2004 Dodge Caravan problems
Owners have filed 84 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Dodge Caravan. Fuel system is the most reported problem area, at 23% of complaints. After that come electrical system (11%) and brakes (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 84 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Fuel system 23% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 72,000 miles 67 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 | 5 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 19 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 12 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 12 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 6 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 67 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 72,000 miles. For fuel system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 72,000 miles (17 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 3 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 23rd most-complained-about out of 26 model years of the Dodge Caravan with enough data (47 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
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.
The brakes failed at 55 MPH. This caused extended stopping distance, and vehicle ran off the road. Consumer suffered minor injuries. The vehicle was towed. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. The consumer stated that the vehicle was totaled in a rollover following brake failure. No air bag was deployed.
While driving at 25 MPH latch mechanism was not locked properly. As a result the bench seat moved forward, and child who was seated hit his face on the back of the passenger side . Manufacturer and dealership had been notified.
I originally filed a complaint against the pad manufacturer but it seems to be the composite piston in the caliper that is intermittently causing the brakes to overheat. The pedal travel goes to zero and the brake is locked. This is a manufactures defect and a hazard. It would be easy for these brakes to fail in highway conditions and have the grease melt out of the bearings from the heat and brake fluid to boil. This car has been garaged its entire life and maintained.
I had my tires rotated at costco where they were purchased in 2012. In the spring of 2013, I was going to put new brakes on the rear of my 2004 minivan, and could not get two of the lug nuts off. So I just put it off for a while. On july 30, 2013, I went out to get in my van and had a flat tire on that same wheel. I attempted to remove the tire and two of the stud bolts broke. I removed the rest of the lugnuts and took the tire to be repaired at costco.