1992 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1992 Dodge Grand Caravan most often write about braking problems, particularly the antilock brake system, and about seat belt anchor and buckle hardware that comes loose. Many of these complaints reference recall campaigns or describe repairs that did not fully resolve the symptom. Reports generally come on vehicles with well over 100,000 miles, so much of what is described reflects an older van in long-term use.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS warning light, hard pedal, loss of braking assist

   • 57 complaints (22%)
   • median 169,000 mi at 13.9 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2017

   Owners describe the ABS and brake warning lights coming on, often intermittently, followed by a brake pedal that is hard to press or sinks toward the floor, requiring heavy effort to slow the van. Several say the problem returned after the ABS recall work was performed, and some report the hydraulic control unit or pump motor was replaced more than once. Dealers in the complaints variously told owners the vehicle was not covered, that the part was unavailable, or that they could not duplicate the problem; one stated a diagnostic fee was required before recall work. Reported from low mileage up to roughly 230,000 miles, with most accounts on vans well past 90,000 miles.

   Recall 96V099000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 96V099000 was completed and whether the ABS hydraulic unit or pump motor has been replaced since. Test the pedal feel and confirm the ABS light comes on at start-up and goes out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This has been an ongoing thing and talking to several chrysler mechanics they all tell me that this ABS brake pump is a real bad defect in the van and because its so so expensive to fix properly they warrenty the brake pump for the life of the van, well they dont warrenty the other things that go wrong due to the pump going out. Wish there was a way to really get something going on this I hear its a real big problem with 92 and 93 Dodge mini vans.”

   NHTSA complaint #724207, filed 2000-06

   “While driving when attempting to stop the vehicle excessive force had to be applied to the brake pedal to depress the brakes. Vehicle failed to stop, causing extended stopping distance. Emergency brakes had to be depressed to stop the vehicle. The cause of the failure is undetermined. Consumer made contact with the dealership.”

   NHTSA complaint #10034297, filed 2003-08, 38,000 miles
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Rear seat belt anchor clips release from the floor

   • 51 complaints (20%)
   • median 312,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2008

   Owners describe the retainer and spring clips on the middle-row and right rear seat belts breaking or slipping, so the belt comes unhooked from its floor or body anchorage with slack. Some say the buckle cover came loose and made the release button stick, leaving the buckle only partly latched. A number took the van to a dealer and were told the vehicle was too old or not covered by the campaign; others asked not to seat children in that position. Mostly described on vans in the late 1990s, with mileage rarely stated in the complaints.

   Recall 97V148000Recall 97V149000

   What to check: Pull firmly on each rear and middle-row belt at its anchor point and check that the clips and buckle latches hold under tension. Ask whether recalls 97V148000 and 97V149000 were applied to this van.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The spring clip is breaking and slipping loose. Deqler refuses to do anything because the vehicle is too old. The spring clip on the right rear shoulder belt snapped off at its end when the driver was clipping it in place.”

   NHTSA complaint #812522, filed 1997-05

   “2nd row center seat belts, which hooks into side wall and anchors, are inoperative; metal retainer clips broken, won't stay latched to floor anchor, comes undone with any amount of slack in seat belt.”

   NHTSA complaint #808014, filed 1997-01
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Tailgate strut bolts break and the liftgate falls

   • 32 complaints (13%)
   • median 156,745 mi at 11.9 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2005

   Complaints describe the bolts holding the rear liftgate gas strut shearing at the body, after which the strut pulls free and the liftgate drops. Some owners had the recall repair done years earlier and report the bolts breaking again; one mentions the rear glass breaking. A sliding door falling open and a door hinge weld separating are also reported in the same structure category. Several owners say a dealer declined further repair because of the van's age. Reported from the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s, with mileage ranging from about 150,000 to over 300,000 where stated.

   Recall 97V079000

   What to check: Open and close the liftgate and watch the strut mounting bolts and washers at the body for looseness or cracks, and ask whether recall 97V079000 was performed. Check the sliding door for sag and worn hinges.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The hatchback support strut on my caravan failed today - the bolt that supports the strut in the car body sheared off, while the vehcile was stopped at a stop sign. The strut expanded inside the cavity in the body as far as it could once the bolt sheared. I brought my car in for the recall (97v079000) in about 1997. I know chrysler performed the recall because the new bigger washers are on the lift supports. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10051394, filed 2003-12, 150,490 miles

   “The consumer was involved in past recall 730 by Dodge that was poorly handled. The rear hatch attachment bolt was the item on recall. The consumer had taken the vehicle in for repair in july of 1997 because the bolts had broken, and had them replaced. Then they broke again in august of 1999. On may 1, 2005 one of them broke again, and almost broke his wife's arm. On 5-3-2005, and the dealer said that the car was too old. They wouldn't fix it unless the consumer paid. The dealers response was inappropriate. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10119718, filed 2005-06, 312,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission failure and overdrive seal leaks

   • 24 complaints (9%)
   • median 167,000 mi at 11.4 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2004

   Owners report the van going into limp mode or losing gear engagement, with one account linking it to a broken overdrive O-ring. Several describe repeat replacements, including a transmission replaced around 48,000 miles and again later, and a van on its sixth unit. Complaints also mention noise and shuddering from the transmission area and rough shifting after replacement. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 50,000 to about 170,000 miles where mileage is given.

   What to check: Check transmission fluid condition and level, look for leaks around the overdrive housing, and test drive through all gears including overdrive. Ask for service records showing any rebuild or replacement and how many miles are on the current unit.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Bad paint its peeling flakeing the wood grain too faiding bad trans I just paid a dealership over 2 grand for a new one warranteed for only 3 years or 36,000 miles. Bad power windows cable broke=over $400.= me gettingscrewd bad lug nuts little metal caps over lugnuts come off and then tire tool dosent fit so you end up at the dealership getting them cut off. Keeps stalling headliner falling down headlights are totally yellow at night you cant see more than 50 feet on low beams so you have to have high beams on just to get low beam quality. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10070192, filed 2004-01, 167,000 miles

   “Overdrive o ring breaks, causes vehicle to go into limp mode. Replaced transmission at 85000, current transmission is going out at 110000 miles (25000 current miles on transmission)- same cause”

   NHTSA complaint #706295, filed 1999-05
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalling while driving

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off without warning at highway and lower speeds, sometimes requiring a restart that works immediately and sometimes leaving the cause unidentified. One owner reported repeated stalls from nearly new, and another noted stalling beginning after a transmission replacement. In these accounts the dealer or manufacturer was notified but no consistent remedy is described. Reported from very low mileage up to about 200,000 miles, without a clear pattern.

   What to check: During a test drive, note whether idle is steady and whether the engine hesitates or cuts out. Ask whether stalling has been investigated, and check for stored fault codes and recent ignition or fuel-system service.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On at least five occasions while driving on highway vehicle stalled. Once vehicle came to a complete stop it could be restarted. Manufacturer and dealer have been informed of the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10039975, filed 2003-09, 5,000 miles

   “Driver's side seatbelt retractor is stuck and will not come apart. Also, transmission failed without prior warning. This was the sixth transmission. After transmission was replaced, the engine began to stall. Gas gauge failed. Dashboard light shortened out. Speedometer failed and had to be replaced 4 times. Transmission not shifting properly. Front end vibrates especially when turning. Brakes are grinding. Rear view mirror fell off. High mount brake light shortened out. Side window and door rattling. Rear wiper failed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #8012476, filed 2002-06

Buying note. On a van this old, the braking system and seat belt anchor hardware are the items most worth inspecting closely and worth confirming against the recall campaigns listed. Records showing what has been repaired, and how recently the transmission was serviced, tell you more than the odometer alone.

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.