IllustrationSTRUT MOUNT BROKE OFF FROM LEFT SIDE. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT STRUT MOUNT ON RIGHT SIDE ALSO NEEDS REPLACEMENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
1990 Dodge Caravan
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 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: 4 of 278 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.
- Power Train. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports7 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
278 reportsWHILE DRIVING ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN COMING TO A STOP HIT BRAKES, AND ABS LIGHT WENT OFF. BUT, THEN PRESSING ON BRAKES AND LIGHT CAME ON, AND STAYED ON. *AK
BOLT THAT SUPPORTS LIFTGATE FAILED, AND THE LIFTGATE FELL ON CONSUMER'S WIFE'S BACK WITHOUT ANY WARNING OF DEFECT. *AK
SEE YOUR SERVICE BULLETIN 094 FOR 1990 DODGE CARAVAN CV W/ 3.3 OVERHEATING. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MOUNTAINS BEFORE A STEEP GRADE TWICE! YOU LOSE ENGINE, BRAKES, AND STEERING AS A RESULT. SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED; RADIATORS NOT SUFFICIENT IN THESE MINIVANS AND AS MINIVAN FLEETS AGE THE PROBLEM CAN ONLY GET WORSE... WE DON'T OWN IT A…
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SEE YOUR SERVICE BULLETIN 094 FOR 1990 DODGE CARAVAN CV W/ 3.3 OVERHEATING. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MOUNTAINS BEFORE A STEEP GRADE TWICE! YOU LOSE ENGINE, BRAKES, AND STEERING AS A RESULT. SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED; RADIATORS NOT SUFFICIENT IN THESE MINIVANS AND AS MINIVAN FLEETS AGE THE PROBLEM CAN ONLY GET WORSE... WE DON'T OWN IT ANYMORE; IT'S UNSAFE! *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON BUSY CITY STREET VEHICLE BEHIND CONSUMER'S WAS SWERVING AND BLOWING HORN TO GET CONSUMER'S ATTENTION. PULLED OVER AND REALIZED THAT THE SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE, CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO FLY ACROSS THE HIGWAY. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP, OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK
POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS CAUSING VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE NO REVERSE / NO FIRST GEAR. *YC
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS STALLING AND SHIFTING HARD. ALSO, THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK
TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES. MJS
ON TWO OCCASIONS CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT A PINCHED WIRE MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE SHORT THAT RESULTED IN A FIRE. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO CONSUMER. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS …
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ON TWO OCCASIONS CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT A PINCHED WIRE MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE SHORT THAT RESULTED IN A FIRE. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO CONSUMER. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
THE FUEL INJECTORS HAVE LEAKED 3 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED FUEL INJECTORS EACH TIME. *AK
Official recalls
391V053000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Apr 10, 1991
INBOARD FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY STRAPS CAN SUFFER FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE STRAP NEAR ITS ANCHOR POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FATIGUE FAILURE OF SAFETY BELTS IN A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT CONDITION RESULTS IN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: REPLACE FATIGUED STRAPS OR RETROFIT STRAPS WITH A REINFORCEMENT PLATE AND REMOVAL OF AN ANTIROTATION TAB TO PREVENT FATIGUE FAILURE.
90V145000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:differential Proportional Valve
Aug 10, 1990
INCORRECT SCREWS MAY HAVE BEEN USED IN INSTALLING THE LOAD SENSING BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE TO ITS BRACKET CAUSING THE CLAMPING LOAD TO BE LESS THAN INTENDED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN INCONSISTENT FRONT TO REAR BRAKEBALANCE WITH POTENTIAL FOR REAR BRAKE SKID UNDER HEAVY BRAKING CONDITIONS.
Remedy: REPLACE PROPORTIONING VALVE TO BRACKET SCREWS WITH PROPER LENGTH SCREWS.
89V237000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Dec 27, 1989
THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.
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
6PE95014 · Rear Seat Anchorages
Opened Feb 23, 1995 · Closed Jul 7, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:rear/other
There is no summary currently available
EA94005 · 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.
PE92027 · R/htchbck Hydr.cylin.fails
Opened Mar 10, 1992 · Closed Jun 3, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
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
PE91026 · Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Jan 4, 1991 · Closed May 1, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
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