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1999 Dodge Caravan

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Caravan years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Dodge Caravan are substantially higher than the model-year median of 182.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

230 reports with mileage · 325 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 119 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 102 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 96 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

46 crash reports14 fire reports28 injury reports

What owners actually said

555 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2003
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH VEHICLE SHIMMIED. CV JOINTS WENT OUT, AND WHEN VEHICLE REACHEED 60MPH, VIBRATION STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10006127

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2003
Power Train

1999 DODGE CARAVAN HAS TWO BASEBALL SIZE HOLES IN CASING OF TRANSMISSION AFTER BRINGING DOWN TO ? SOUND OF TRANSMISSION AND WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE BY DEALERS , I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS A DEFECT IN TRANSMISSION. I WOULD LIKE A TRANSMISSON REPLACED DUE TO ONLY HAVING FOR 11/2 YRS AND OWE 10.000.00 STILL ON LOAN.

NHTSA ODI #10003588

62,000 miles · Jan 24, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY DODGE CARAVAN 99, STALLS. I CAN BE TURNING A CORNER, PUTTING ON THE BRAKE, SLOWING DOWN AND THE CAR STALLS. THIS HAS PUT ME IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. MY VAN HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP TWICE NOW. I HAD TO ASK FOR A MONITOR TO BE PUT ON THE ENGINE TO DETECT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THIS WAS NOT OFFERED TO ME, BUT SOMEONE I WO…

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MY DODGE CARAVAN 99, STALLS. I CAN BE TURNING A CORNER, PUTTING ON THE BRAKE, SLOWING DOWN AND THE CAR STALLS. THIS HAS PUT ME IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. MY VAN HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP TWICE NOW. I HAD TO ASK FOR A MONITOR TO BE PUT ON THE ENGINE TO DETECT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THIS WAS NOT OFFERED TO ME, BUT SOMEONE I WORK WITH HAD A DODGE VAN WITH THE VERY SAME PROBLEM AND THEY HAD A MONITOR PUT ON THEIRS. CURRENTLY THE VAN IS STALLING, I AM PUSHING THE BUTTON ON THE MONITOR HOPING THE PROBLEM WILL BE DETECTED. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE VAN HAS BEEN IN FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY CAN NOT FIGURE OUT. AS SOMEONE I WORK WITH HAD A DODGE VAN, AN OLDER ONE, BUT SAME VAN, WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS IT MAKES ME CONCERNED THAT MY VAN HAS SOME KIND OF DEFECT. AS THIS IS MY ONLY CAR, AND I CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW ONE AT THIS TIME I AM FORCED TO DRIVE IT NEVER EVER KNOWING WHEN IT WILL STALL AND I WILL LOOSE CONTROL AS I LOOSE MY POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #10003354

65,000 miles · Jan 22, 2003
Air BagsElectrical System

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLES HORN WILL NOT BLOW AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ODI #10004459

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2003
Power Train

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE REAR TRANSMISSION SEAL CRACKED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10003626

20,000 miles · Jan 12, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2001, FOLLOWING DEALER OIL CHANGE, I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE EPISODES OF STRONG RAW FUEL FUMES, ESPECIALLY AFTER PUTTING ANY AMOUNT OF FUEL IN VAN. MANY WITNESSES DOCUMENT FUMES. I AM AFRAID OF FIRE RISK AND OF THE HEALTH RISKS OF FUMES. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD AND I HAVE ASTHMA, SO THIS IS A HARMFUL SITUATION. ANYTHI…

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SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2001, FOLLOWING DEALER OIL CHANGE, I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE EPISODES OF STRONG RAW FUEL FUMES, ESPECIALLY AFTER PUTTING ANY AMOUNT OF FUEL IN VAN. MANY WITNESSES DOCUMENT FUMES. I AM AFRAID OF FIRE RISK AND OF THE HEALTH RISKS OF FUMES. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD AND I HAVE ASTHMA, SO THIS IS A HARMFUL SITUATION. ANYTHING LEFT IN CAR SMELLS LIKE A GAS STATION. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES. THEY SAY THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. STARTED AT 20K MILES. NOW 30K. ALSO HAD CYLINDER #3 FUEL INJECTOR FAIL AT 27K. (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SENSOR WENT AT 20K AND MOLD FOUND IN VAPOR CANISTER.) CHRYSLER WON'T HELP. ALSO REFERENCE ODI COMPLAINTS #748730, 757182, 886982, 9004682 FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS REPORTED. PLEASE, I NEED HELP RIGHT AWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10000989

34,581 miles · Jan 9, 2003
Power TrainService Brakes, AirCrashInjury

I NOTIFIED THE FIRST INCIDENT TO THE DEALER ABOUT ITS SPEED SENSOR, OVER THE PHONE, WHICH BLEW AWAY JUST AFTER THE TWO WEEKS OF BUYING THIS CAR FROM HIS SHOWROOM. LAST MONTH, THE BREAK WENT BAD AND WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, I HAD TO END UP REPLACING THE ROTOR AND COMPLETE BRAKE SET, PAYING AROUND $300 FROM MY POCKE…

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I NOTIFIED THE FIRST INCIDENT TO THE DEALER ABOUT ITS SPEED SENSOR, OVER THE PHONE, WHICH BLEW AWAY JUST AFTER THE TWO WEEKS OF BUYING THIS CAR FROM HIS SHOWROOM. LAST MONTH, THE BREAK WENT BAD AND WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, I HAD TO END UP REPLACING THE ROTOR AND COMPLETE BRAKE SET, PAYING AROUND $300 FROM MY POCKET, FROM A MIDAS IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE THIRD INCIDENT WAS MOST DANGEROUS, AND DON'T KNOW HOW I SAVED THE LIFE OF MY TWO LITTLE KIDS INCLUDING THE ONE WITH 11MONTHS INFANT BABY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BLEW AWAY WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY AND LOST CONTROL ON THE DOWNHILL, IN THE CITY OF NORRISTOWN, SINCE ITS BREAK AND THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WENT OFF DUE TO THE FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND I EVENTUALLY TOOK A GREAT RISK OF PULLING THE CAR ALL BE MYSELF ON THE SIDEWALK AND SOMEHOW PROTECTED EACH OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS. THIS CAR IS PROVEN TO BE VERY UNSAFE AND DOES NOT WORTH THE LIFE OF MY KIDS AND MY FAMILY. I SINCERELY REQUEST TO HELP ME HAVE MY MONEY BACK AT THE EARLIEST. THE DEALER IS VERY RUDE AND ROUGH OVER THE PHONE AND DOES NOT LET ME SPEAK AT ALL. IT TOOK ME SEVERAL YEARS TO SAVE THIS MONEY TO BUY THIS CAR BUT THE DEALER HAS REALLY DECEIVED ME BY GIVING A FAULTY CAR. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS CAR DID NOT UNDERGO FOR ANY KIND OF SAFETY INSPECTION AS LONG AS IT WAS SITTING IN HIS SHOWROOM AND I AM VERY AFRAID OF DRIVING NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10000876

33,000 miles · Jan 7, 2003
Power Train

VEHICLES TRANSMISSION LINE KEEPS DISCONNECTING FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THIS RESULTS IN A FUEL LEAK, WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, DUE TO THE FACT IF A VEHICLE IS BEHIND WHEN THE FUEL LEAKS THEY CAN SLIDE INTO THE BACK OF CONSUMER. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE PARTS BUT THE PROBLEM RECURS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS…

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VEHICLES TRANSMISSION LINE KEEPS DISCONNECTING FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THIS RESULTS IN A FUEL LEAK, WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, DUE TO THE FACT IF A VEHICLE IS BEHIND WHEN THE FUEL LEAKS THEY CAN SLIDE INTO THE BACK OF CONSUMER. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE PARTS BUT THE PROBLEM RECURS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ODI #10002204

33,000 miles · Jan 7, 2003
Power Train

VEHICLES TRANSMISSION LINE KEEPS DISCONNECTING FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THIS RESULTS IN A FUEL LEAK, WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, DUE TO THE FACT IF A VEHICLE IS BEHIND WHEN THE FUEL LEAKS THEY CAN SLIDE INTO THE BACK OF THE CONSUMER. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE PARTS BUT THE PROBLEM RECURS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH …

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VEHICLES TRANSMISSION LINE KEEPS DISCONNECTING FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THIS RESULTS IN A FUEL LEAK, WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, DUE TO THE FACT IF A VEHICLE IS BEHIND WHEN THE FUEL LEAKS THEY CAN SLIDE INTO THE BACK OF THE CONSUMER. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE PARTS BUT THE PROBLEM RECURS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ODI #10002203

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CLOCK SPRING IS GONE BAD CAUSING THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL NOT TO WORK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

NHTSA ODI #10002121

Official recalls

5

04V480000 · Air Bags

Oct 6, 2004

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.

02V076000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Mar 8, 2002

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.

01V119000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor

Apr 11, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN VAN, WAGON, PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, IT WILL NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECT OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 20, 2001. 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.

00V268000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System

Sep 13, 2000

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.

99V116000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

May 6, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS BUILT FOR FLEET SALES ONLY. THE HEADLAMP MODULE DOES NOT IDENTIFY THE PARK LAMP AS "DRL" AS REQUIREMENT OF FMVSS 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108.

Remedy: ALL FLEET OWNERS/OPERATORS WILL BE MAILED NON-REMOVABLE DECALS WITH THE REQUIRED "DRL" LETTERS.

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

6

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).

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