IllustrationWHILE PARKING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE REAR QUARTER PANEL, WITHIN 2 MINUTES FLAMES WERE ABOUT 10 FT TALL; CAUSED BY FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. *AK
1988 Dodge Caravan
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 Dodge Caravan do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Caravan years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 103 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports6 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
103 reportsREAREND ANGLED VEHICLE, WIRING IN STEERING STARTED TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. PROBLEM REOCCURRED AGAIN AFTER REPAIR, NO ACCIDENT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ELECTRICAL HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
HEAD LIGHT HOUSING LEAKS, CAUSING BULBS TO BREAK. *DH
CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGES BY ITSELF AFTER HAVING BEEN USED BY DRIVER. *DH
1) REAR PARK LIGHTS FAILED WHEN USED DUE TO POOR SECURE OF REAR LIFT GATE. 2) THIS WEAKENS TWO LIFT STRUTS/WELDS WHICH RESULTS IN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
THE VEHICLE HAD AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A TILT WHEEL FUNCTION AND WHEN IT IS IN DRIVE POSITION, THE WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE AND MOVES UP/DOWN FREELY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
INTERMITTENT STALLING WHEN SHIFTING TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE. *SD
CHRYSLER HAS TAKEN AN EXCESSIVE PERIOD OF TIME TO REPAIR THE REAR LATCH ON VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
288V107000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Jul 1, 1988
FUEL TANKS MAY BE CONSTRUCTED OF IMPROPER MATERIAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL COULD LEAK AT THE TANK SEAM WHICH, IN PRESENCE OFAN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE SUSPECT FUEL TANKS.
88V010000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Jan 26, 1988
FUEL TANKS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING TANK MANUFACTURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE WITH THE POTENTIAL FORA FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL TANKS AS NECESSARY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
8EA94005 · Liftgate Latches
Opened Jan 31, 1994 · Closed Oct 25, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
LIFTGATE LATCHES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE FAILED IN LOW AND MODERATE SPEED IMPACTS RESULTING IN OCCUPANT EJECTIONS, INJURIES, AND FATALITIES.THERE ARE TWO FAILURE MODES ASSOCIATED WITH LATCH FAILURE: FORK BOLT-DETENT LEVER BYPASS, AND INERTIAL UNLATCHING.NHTSA ANALYSES OF CHRYSLER AND PEER MINIVANS TOOK THE FORM OF STATIC AND DYNAMIC CRASH TESTING, ENGINEERING EVALUATIONS, COMPLAINT AND FIELD ANALYSES, AND REAL WORLD DATA ANALYSES.A TECHNICAL REPORT DISCUSSING THESE ANALYSES CAN BE FOUND IN THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TECHNICAL REPORT IN THE PUBLIC VIEWING FILE.CHRYSLER HAS ADVISED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE LATCHES ON ALL THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE CHRYSLER CAMPAIGN WILL CONSIST OF NOTIFICATION LETTERS TO ALL OWNERS; FREE REPLACEMENT OF ALL LATCHES WITH STRONGER, SAFER LATCHES REGARDLESS OF THE AGE OF THE MINIVANS; NATIONAL ADVERTISING TO PROMOTE CUSTOMER AWARENESS OF THE CAMPAIGN; QUARTERLY REPORTS REGARDING CAMPAIGN COMPLETION RATES; AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO ENSURE A HIGH COMPLETION RATE, ABOVE AND BEYOND THE ACTIONS THAT NORMALLY WOULD BE TAKEN IN A FORMAL SAFETY RECALL.THESE INCLUDE FOLLOW UP WRITTEN AND TELEPHONIC NOTIFICATIONS TO OWNERS WHO DO NOT BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION.NHTSA FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT THE CRASH PERFORMANCE OF THE LATCHES ON THESE MINIVANS RAISES SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS, AND THAT THE CAMPAIGN ADDRESSES THESE CONCERNS.THE CHRYSLER CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL INCREASE THE STRENGTH OF THE LIFTGATE LATCHES AND DECREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR INERTIAL UNLATCHING, THEREBY REDUCING THE RISK OF CRASH-RELATED OPENINGS OF THE LIFTGATE AND POSSIBLE OCCUPANT EJECTION THROUGH THE LIFTGATE OPENING.OWNERS OF CHRYSLER MINIVANS WILL GET A STRONGER, SAFER LATCH FREE OF CHARGE AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE TIME, WITHOUT THE NEED FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL INVESTIGATION AND COMPLEX AND TIME-CONSUMING LITIGATION WITH AN UNCERTAIN OUTCOME.BASED ON THE ABOVE, ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION.
PE91062 · Rear Wiper Switch/fires
Opened Mar 19, 1991 · Closed Jul 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
There is no summary currently available
EA91010 · Trans Park System Failure
Opened Dec 10, 1990 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
EA90030 · Spare Tire Carrier Fails
Opened May 31, 1990 · Closed Sep 24, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
There is no summary currently available
PE90079 · Rear Seat Structure Fails
Opened May 7, 1990 · Closed Oct 2, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
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EA90011 · Underdash Fires
Opened Feb 23, 1990 · Closed Feb 28, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
There is no summary currently available
PE90030 · Spare Tire Carrier Failure
Opened Jan 9, 1990 · Closed May 31, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
There is no summary currently available
PE89170 · Underdash Fires
Opened Sep 26, 1989 · Closed Feb 23, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
There is no summary currently available