1995 Dodge Caravan Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about automatic transmission trouble — slipping, harsh or unexpected shifting, failure to engage reverse, and occasional complete breakdowns — typically starting well past the 50,000-mile mark. Air bag and horn/horn-circuit complaints form the second large group, many of them describing an air bag warning light that comes on intermittently and knocks out the horn, cruise control and sometimes wipers. Cooling-system and front-end/steering complaints round out the picture, with the steering ones frequently tied to tie-rod or power-steering loss.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, harsh shifting, sudden downshifts

   • 66 complaints (14%)
   • median 78,633 mi at 9.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,762 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 1995–2006

   Complaints describe the transmission slipping under load, failing to shift into a higher gear, or unexpectedly dropping into a lower gear so the van slows abruptly in traffic. Several owners report the transmission would not engage reverse in cool weather, and others describe grinding noises and a complete failure that left the vehicle unable to move. Dealers reportedly replaced or overhauled transmissions in some cases and declined to cover the cost in others. Most sampled complaints fall between about 38,000 and 130,000 miles, with many clustered near 65,000 to 95,000 miles; a few describe trouble shortly after purchase at low mileage.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: On a test drive, check for slipping or delayed engagement when shifting from reverse to drive, and listen for grinding or whining. Ask whether the transmission has been serviced or rebuilt and get receipts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After driving about 350 miles back from a trip, transmission failed. Was driving down the interstate when traffic started to slow down and come to a stop (this was not a sudden stop). I tried to slow down but the vehicle lurched forward and started making grinding noises. I had to steer to the side of the road to avoid hitting the car in front of me. There was no indication of trouble prior to this during the trip. While in idle, there was no grinding noise. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10086403, filed 2004-10, 67,266 miles

   “On august 11 ,2004 our 1995 Dodge Caravan failed to pick up speed on the nj turnpike, while going to newark airport. Although there were no injuries or accidents, it was stop and go on the way home at night. The car was purchased in july 1995 from suburban Dodge in metuchen, nj. I took the car to the dealer (now mcdonagh Dodge) to have the vehicle diagnosed. They said that it was a transmission failure. The car does not run properly now. I have not had it repaired because it is an expensive repair. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10088353, filed 2004-08, 94,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light, horn and cruise control out

   • 66 complaints (14%)
   • median 79,806 mi at 9.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 35 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2009

   Owners describe an air bag light that comes on and off periodically, sometimes accompanied by a dead horn, inoperative cruise control, or the radio and other accessories cutting out. Several say a dealer or mechanic traced the problem to the clock spring in the steering column, and in some cases the air bag did not deploy in a collision. One owner reported the horn and speed control became inoperative along with the warning light, and another found the passenger air bag itself was missing. Reports appear from low mileage up to about 105,000 miles, with many between roughly 55,000 and 105,000 miles; there is no clear weather or seasonal pattern in the sample.

   Recall 99V113000

   What to check: Turn the key to on and confirm the air bag light goes off after the bulb check; test the horn and cruise control. Ask whether recall 99V113000 was performed and whether the clock spring has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On at least 7 occasions when starting the vehicle if the air bag light on the information center stays on the turn signals,stop lights ,A/C etc will not work. If I turn off the ignition and restart and the air bag light goes off then everything is normal. I know there was a campaign on the air bags sometimes deploying through an electrical problem but the dealer I contacted and gave the id # to assured me that campaign have been done on this vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #752712, filed 2001-09

   “The air bag and the horn were inoperative. The consumer felt it was due to the defect described in the clock spring recall 02v293000 on later model year vans. The consumers van has never been inspected by a dealer or mechanic to identify what was causing the problem. The speedometer and odometer also stopped working for a few days.”

   NHTSA complaint #10101518, filed 2004-11, 55,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalling and loss of power steering/brakes

   • 60 complaints (12%)
   • median 78,000 mi at 9.8 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Complaints describe the engine stalling while decelerating or turning, which also takes away power steering assist and power brake assist. Owners report repeated dealer visits where the response was that the behavior was normal or possibly fuel-related, and at least one says the EGR valve was replaced without fixing it. A separate group describes overheating after a belt tensioner or cooling part came loose, with coolant loss. Mileage in the sample ranges from very low figures up to roughly 130,000 miles; several complaints mention stalling specifically on deceleration or while turning.

   What to check: Drive the van through deceleration and low-speed turns to see whether idle stumbles or drops, and check the belt, tensioner and coolant level. Ask whether the EGR valve or idle control has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Engine stalled while decelerating and turning. Lost power steerring and brakes. Almost turned into oncoming 18 wheeler and almost rear-ended by another. This failure has happened 10-12 times previously. Have taken to dealer twice for problem. Dealer response has been that this is normal or that it might be bad gas, but use the same gas in other car with no problem. Replaced the EGR valve, but no improvement.”

   NHTSA complaint #736199, filed 2000-11

   “Intermittently vehicle will stall out and die without warning. Dealer has repaired vehicle several times and has replaced various components. However, problem still exists.”

   NHTSA complaint #887786, filed 2001-05
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Front door hinges separating and doors opening

   • 47 complaints (10%)
   • median 79,000 mi at 17.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2017

   Owners report front door hinge mounting sheet metal cracking or tearing, letting the door sag and separate from the body. Complaints describe doors that would not open, doors that came open while driving or around corners, and one owner noting the cracking spread back into the firewall area. The rear hatch strut bolt breaking and rear hatch latching problems also appear in this group. Reported across a wide mileage range, from vehicles described as having few miles to one at about 110,000 miles; several complaints do not state mileage.

   What to check: Open and close each front door fully and look at the hinge area for cracks, torn metal or sagging; check that the sliding door and rear hatch latch and release properly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Front door hinge mount sheet metal tears or cracks. Door latches fail do to sagging doors. Sheet metal has cracked going back into the fire wall bulkhead. Doors can fly open on outside turns with out warning, potentially dislodging passengets.”

   NHTSA complaint #10978515, filed 2017-04, 110,000 miles

   “Vehicle parked; driver went to rear & lifted up hatch; bolt holding cylinder on left side snapped/broke off. Bolts located inside vehicle; cannot open hatch w/o using 2x6; took to dealer & mechanic said charge by hour to fix.”

   NHTSA complaint #813954, filed 1997-07
5. 5
   Steering

   Tie-rod breakage and loose steering

   • 30 complaints (6%)
   • median 67,633 mi at 10.0 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Owners describe the tie rod breaking suddenly at low mileage, once while backing out of a parking space and once while pulling into a driveway, leaving the vehicle unable to steer normally. Other complaints mention a loose or jerking steering column over bumps and curves, and power steering that cut out on wet roads. A related fuel/throttle linkage complaint describes stalling with loss of power brakes and steering. Reported from about 58,000 to 68,000 miles in the sampled complaints, with several older entries not stating mileage.

   What to check: Ask a mechanic to inspect the tie rods, ball joints and steering column for play or looseness before purchase, and check for play in the steering wheel with the front end raised.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was pulling into my driveway when the tie-rod on my 1995 Dodge Caravan (with 58,000 miles on the odometer) broke suddenly, and without warning. The car is currently at the local mendenhall Dodge auto dealer waiting for a diagnosis of the problem. I have requested that they keep all parts associated with the repair so that I may inspect them.”

   NHTSA complaint #10100868, filed 2004-12, 58,000 miles

   “When driving on wet roads the power steering fails. This is the norm not the exception. It was replaced once at about 50,000 miles ant now it is occurring again. I would not let my wife or daughter drive this vehicle,if the steering was to go out it is too heavy for them to regain control. I have spoken to other owners of this make of minivan and they say it has happenned with them too. I can understand the power steering going out occasionally in wet weather,but I can count on it going out if I drive through a puddle.”

   NHTSA complaint #725850, filed 2000-07

Buying note. This model year is old enough that condition matters more than reputation: have a mechanic inspect the transmission, tie rods, door hinges and air bag system specifically, and ask for service records on any transmission work. Confirming that the air bag wiring recall was completed is worth doing before purchase.

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.