2008 Dodge Caravan problems
Owners have filed 421 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Dodge Caravan. Electrical system is the most reported problem area, at 39% of complaints. After that come brakes (15%) and air bags (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 421 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 39% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 13 and 6
- Injuries and deaths
- 15 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 70,000 miles 309 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 | 38 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 46 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 52 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 40 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 36 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 44 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 21 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 11 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 12 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 6 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Among the 309 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 70,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 80,000 miles (105 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 13 complaints mention a crash; 6 complaints mention a fire; 15 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2008 ranks 16th most-complained-about out of 26 model years of the Dodge Caravan with enough data (180 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 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.
2008dodge caravan was in a crash, left front was sheered off from the impact causing left front wheel to be cut from a-frame. No air bags deployed. Car was totaled. Injuries were severe concussion, disk damage to spine, seat belt impact over chest.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge caravan. The contact stated that while stopped at a light, another vehicle crashed into the rear of her vehicle and her vehicle crashed into the rear of preceding vehicle. The air bag failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact and middle rear second row passenger sustained back injuries which required medical attention.
Was driving home at night when randomly my lights started flashing, horn started blaring, windshield wipers started going off, washer fluid was spraying everywhere. Locks were locking and unlocking. I ended up driving into someone's lawn as I could not see properly with poor lighting and all the distractions. Once I got home the vehicle continued to be possessed even without the key in the ignition. I was finally able to get everything to stop after unplugging the battery.
Received l25 recall notice for my 2008 dodge caravan (wireless ignition node ~ unintentional movement) in early june. Placed 3 calls to local dodge dealership and they displayed no sense of urgency whatsoever to address this issue. It is clear that, while they boast an excellent sales force, they are not interested in addressing low-yielding recall issues. My last two calls were met with, "oh, your part isn't in yet.