1999 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the airbag warning light coming on, frequently together with a dead horn and inoperative cruise control, and they connect it to the clockspring behind the steering wheel. Repeat serpentine belt failures in rain or through water, transmission shifting and lock-up problems, brake lines rusting through, and rusted front strut towers are also recurring themes in the sampled complaints, usually from around 60,000 to 120,000 miles.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag light on with no horn or cruise control (clockspring)

   • 93 complaints (22%)
   • median 81,900 mi at 5.6 yrs old (52 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2018

   Complaints describe the airbag warning light coming on, often first flickering during turns, then staying lit. In many of the same reports the horn and cruise control stop working, and owners say a shop traced it to the clockspring in the steering wheel hub. Several owners report the part was replaced at their own cost, and some say the dealer declined coverage because the vehicle was not included in an earlier campaign, while others note the light returned after a recall repair. Mostly reported between roughly 45,000 and 140,000 miles, with many clustered around 60,000 to 100,000 miles.

   Recall 04V480000

   What to check: Turn the key to run and confirm the airbag light goes out, then check that the horn and cruise control both work. Ask whether the clockspring has been replaced and keep any receipt.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “First air bag light came on, followed by subsequent failure of horn & cruise control. Our dealership mentioned the clockspring and the air bag module needed replacement. Thanks to the sumarries on this site, we will not be approving the module replacment (an additional cost of about 650). Last eight VIN: xb527782.”

   NHTSA complaint #10081070, filed 2004-07, 89,000 miles

   “We purchased a used 1999 Grand Caravan. Through research we found the clockspring was the problem. Crysler refuses to fix it because they said a different part was used after the last recall. They said save our receipt and if there actually a recall we would be reimbursed 100%.”

   NHTSA complaint #10049681, filed 2003-12, 86,800 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Serpentine belt slips off in wet weather

   • 31 complaints (7%)
   • median 89,000 mi at 8.7 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2016

   Owners describe the serpentine belt coming off, sometimes after driving through rain, a puddle or a car wash. The reported result is a sudden loss of power steering and charging, and overheating within a short time. Several say the belt was replaced more than once, or that a belt and tensioner were installed and the belt still came off, and that dealers and shops pointed to the tensioner, a pulley, the belt itself or water without a lasting fix. Reported from about 26,000 miles up through high mileage, with several owners noting repeated events in wet conditions.

   What to check: Inspect the belt, tensioner and pulleys for wear or misalignment, and ask a shop to check belt routing and alignment. Ask the seller whether the belt has come off before, especially in rain.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Surpentine belt keeps coming off randomly causing a very dangerous condition of not being able to steer the car. The dealer has repaired many times and says there is no known fix. Because the vehicle in not safe I can no longer have my family in the vehicle. I look at the web site for other complaints on this minivan and I see many othe people have the same un-safe problem with this model.”

   NHTSA complaint #10056727, filed 2004-02, 59,000 miles

   “Continual serpentine belt issues with Dodge Grand Caravan. We purchased this vehicle new in 1999, it has less than 100,000 miles and has required replacement of the serpentine belt at least 4 times. Additionally, the belt has come off on 2 occasions when vehicle was driven through a puddle. This seems extremely excessive.”

   NHTSA complaint #10192348, filed 2007-06, 94,000 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Rusted front strut towers and mounts

   • 39 complaints (9%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 8.9 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2015

   Owners report rust eating through the front strut tower and strut mount area, usually found during routine service or after an unrelated repair. Complaints say shops advised that the strut mount or tower could break apart and quoted body-shop repairs, and several owners note the dealer acknowledged seeing the condition before but did not cover it. Similar rust is described on other underbody structure. Usually reported above roughly 100,000 miles on vans in salt-belt use, often found during routine servicing.

   What to check: Open the hood and inspect the tops of both front strut towers for bubbling paint, flaking metal or holes, and look underneath at the subframe and rocker areas for heavy rust.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had my 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan in for regular servicing and the mechanic noted that there was a serious rust problem with the left front strut tower. The person from the shop who called me suggested that I take it to a body shop to be evaluated as soon as possible. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10102867, filed 2004-12, 100,500 miles

   “Dear staff members: I am the original owner of a 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan with 104,000 miles on it. The front strut towers are rusting badly and I was told by a Dodge mechanic at sherman Dodge in skokie, illinois (where I bought the van) that the strut will pop through the hood anytime and would cause the lost control of the vehicle. This is a design defect and I would very much like to see Dodge pick up some, if not all of the repair cost. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10266041, filed 2009-04, 100,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake line rust-through and pedal to the floor

   • 44 complaints (10%)
   • median 101,750 mi at 9.1 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2012

   Complaints describe the brake pedal going to the floor, sometimes with no warning, and inspection showing a ruptured rear brake line near the ABS module with the steel lines heavily rusted. Owners report replacing the lines, and one describes grinding from the front brakes that continued after repairs. Others mention finding badly rusted lines before any failure occurred. Mostly reported between about 85,000 and 135,000 miles, frequently on vans used in winter-road-salt areas.

   What to check: Have a shop inspect the steel brake lines along the underbody and near the ABS module for rust and seepage, and check the brake fluid level and pedal feel before driving.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan. I found that I have severely rusted brake lines. (I just happened to look my self) they look like they will burst any minute. I have detailed pictures. Seems wrong to me that a car manufacturer would be so cheap as to use brake lines that rust.”

   NHTSA complaint #10136298, filed 2005-09, 120,000 miles

   “Total brake failure on 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan. Rear brake line ruptured were solid line meets braided line under driver side of car and near anti lock brake module. Loss of braking forced me to drive vehicle onto someone's lawn to avoid a rear end impact of a car making a left turn on a single lane road. Emergency brake was used to stop the vehicle. Failure was abrupt with no prior visual evidence of leaking on my driveway or in the parking spot of my workplace. Red brake light came on after it was too late. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10339547, filed 2010-06, 102,500 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shifting and lock-up problems

   • 77 complaints (18%)
   • median 65,075 mi at 5.8 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,499 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2014

   Complaints describe the van jerking, the service engine light coming on, the speedometer dropping to zero and the transmission failing to shift out of a gear. One owner reports the wheels locking up after a pin came out of the transmission, and another describes the van downshifting on its own at highway speed. Some owners say the transmission was rebuilt and later needed rebuilding again. Most often reported between roughly 55,000 and 105,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test drive from cold through all gears, watch for harsh or delayed shifts and a flickering speedometer, and check the transmission fluid condition and service history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a poorly manufactured transmission, 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan. It was rebuilt once, now it needs to be totally rebuilt again this time 1600.00 dollars.maybe you all can do something about this problem . Searching the internet many others have had problems with faullty chysler transmissions. Thanks.”

   NHTSA complaint #10060306, filed 2004-03, 102,500 miles

   “While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle jerked , the service engine soon light came on, speedometer went to zero and the vehicle won't shift out of 2nd gear. Mileage = 55000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10060190, filed 2004-03, 55,000 miles

Buying note. Check the airbag warning light, horn and cruise control first, then have a shop look at the belt drive, brake lines and front strut towers for wear and rust, since those are the items owners describe most. Service records showing recent belt, brake line and transmission work are worth asking about.

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.