IllustrationTHE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND NOT GO INTO GEAR. NLM
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 →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
140–25K
2825–50K
5650–75K
5075–100K
58100–150K
24150K+
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 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THE VEHICLES HEAD LIGHTS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ENGAGED. *YH
MY 4 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN VAN. HE WAS IN FRONT SEAT AND FOR SOME REASON HE PULLED ON THE COLUMN TO PUT IT IN DRIVE. THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION. HE IS NOT TALL ENOUGH TO REACH THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHENEVER HE PULLED THE HANDLE THE VAN WENT FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL AND ROLLED APPR. 60FEET INTO THE NEIGHBORS MOTOR HOME. THERE…
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MY 4 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN VAN. HE WAS IN FRONT SEAT AND FOR SOME REASON HE PULLED ON THE COLUMN TO PUT IT IN DRIVE. THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION. HE IS NOT TALL ENOUGH TO REACH THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHENEVER HE PULLED THE HANDLE THE VAN WENT FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL AND ROLLED APPR. 60FEET INTO THE NEIGHBORS MOTOR HOME. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO MY BUMPER AND TO THE TAILGATE AND THE QUARTER PANEL. THE MOTORHOME ALSO HAD FENDER DAMAGE. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE VEHICLE AT THE BOB ALLEN DEALERSHIP IN DANVILLE KY. THEY ARE WAITING FOR A CHRYSLER REP. TO COME AND VIEW THE VAN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SAID THAT THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN IS DEFECTIVE. ALL OF THE COMPONENTS ARE THERE BUT NOT WORKING. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD REPAIR THIS VEHICLE AT THEIR COST BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
AT 36,150 MILES SERPENTINE PULLEY BROKE WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
FIRST TIME CAR STALLED ON LOCAL STREET ON 27TH MAY 00 AFTER FEW ATTEMPTS, IT START AGAIN. DEALER COULD NOT FIGER OUT, IT STALLED AGAIN ON 06/11/00 ON HIGHWAY SO SCARRY, THEN THEY CHANGED COMPUTER PC IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON 07/23 &07/28, 01 WHICH TEY BLAMED CARBON BUILD UP WHICH I DON'T TRUST THEM BECAUSE ONLY 23400 MILES AND I NEVE…
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FIRST TIME CAR STALLED ON LOCAL STREET ON 27TH MAY 00 AFTER FEW ATTEMPTS, IT START AGAIN. DEALER COULD NOT FIGER OUT, IT STALLED AGAIN ON 06/11/00 ON HIGHWAY SO SCARRY, THEN THEY CHANGED COMPUTER PC IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON 07/23 &07/28, 01 WHICH TEY BLAMED CARBON BUILD UP WHICH I DON'T TRUST THEM BECAUSE ONLY 23400 MILES AND I NEVER HEARD THAT CAR TURNED OFF DUE TO THAT REASON DURING NORMAL SPEED. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT GO DOWN. IT WAS INTERMITTENT. INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, AND THEN THEY WOULD NOT COME ON. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN REAR VIEW MIRROR WOULD NOT ADJUST. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT HEADLIGHTS MIGHT GO OUT WHILE ON HIGHWAY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
1999 GRAND CARAVAN PURCHASED NEW , TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH APPROX 10000 MILES REPAIRED, STILL NOT RIGHT DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. CAR CAN LUNGED FORWARD WITH VERY SLIGHT PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL TAKEN FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE BY INDEPENDENT STATION, FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING SAID POSS SEAL WORN AT 17000 MILES.CAR HA…
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1999 GRAND CARAVAN PURCHASED NEW , TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH APPROX 10000 MILES REPAIRED, STILL NOT RIGHT DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. CAR CAN LUNGED FORWARD WITH VERY SLIGHT PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL TAKEN FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE BY INDEPENDENT STATION, FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING SAID POSS SEAL WORN AT 17000 MILES.CAR HAS VERY UNUSUAL ACCELERATION PATTERNS I AM THE FULL TIME DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE AND AFTER TWO YEARS I STILL AM UNSURE ON HOW TO HANDLE IT WHEN ACCELERATING TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE. ANOTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE SEEN WITH IT IS THE BRAKES. WE HAD IT BACK TO DEALER AT 10K MILES FOR NOISE FROM BACK WHEELS, THEY TOLD US IT WAS A LOOSE CAR SEAT , WHAT DO THEY THINK WE ARE STUPID. THE WHISTLING HAS BEEN CONSTANT , EVEN AFTER TELLING THEM TO LOOK INTO IT THIS TIME THEY SAID THE HUBCAPS WERE BENT AND THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THAT, THEY NEVER CHECKED THE BRAKES ,LOW AND BEHOLD, WE NOW NEED A $400 PLUS FULL BRAKE JOB. I AM SO FED UP WITH THIS DISASTER OF A CAR.ANY INFO ON BULLETINS IN. *AK
YOUR LATEST INFORMATION CONCERNING THE CRASH OF A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN AND THE FIRE PROBLEM DUE TO A CRACKED COMPONENT. SINCE PURCHASING MY DODGE, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS STRONG GAS SMELLS IN THE CAB OF THE CAR. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO 4 DEALERS AND THEY SAY THEY CAN FIND NOTHING. THIS STRONG GAS SMELL DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE T…
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YOUR LATEST INFORMATION CONCERNING THE CRASH OF A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN AND THE FIRE PROBLEM DUE TO A CRACKED COMPONENT. SINCE PURCHASING MY DODGE, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS STRONG GAS SMELLS IN THE CAB OF THE CAR. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO 4 DEALERS AND THEY SAY THEY CAN FIND NOTHING. THIS STRONG GAS SMELL DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME, BUT INTERMITTENTLY. WE ARE CONCERNED FOR MAYBE A FIRE OCCURING. WHERE IS THIS STRONG SMELL COMING FROM? I CALLED THE CHRYSLER ASSISTANCE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY WORD AGAINST THE DEALERS AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. I HAVE SERVERAL WITNESSES TO THE STRONG GAS SMELL. WE REMAIN CONCERNED, ESPECIALLY SINCE NO ONE WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE JUST WONDER IF THERE IS A SIMILARITY TO THE RECENT PROBLEM YOU HAVE REPORTED. WE WANT THIS CORRECTED, BUT HAVE HIT A DEAD END EVERY WHERE WE TURN. WE UNDERSTAND IT IS HARD FOR A DEALER TO FIND THE PROBLEM WHEN IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME AND THERE IS NO SPECIFIC PATTERN AS TO WHEN IT WILL OCCUR. BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A FIRE IN OUR CAR. TO US, THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. IF YOU NEED TO CALL BEFORE JULY 29, WE WILL BE AT THE FOLLOWING PHONE NUMBER UNTIL THEN. 864-638-7338. AFTER JULY 29, WE WILL BE AT THE NUMBER GIVEN IN THIS QUESTIONAIRE. THANK YOU.*AK
WE WERE ADVISED THAT COMPONENT WAS REDESIGNED DUE TO THE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET SEAL BREAKING AND LEAKING OIL. *AK
Official recalls
504V480000 · 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
6EA04013 · 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