint #11416715, filed 2021-05, 110,000 miles2010: “My stx grand Caravan stalls while driving down the road without any warning. No trouble lights come on except the traction light. The light goes off as soon as you restart the van. Usually happens when I let off the gas pedal to slow down. No one knows how to fix it !! Has happened in the city but mostly while driving on the highway when I let off the gas.”
NHTSA complaint #11235233, filed 2019-07, 125,175 milesOther Dodge models
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About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology