Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
70–25K
2025–50K
5650–75K
3975–100K
46100–150K
17150K+
185 reports with mileage · 444 unknown
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.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 135 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 103 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
45 crash reports23 fire reports26 injury reports
What owners actually said
629 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
ON OCTOBER 6, 2000 I WAS TAKING MY SON TO SCHOOL WHEN I LOST ALL ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. I WAS GOING FAST ENOUGH I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO THE PARKING LOT. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. THEY WERE NOT COOPERATIVE OR FRIENDLY AND WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE MY VEHICLE WITHIN THE 3 DAY TIME FRAME THEY H…
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ON OCTOBER 6, 2000 I WAS TAKING MY SON TO SCHOOL WHEN I LOST ALL ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. I WAS GOING FAST ENOUGH I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO THE PARKING LOT. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. THEY WERE NOT COOPERATIVE OR FRIENDLY AND WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE MY VEHICLE WITHIN THE 3 DAY TIME FRAME THEY HAD PROMISED. SO ON 10-09-2000 WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE TO BE DIAGNOSED AND FIXED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WE HAD TO HAVE THEM FIX IT B/C OUR DEALER WAS GOING TO BE 3-5 WEEKS TO FIX IT, AND WE HAD A RENTAL CAR DURING THIS TIME. THE COST WAS $1455.00, THAT WE PAID OUT OF OUR POCKET. DURING THEIR INVESTIGATION OF OUR PROBLEMS THEY ALSO FOUND AN OIL LEAK. MY HUSBAND IS VERY GOOD WITH CARS AND HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, TO NO AVAIL. ON 3-9-2001 I HAD THE CAR OIL LEAK DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE. THEY SAID THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $600.00 AND DOWN TIME OF THE VEHICLE BEING 2-3 DAYS. AS THIS IS OUR MAIN VEHICLE THIS PRESENTS A PROBLEM. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MANY PEOPLE AND GARAGES THAT THESE 4 CYLINDER ENGINES ARE WIDELY KNOWN TO HAVE TRANSMISSION AND HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. ONE GARAGE WENT SO FAR AS TO TELL US THAT CHRYSLER KNEW THEY HAD THESE PROBLEMS BUT JUST WOULD NOT PUT OUT A RECALL. WE HAVE HAD THE VAN FOR 23 MONTHS. NOTHING WENT WRONG DURING THE VALID WARRANTY TIME. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY OVER WARRANTY BY APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES. OUR DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO WORK WITH US WITHIN THE TIME FRAME THEY HAD ORIGINALLY GIVEN US, SO WE WERE FORCED TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND PAY OUT OF OUR POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS, AS WE COULD NOT AFFORD A RENTAL CAR FOR THE 3-5 WEEKS THE DEALER WAS GOING TO TAKE TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHRYSLER BE FORCED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE PROBLEMS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #742274
Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2001
Power Train
HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT 58,498 MILES BECAUSE OF "LOTS OF METAL" FOUND IN PAN DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. "FOUND PLANETARY & SUN GEAR AND CARRIER ALL BAD FROM MSUN GEAR BEARING GOING BAD. CLUTCHES WERE ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF SLIPPING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THEIR BAD TRANSMISSIONS. THERE IS A VERY LONG HI…
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HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT 58,498 MILES BECAUSE OF "LOTS OF METAL" FOUND IN PAN DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. "FOUND PLANETARY & SUN GEAR AND CARRIER ALL BAD FROM MSUN GEAR BEARING GOING BAD. CLUTCHES WERE ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF SLIPPING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THEIR BAD TRANSMISSIONS. THERE IS A VERY LONG HISTORY OF IT AND THE CONSUMER IS THE ONE GETTING SCREWED.
NHTSA ODI #742218
Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS DEVELOPED A HOLE IN IT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS CAUSES EXHAUST GAS TO BE PORTED OUT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #741591
Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2001
Steering
STEERING GEAR IN THE RACK AND PINION HAS BROKEN TWICE. IT WAS REPLACED AT 9 MONTHS OF OWNER SHIP AND HAS BROKEN AGAIN IN ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME SINCE LAST REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AT SLOW PARKING LOT SPEEDS AND CAUSES THE VAN TO WANDER ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER AND CHRYSLER HAVE BEEN NOTIF…
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STEERING GEAR IN THE RACK AND PINION HAS BROKEN TWICE. IT WAS REPLACED AT 9 MONTHS OF OWNER SHIP AND HAS BROKEN AGAIN IN ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME SINCE LAST REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AT SLOW PARKING LOT SPEEDS AND CAUSES THE VAN TO WANDER ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER AND CHRYSLER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BUT REFUSE TO FIX PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #741590
Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2001
Suspension
HAVE FLEET OF 85 VEHICLES ALL BREAKING AT SIMILAR LOCATION. NEED INVESTIGATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #741168
Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2001
Power Train
CONTACTED CHRYLSER THEY HAVE AGREED TO PAY 50% OF DAMAGE BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN OR IF IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. I WAS PASSING A CAR ON THE TURNER TURNPIKE WHEN I HEARD A POP AND MY TIRES VIBRATED I THOUGHT I HAD HAD A FLAT. SO I PULLED OVER AND LEFT A TRAIL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID BEHIND…
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CONTACTED CHRYLSER THEY HAVE AGREED TO PAY 50% OF DAMAGE BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN OR IF IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. I WAS PASSING A CAR ON THE TURNER TURNPIKE WHEN I HEARD A POP AND MY TIRES VIBRATED I THOUGHT I HAD HAD A FLAT. SO I PULLED OVER AND LEFT A TRAIL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID BEHIND ME. THE PIN IN THE SPIDERGEAR SNAPPED AND FLEW THREW THE TRANSMISSION. FOUND THE PIECE ON TOP OF MY TRANSMISSION. I HAUL KIDS AND GOT ON TRIPS I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. HOW CAN I SEE IF IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #740543
Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WAS TOLD I NEEDED HEAD GASKET REPLACED DUE TO OIL DRIPPING. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS HAVE HAD REGULAR SERVICE CHECK UP AND OIL CHANGES I HAVE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS AS A RESULT. I DID FIND ANOTHER COMPLAINT OF SIMILAR SITUATION ON ALLPAR.COM . THIS SEEMS TOO EARLY FOR SUCH A LARGE REPAIR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #740227
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2001
Power Train
WHILE ON INTERSTATE HEARD A CRACK. CONSUMER LOOKED OUT REAR VIEW AND SAW SMOKE. PULLED OVER, AND LOOKED UNDER CAR AND SAW TRANSMISSION FLUID POURING OUT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #879352
Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER HAD SEEN OIL ON GROUND COMING FROM VEHICLE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS, AND TECHNICIAN SAID THAT OIL WAS COMING AROUND ENGINE. HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED ONCE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #878846
Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING COULD STEP ON THE BRAKES PEDAL AND VEHICLE WILL START SHAKING WITHOUT A NOTICE OF BRAKES WORKING. *AK IN LOW IDLE WITH BRAKES ON, VEHICLE START SHAKING AS IF IT WOULD DIE (ENGINE SHUT OFF). *YH
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY BECOME DISABLED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE CLOCKSPRING, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE HUB OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION WILL MANIFEST ITSELF THROUGH ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP, AND COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A DRIVER'S AIR BAG OPEN CIRCUIT, IF THE PART IS NOT REPLACED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL COVERED VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. FOR THOSE VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 70,000 MILES, DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL OFFER AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY UNDER WHICH IT WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING AT NO CHARGE IF IT FAILS. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL ALSO REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED ON THEIR VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION WILL MANIFEST ITSELF THROUGH ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP, AND COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A DRIVER'S AIR BAG OPEN CIRCUIT, IF THE PART IS NOT REPLACED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON THIS COMPONENT FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL ALSO REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED ON THEIR VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 18, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, SOME TRIM MATERIAL CAN LOOSEN AND DROP INTO THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRIM WITH FOAM BLOCKERS AND INSPECT AND REPLACE ALL 3RD ROW SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 3, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS BUILT WITH 3.3L AND 3.8L ENGINES HAVE FUEL RAILS WITH NITROLE RUBBER O-RING SEALS THAT CAN DEGRADE OVER TIME. FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE UNDERHOOD FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A VEHICLE FIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SEAL ON THE VEHICLE FUEL RAILS TO PREVENT EXTERNAL LEAKAGE OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE, SHOULD THE EXISTING O-RINGS CONTINUE TO DEGRADE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2002. DUE TO THE LARGE QUANTITY OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THE OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE PHASED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. HOWEVER, IF A VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE O-RINGS, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO A DEALER TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINT WEBBING WAS INCORRECTLY ROUTED AROUND THE METAL REINFORCEMENT BAR ON THESE SEATS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CHILD SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ROUTING OF THE SHOULDER BELT WEBBING AND ANY FOUND INCORRECT WILL BE PROPERLY ROUTED.
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
7
EA04013 · Driver Air Bag Clockspring Failure
Opened Jun 4, 2004 · Closed May 25, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal
THE DRIVER AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING CAN DEVELOP AN OPEN-CIRCUIT CONDITION RESULTING IN NONFUNCTIONAL DRIVER-SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG, HORN, CRUISE CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED), AND/OR STEERING WHEEL RADIO CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED).IN ITS OCTOBER 5, 2004 LETTER TO NHTSA, DAIMLERCHRYSLER STATED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL AND REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL MY 1998.5-2000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER MINIVANS, BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1998 AND AUGUST 2000, WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS.IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE A LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR THIS COMPONENT ON MY 1998.5-2000 MINIVANS, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE.THE DETAILS OF THE CORRECTIVE ACTION ARE DESCRIBED IN DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S LETTER (SEE RECALL NO. 04V-480).THE AGENCY BELIEVES THAT FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS WITH RESPECT TO THOSE VEHICLES COVERED ONLY BY THE LIFETIME WARRANTY.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE PAGE 2 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
RQ04001 · Driver Air Bag Clockspring Failure
Opened Jan 28, 2004 · Closed Jun 4, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal
COMPLAINTS REPORT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, AND THIS MAY BE ACCOMPANIED WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING HORN AND/OR CRUISE CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED).THIS IS INDICATIVE OF AN OPEN-CIRCUIT CLOCKSPRING FAILURE (RESULTS IN NON-FUNCTIONING DRIVER'S AIR BAG), SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE CONDITION THAT WAS THE SUBJECT OF DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S RECALL OF MODEL YEAR 1996-1998.5 MINIVANS (RECALL NO. 02V-293).THIS RECALL QUERY HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-013).
PE02004 · Rear Seat Belt Malfunction
Opened Jan 16, 2002 · Closed Mar 11, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:rear/other
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED JANUARY 16, 2002, BASED ON SEVEN REPORTS ALLEGING THE THIRD ROW SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FAILED ON CERTAIN 1997 AND 1998 MODEL YEAR CARAVAN AND VOYAGER VEHICLES.THE REPORTS INDICATED A TAR LIKE SUBSTANCE ENTERED THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM, THUS CAUSING THE RETRACTOR TO JAM OR BIND.IN THIS CONDITION THE SEAT BELT IS RENDERED INOPERABLE, AS THE WEBBING CANNOT RETRACT OR BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE RETRACTORS FOR USE.RECALL SCOPE:THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE 1997 THROUGH 1999 DODGE CARAVAN, PLYMOUTH VOYAGER, AND CHRYSLER TOWN & CONTRY BUILT ON A SHORT WHEEL BASE CHASSIS.THE INCLUSIVE DATES OF PRODUCTION ARE JUNE 1996 THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 1999.RECALL REMEDY: DAIMLERCHRYSLER DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MASTIC SOUND BARRIER PATCHES WITH FOAM BLOCKERS, AS WELL AS, INSPECT AND REPLACE ALL THIRD ROW REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES CONTAMINATED BY THE MASTIC PATCH.
EA01007 · Air Bag Clockspring
Opened Feb 21, 2001 · Closed Nov 22, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
RQ00008 · Dc Minivan Fuel Injector Rail Leak
Opened Mar 9, 2000 · Closed Mar 18, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA99013 · Post Collision Fuel System
Opened Jun 11, 1999 · Closed Aug 10, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
No summary supplied.
PE99010 · POST-COLLISION Fuel System Integrity
Opened Feb 3, 1999 · Closed Jun 11, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
There is no summary currently available
1998 Dodge Caravan Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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