IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. THERE WAS A SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC.
1995 Dodge Caravan
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Caravan years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Dodge Caravan are substantially higher than 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: 26 of 489 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 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
53 crash reports6 fire reports35 injury reports
Power Train complaints
93 reportsWHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED. CONSUMER WASN'T ABLE TO SEE HOW FAST SHE WAS DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE!.*AK
AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 350 MILES BACK FROM A TRIP, TRANSMISSION FAILED. WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND COME TO A STOP (THIS WAS NOT A SUDDEN STOP). I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN BUT THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISES. I HAD TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID HITTI…
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AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 350 MILES BACK FROM A TRIP, TRANSMISSION FAILED. WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND COME TO A STOP (THIS WAS NOT A SUDDEN STOP). I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN BUT THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISES. I HAD TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF TROUBLE PRIOR TO THIS DURING THE TRIP. WHILE IN IDLE, THERE WAS NO GRINDING NOISE. WHEN WE STARTED TO MOVE AGAIN THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHIFT AND STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISES. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WAS RUINED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS ONLY 67,000 MILE ON THE VEHICLE. DEALER CHARGED ALMOST $3,000 TO PUT IN A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, THE SERVICE SHOP WAS VERY RUDE. WHEN ASKED IF IT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND IF THIS WAS THE KIND OF QUALITY ONE COULD EXPECT FROM DODGE, THE SERVICEMAN SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW AND ACTED LIKE HE DIDN'T CARE. HE SAID TO CALL THE 800 NUMBER IF I WASN'T HAPPY. WHEN I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER, THE PERSON I TALKED TO ACTED LIKE HE DIDN'T CARE AND BASICALLY TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE MY VEHICLE SERVICED PROPERLY. I TOLD HIM THE CAR WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD BEEN CHANGED JULY 1ST. HE TOLD ME THAT IF I BROUGHT IT TO PLACES LIKE JIFFY LUBE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED OR IF I BROUGHT IT TO OTHER PLACES FOR MAINTENANCE THAT THEY DID NOT DO A GOOD JOB AND DID NOT DO IT PROPERLY. I ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NONE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD AN AIR SENSOR GO OUT (WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE STUCK IN SECOND GEAR). THE VEHICLE STILL DOES NOT SEEM TO BE SHIFTING PROPERLY. IT NOW WHINES WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
ON AUGUST 11 ,2004 OUR 1995 DODGE CARAVAN FAILED TO PICK UP SPEED ON THE NJ TURNPIKE, WHILE GOING TO NEWARK AIRPORT. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS, IT WAS STOP AND GO ON THE WAY HOME AT NIGHT. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN JULY 1995 FROM SUBURBAN DODGE IN METUCHEN, NJ. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER (NOW MCDONAGH DODGE)…
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ON AUGUST 11 ,2004 OUR 1995 DODGE CARAVAN FAILED TO PICK UP SPEED ON THE NJ TURNPIKE, WHILE GOING TO NEWARK AIRPORT. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS, IT WAS STOP AND GO ON THE WAY HOME AT NIGHT. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN JULY 1995 FROM SUBURBAN DODGE IN METUCHEN, NJ. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER (NOW MCDONAGH DODGE) TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CAR DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY NOW. I HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED BECAUSE IT IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. IN ADDITION THE AC COMPRESSOR ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER IF THE COMPRESSOR IS NOT REPLACED A BELT MAY BREAK AND I COULD LOSE POWER TO THE STEERING. THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN FOR A VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY 94,000 MILES. *JB
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
DEALER WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, BUT AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF LABOR, THEY DECIDED TO REPLACE A DIFFERENTIAL PIN ON THE TRANSMISSION AFTER ONLY 52,000 MILES. DEALER WOULD NOT COVER COST OF REPAIR. IT SOUNDS LIKE MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM, IS THERE GOING TO BE A RECALL? ALSO, THE DEALER HAS RECHARGED THE A…
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DEALER WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, BUT AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF LABOR, THEY DECIDED TO REPLACE A DIFFERENTIAL PIN ON THE TRANSMISSION AFTER ONLY 52,000 MILES. DEALER WOULD NOT COVER COST OF REPAIR. IT SOUNDS LIKE MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM, IS THERE GOING TO BE A RECALL? ALSO, THE DEALER HAS RECHARGED THE AIR CONDITIONER 3 TIMES WITHIN THE PAST 3 YEARS. EACH TIME THEY CHARGED ME FOR IT. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A CHARGE WOULD LAST ONLY ONE SUMMER. *CB
THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE IN COOLER WEATHER, IT WILL NOT UPSHIFT PROPERLY AND HAS OCCASIONALLY DOWNSHIFTED WITHOUT WARNING IN TRAFFIC CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW SUDDENLY AND DRAMATICALLY. NLM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND, ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE 1 MPH AFTER THAT. DEALER DETERMINED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Official recalls
199V113000 · Air Bags
May 6, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THE WIRING THAT INITIATES THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD ELECTRICALLY SHORT CIRCUIT TO GROUND. A SHORT CIRCUIT TO GROUND THAT EXISTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE "ON" OR "START" POSITION CAN CAUSE THE AIR BAG(S) TO INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN INJURE A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERFORM AN ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. ANY SHORT CIRCUITS IDENTIFIED IN EITHER THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INITIATOR WIRE CIRCUIT WILL BE REPAIRED.
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
6DP03002 · Steering Column Separation
Opened May 7, 2003 · Closed Jul 22, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:column
MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.
PE97049 · Air Bag Circuit/windshield Wiper Motor
Opened Nov 18, 1997 · Closed Mar 17, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
There is no summary currently available
EA97003 · Integrated Child Seat Belt Lockup
Opened Jan 31, 1997 · Closed Aug 19, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Child Seat
THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT IDENTIFYING A SAFETY DEFECT AND OUTLINING THE PROPOSED REMEDY.RECALL NUMBER 98V-185 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS SAFETY RECALL.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Child Seat
THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT IDENTIFYING A SAFETY DEFECT AND OUTLINING THE PROPOSED REMEDY.RECALL NUMBER 98V-185 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS SAFETY RECALL.
Child Seat
THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT IDENTIFYING A SAFETY DEFECT AND OUTLINING THE PROPOSED REMEDY.RECALL NUMBER 98V-185 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS SAFETY RECALL.
DP96014 · Defective Air Bag Crash Sensor
Opened Nov 14, 1996 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
CFAS SENT A FOLLOW-UP LETTER ON DECEMBER 12, 1996, TO CHANGE THE INTENT OF THE PETITION TO AIRBAG AGGRESSIVITY AND DEPLOYMENT VARIABILITY.NHTSA RECEIVED THE LETTER ON 12/12/96; ACCORDINGLY, THE PETITION DUE DAY WAS CHANGED TO APRIL 12, 1997.CFAS PETITIONED THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR AND/OR DEPLOYMENT SYSTEMS FOR THE 1991-92 CHEVROLET CORSICA/BERETTA, 1990-92 FORD TAURUS, AND 1994-96 CHRYSLER MINIVANS ARE DEFECTIVE.CFAS ALLEGE THAT INFORMATION ON LOW SPEED CRASHES HERE OCCUPANTS HAVE SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES SUGGESTS [THAT THE ABOVE VEHICLES] HAVE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR AND/OR DEPLOYMENT SYSTEMS.
SQ96016 · Integrated Child Seat Belt Lockup
Opened Sep 18, 1996 · Closed Feb 4, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:integrated Child Seat
ODI CONTINUES TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING LATCHING/RETRACTOR MECHANISM PROBLEMS.CHRYSLER'S ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEM INDICATES THAT OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES ARE NOT ADHERING TO THE CLEANING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SEAT.THE SEAT APPEARS TO MALFUNCTION IF CRUMBS OF FOOD OR BEVERAGE RESIDUE ACCUMULATES ON THE LATCHING TONGUE IN THEWELL LOCATED BETWEEN THE CHILD'S LEGS.ODI HAS 19 COMPLAINTS OF RETRACT LOCKUP.SEVEN OF THESE COMPLAINTS REPORT CUTTING THE STRAPS TO REMOVE THE CHILD.TWO OF THE SEVEN CONSUMERS ALLEGE THE CHILD WAS CHOKING.CHRYSLER REPORTS 60 OWNER/FIELD REPORTS WHICH INDICATED 19 HARNESSES WERE CUT TO REMOVE THE CHILDREN.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO FULLY ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AND TO EVALUATE THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION'S RATIONAL FOR NOT CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN.
PE96008 · Safety Blt Latch Operation
Opened Jan 25, 1996 · Closed Jun 28, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available