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2000 Dodge Caravan

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Caravan years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Dodge Caravan are substantially higher than the model-year median of 182.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

222 reports with mileage · 248 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 86 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

65 crash reports5 fire reports44 injury reports

Structure complaints

30 reports
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65,000 miles · Dec 1, 2020
StructureSuspensionCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION- WHILE DRIVING ALONG I HEARD AND FELT A LOUD NOISE (BOOM) FROM REAR OF VEHICLE-VEHICLE THEN SWERVED WILDLY OUT OF CONTROL SPINNING AROUND AND TAKING DOWN SIGNS, MAILBOX-AFTER LOOKING AT VAN IT IS APPARENT THAT THE REAR AXLE SLID BACKWARDS IN WHEEL WELL. WHILE BODY IS RUST FREE, UNDERCARRIAGE HAS EXCESSIVE…

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VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION- WHILE DRIVING ALONG I HEARD AND FELT A LOUD NOISE (BOOM) FROM REAR OF VEHICLE-VEHICLE THEN SWERVED WILDLY OUT OF CONTROL SPINNING AROUND AND TAKING DOWN SIGNS, MAILBOX-AFTER LOOKING AT VAN IT IS APPARENT THAT THE REAR AXLE SLID BACKWARDS IN WHEEL WELL. WHILE BODY IS RUST FREE, UNDERCARRIAGE HAS EXCESSIVE RUST IN SPRING HANGER AREA-VAN HAS BEEN PARKED ON PAVEMENT ITS ENTIRE LIFE.

NHTSA ODI #11377333

97,000 miles · Mar 16, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemStructureUnknown Or OtherCrashFireInjury

9/8/2008 I WAS TRAVELING ON IR80 & I MUST OF SWERVED A BIT & THE VAN STRUCK A DOT PADDLE MARKER @ HUMBOLDT MILE MARKER 45 IN NEVADA. THE VAN BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES & OVERTURNED SIDEWAYS AT LEAST 4 TIMES. MY MOTHER & FATHER PARRISHED AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT, BURNED SO MUCH THEY COULDN'T RECOGNIZE THEIR GENDER. MY WIFE & I…

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9/8/2008 I WAS TRAVELING ON IR80 & I MUST OF SWERVED A BIT & THE VAN STRUCK A DOT PADDLE MARKER @ HUMBOLDT MILE MARKER 45 IN NEVADA. THE VAN BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES & OVERTURNED SIDEWAYS AT LEAST 4 TIMES. MY MOTHER & FATHER PARRISHED AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT, BURNED SO MUCH THEY COULDN'T RECOGNIZE THEIR GENDER. MY WIFE & I ESCAPED WITH HER GETTING SEVERELY BURNED ABOUT 76% & I ABOUT 68%, WE WAS TRANSPORTED TO HUMBOLTD HOSPITAL THEN AIR TRANSPORTED TO U OF U BURN CENTER SALT LAKE CITY UTAH WHERE SHE SPENT ABOUT 7 MONTHS IN CCU BURN UNIT & I ABOUT 3 MONTHS. THE MARKER POST WAS UPROOTED & STRUCK THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VAN & DETACHED THE FUEL LINE THEN PUNCTURED THE CROSS MEMBER & DEPOSITING THE FUEL LINE IN THE HOLE THE FIRE STARTED THEN WE OVERTURNED WITH A SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS. A MECHANIC EXPLAINED THE SEVERED FUEL LINE WAS A RETURN LINE FROM THE EVAP.CANISTER TO THE FUEL TANK & THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM STAYED AT 49 PSI BEING FED BY AN ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP I REMEMBER DRIVING SPEAKING WITH MY FATHER, MY WIFE & MOM WAS SLEEPING IN THE BACK SEAT THEN I WOKE UP ON FIRE TRYING TO ESCAPE THE WRECKAGE, I HOLLERED @ MY WIFE & I ROLLED OUT OF THE VAN. MY WIFE CHECKED MOM SHE WAS DEAD THEN ANOTHER EXPLOSION BLEW MY WIFE TO THE FRONT SEAT BETWEEN WHERE MY DAD & I SAT, SHE GRABBED DAD BUT HE WOULDN'T COME CAUSE OF MOM. TWO PEOPLE MOVED MY WIFE AFTER MY FATHER SHOVED HER OUT. I STARTED BACK TO THE VAN WHEN ANOTHER EXPLOSION ENGULFED MY FATHER. I DROPPED TO MY KNEES & TOLD A BYSTANDER I JUST KILLED MY MOTHER & FATHER. MY CHILDREN & FAMILY HIRED A BIG TIME LAWYER & IT WAS LOOKING GOOD UNTIL CHRYSLER FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY & CLEARED THEM FROM ALL LAWSUITS PRIOR TO THEIR BANKRUPTCY. MY LAWYER HAD TO WALK AWAY WITH A $30,000 LOSS, SHE WAS 44 & I WAS 48 YEARS OLD PRIME TIME OF OUR LIFE WE STILL BATTLE HEALTH ISSUES FROM THE BURNS & NEVER GOT A RED CENT FROM CHRYSLER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694731

115,000 miles · Mar 29, 2011
Structure

2000 DODGE CARAVAN, LEFT STRUT TOWER IS RUSTING OUT TERRIBLY, MUST BE REPLACED WITH STRUT CAP. STRUT CAP IS AVAIABLE THRU C. HRYSLER AND AFTER MARKET, COSTS IS ABOUT $400 TO REPAIR IF STRUT TOWER COMPLETELY RUSTS OUT COULD CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND POSSIBLE INJURY TO SOMEONE.

NHTSA ODI #10393557

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2010
Structure

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH MY 2000 DODGE CARAVAN THE STRUT HOUSING IS VERY RUSTED OUT THROUGH AND THROUGH AND I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10358348

80,582 miles · Sep 20, 2010
Structure

2000 DODGE CARAVAN. DRIVER SIDE STRUT CAP RUSTED THROUGH. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL RUST PATTERN. STILL HAVE A 95 CARAVAN AND STRUT CAPS ARE PERFECT. THE RUST IS SUCH THAT A GOOD BUMP COULD POKE THE STRUT THROUGH THE CAP AND THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD ALSO CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS NOT BE…

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2000 DODGE CARAVAN. DRIVER SIDE STRUT CAP RUSTED THROUGH. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL RUST PATTERN. STILL HAVE A 95 CARAVAN AND STRUT CAPS ARE PERFECT. THE RUST IS SUCH THAT A GOOD BUMP COULD POKE THE STRUT THROUGH THE CAP AND THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD ALSO CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A NORMAL RUST PATTERN AND DODGE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM HAVING CREATED REPLACEMENT CAPS WHICH ARE NOT INSTALLED UNDER WARRANTY. DODGE HOWEVER REFUSES RESPONSIBILITY FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND STEERS CUSTOMERS TO BODY SHOPS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356642

204,000 miles · Jul 10, 2010
Structure

STRUT TOWERS RUSTING ON 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. VEHICLE BEGAN WOBBLING SEVERELY WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO FIND OUT THAT BOTH STRUT TOWERS ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET I FOUND THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, WHICH STATES THIS IS A COSMETIC REPAIR! THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE! THE S…

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STRUT TOWERS RUSTING ON 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. VEHICLE BEGAN WOBBLING SEVERELY WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO FIND OUT THAT BOTH STRUT TOWERS ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET I FOUND THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, WHICH STATES THIS IS A COSMETIC REPAIR! THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE! THE STRUT TOWER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND HARDLY ANYTHING IS HOLDING IT IN PLACE. THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL? DODGE SHOULD BE REPAIRING THIS FOR FREE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342386

68,200 miles · Nov 8, 2009
Structure

STRUT TOWER DRIVERS SIDE - RUST THROUGH -STRUCTURAL FAILURE EMINENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291368

50,000 miles · Sep 26, 2009
Structure

STRUT TOWER ON 2000 DODGE CARAVAN TOTALLY ROTTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10285333

111,054 miles · May 7, 2009
StructureSuspension

THIS REFERENCES TSB NUMBER:2304402 AND NHTSA NUMBER:10000317 (TSB DATE: OCTOBER 14, 2002). FAILING COMPONENT: STRUCTURE: BODY. COSMETIC CORROSION OR PERFORATION AT UPPER DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER USUALLY BETWEEN THE STRUT AND UPPER LOAD PATH BEAM INNER PANEL (INNER FENDER). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267932

150,000 miles · Apr 25, 2009
Structure

200 DODGE CARAVAN I'VE HAD IT FOR 9 YEARS AND THE STRUT TOWER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS RUSTED TO THE POINT OF BREAKING. I FOUND THIS OUT AT MY INSPECTION, AND NEEDLESS TO SAY I DIDN'T PASS INSPECTION. A STRUT TOWER BREAKING WOULD CAUSE SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, AS IT WOULD BE UNDRIVABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266695

Official recalls

4

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.

03V505000 · Equipment:other:labels

Dec 10, 2003

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS AND 4X2 PICKUP TRUCKS, THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL MAY HAVE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATINGS (GAWR) THAT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM TIRE LOAD CAPACITY AS DEFINED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IMPROPERLY LOADING YOUR VEHICLE CAN CAUSE TIRE FAILURE AND RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL OVERLAYS CONTAINING CORRECTED INFORMATION RELATIVE TO VEHICLE GAWR AND TIRE SIZE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.

03V094000 · Structure

Mar 7, 2003

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. 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 SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.

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.

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

3

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.

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