1998 Dodge Caravan problems
Owners have filed 840 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Dodge Caravan. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 16% of complaints. After that come transmission (12%) and air bags (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 840 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 16% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 62 and 31
- Injuries and deaths
- 47 and 2
- Typical mileage
- 80,000 miles 240 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 10 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 10 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 40 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 53 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 44 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 32 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 26 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 15 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 4 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 5 |
What the data shows
Among the 240 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 80,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 74,000 miles (40 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 62 complaints mention a crash; 31 complaints mention a fire; 47 injuries reported; 2 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 26 model years of the Dodge Caravan with enough data (473 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
When the consumer applied brakes, the pedal went to the floor. The consumer was unable to maintain control of the vehicle and skidded into embankment and flipped twice. The driver 's side air bag did not deploy, but the passenger side air did deploy. The driver was dead on arrival. The insurance company towed totaled the vehicle. Please fill in additional information.
Whiele driving 25MPH another car hit consumer's vehicle from behind and seat belt did not catch ,causing serious injuries to driver.
On my way home from the dealership I heard a noise in the front end when I arrived home I called a mechanic the next day. He looked at my van on that monday to find the stabilizer bar broke and zippity strip to the strut which was also bad. The dealer let me drive 180 miles with my son in the vehicle, and the front end was like this.
Consumer received recall 02v293000 concerning air bag clock spring failure. Air bag light and the left signal light illuminated while in motion, also, horn was inoperative and the left turn signal gave off an consent alarm sound when engaged.