1990 Dodge Caravan Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe transmission trouble: erratic or harsh shifting, slipping out of gear, and transmissions that lock up or fail outright, sometimes repeatedly after replacement. A second cluster of complaints concerns the rear liftgate latch and sliding door on these vans, with owners reporting hatches that pop open or gates that are hard to close, plus a smaller number of reports about brakes, seat belts, cold-weather electrical faults, and overheating on grades.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission slipping, harsh or locked shifting

   • 43 complaints (15%)
   • median 113,767 mi at 13.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2007

   Owners describe automatic transmissions that shift harshly, drop into neutral on their own, refuse to go into overdrive or reverse, or lock up entirely while driving. Several say the transmission failed and was replaced, in some cases more than once, and the same behavior returned within tens of thousands of miles. Dealers reportedly replaced transmissions or could not duplicate the complaint when the van behaved normally on the lot. Reports span a wide mileage range, from around 36,000 miles up to 140,000 miles, often after the van has been driven for a half hour or more in stop-and-go traffic.

   What to check: Drive the van long enough to reach full operating temperature, including a stretch of stop-and-go and highway speeds, and check that all gears including overdrive and reverse engage cleanly. Ask for transmission service records and whether the unit has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I started noticing a slight grinding noise 1 week before the failure. It only happened when it was cold and only when turning left. I thought it could be a bad u-joint. On the morning of 2-16-07 8:15 am I was turning left at an intersection when the transmission gave out. It chewed up one of the bearings (which a mechanic later told me was notorious for going out) and dropped them all over the road. I was caught in the middle of the intersection with no way to go anywhere, blocking traffic. This could have resulted in a major accident. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10183038, filed 2007-02, 87,534 miles

   “My 3.0 l 4-speed automatic 1990 Dodge Caravan recently began having trouble shifting into overdrive. It shifts into 1st, 2nd, then 3rd, but as it trys to shift into overdrive it bucks three times than abruptly shifts into second gear surging the passangers forward. I must then shut off the van and restart it for it to be drivable. I normally don't take this type of action but through my research have found numerous other similar complaints on this vehicle's transmission. …”

   NHTSA complaint #728475, filed 2000-08
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Rear liftgate latch opens or will not close

   • 62 complaints (22%)
   • typically at 5.5 yrs old
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2000

   Many owners report the rear liftgate latch releasing while driving, letting the hatch swing open and, in some accounts, spilling cargo onto the road. Others describe the gate being very hard to close, requiring repeated slams, or the hatch warning light staying on with the gate shut, and one owner reports the latch mechanism working loose from the body. The dealer response described in the complaints was mixed, with some repairs done under a recall and some owners told nothing was wrong or that parts were unavailable. Filed across a broad range of years and mileages; complaints do not give a consistent mileage or weather pattern.

   What to check: Open and close the liftgate several times and check that the latch catches firmly and the warning light goes out. Ask whether any latch-related recall work was performed and whether the striker and latch screws are tight.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving, experience rear liftgate failure, when latch mechanism disengages, hatch pops open, result child strollers were flung out onto road two times.”

   NHTSA complaint #963362, filed 1995-04

   “Consumer daughter was driving down the highway the rear hatch latch came open she turn her head because kids was in van and hit a truck in front of her. Tt”

   NHTSA complaint #961442, filed 1995-03
3. 3
   Seat belts

   Seat belts that will not extend or do not hold in a crash

   • 13 complaints (5%)
   • typically at 6.0 yrs old
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2003

   Owners report front seat belt buckles that cracked or broke, belts that would not pull out of the retractor, and belts that in their account did not restrain occupants in a collision. Some owners say the dealer declined to replace the belts or told them recall parts were no longer available. A separate recall covers fatigue failure of the inboard front buckle strap. No consistent mileage or condition appears in the sample; reports come from both daily use and after collisions.

   Recall 91V053000

   What to check: Pull each belt out fully and let it retract, check the buckle plastic for cracks, and ask whether the front buckle recall (91V053000) was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The buckles in the front seat of the van are cracked. Consumer states that the dealer refused to replace the seat belts. The calipers have deep grooves, probably caused from the guides wearing into them, the knuckles, guides, and calipers had to be replaced due to causing brake pad failure. Tires had been rotated, however still had bad tread wear, no specific tire information was given.”

   NHTSA complaint #818012, filed 1997-10

   “Consumer was in a rear and front end accident, the driver's restraint belt did not restrain properly, consumer hit head on the roof of the vehicle. Dealer has been contacted.”

   NHTSA complaint #830981, filed 1998-11
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brakes grab, fade or give a long pedal

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe brakes that grab when wet and then feel hard or ineffective, spongy and unreliable pedal feel, extended stopping distances, and front brakes that do not respond so the rear system takes the load. One owner had a brake pump replaced and cited the proportioning valve recall; another notes the calipers had deep grooves from the guides and the pads failed. Repairs were repeated in several cases without fully resolving the complaint. Reported from roughly 140,000 to 141,000 miles in the complaints that list mileage; several complainants give no mileage.

   Recall 90V145000

   What to check: Test the brakes on a wet or slippery surface as well as dry, check pedal firmness, and inspect calipers and pads for uneven wear. Ask whether recall 90V145000 for the brake proportioning valve screws was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The motor mount split and dropped the motor on the axle and broke the axle while driving.tt also there was afaulty oil guage sending unit that was replace, as well as rear brakes were not functioning due to frozen cylinders.”

   NHTSA complaint #969629, filed 1995-08

   “The contact owns a 1990 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that the vehicle would fail to stop intermittently when the brake pedal was depressed. In addition, the brake warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel during the failures. The dealer replaced the brake pump at the cost of over $400. She called the manufacturer in reference to NHTSA campaign id number 90v145000 (service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:differential proportional valve), but was denied reimbursement for being verbally abusive to the representative. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10257567, filed 2009-02, 141,000 miles

Buying note. Given the age of this model year, the transmission and liftgate latch are the areas most worth inspecting closely before purchase, and it is worth confirming that the seat belt buckle and brake proportioning valve recalls were completed. Records of transmission replacement or service are the single most useful document to ask for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.