IllustrationMY SERPENTINE BELT HAS JUMPED OFF THE PULLEYS 4 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR ON MY 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS, I LOOSE ALL POWER CONTROLS. THIS PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF SOMEONE ISN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO MANAGE THE LOSS IN POWER STEERING. *JB
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 →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
190–25K
3825–50K
5350–75K
4375–100K
44100–150K
25150K+
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
What owners actually said
470 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS IN WET WEATHER, THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF CAUSING THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REATTACHED THE BELT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED.
I OWN A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT COMING OFF MOSTLY DURING WET OR SNOWY WEATHER. TODAY WAS THE FORTH TIME IN THE LAST YEAR THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE REPAIR SHOP(S) REPORTS NO KNOWN FIX'S FOR THE 3.3/3.8 ENGINE. I ALSO HAD ONE FAILURE DURING DRY WEATHER. RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I …
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I OWN A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT COMING OFF MOSTLY DURING WET OR SNOWY WEATHER. TODAY WAS THE FORTH TIME IN THE LAST YEAR THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE REPAIR SHOP(S) REPORTS NO KNOWN FIX'S FOR THE 3.3/3.8 ENGINE. I ALSO HAD ONE FAILURE DURING DRY WEATHER. RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT....!. IT HAS BEEN FOR YEARS !!!!. BECAUSE THIS BELT CONTROLS THE POWER STEERING IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT FOR A STRONG PERSON TO CONTROL THE VAN. LORD HELP THE FRAIL, THE OLD OR THE YOUNG !!!!. PLEASE CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING SITES FOR THIS PROBLEM (WWW.TOPIX.NET OR WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG. FOR SERPENTINE BELT PROBLEMS). I AM FILLING THIS COMPLAINT (AS OTHER HAVE) TO GET SOME HELP BEFORE A VAN LOAD OF CHILDREN GETS HURT BECAUSE OF A KNOWN DESIGN PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER SEEMS TO IGNORE. I HAVE TRIED ALL KNOWN STANDARD REPAIR AND MANUFACTURE RECOMMENDATION BUT NOTHING WORKS IE NEW BELTS, DIFFERENT BELTS, NEW IDLER/TENSION WHEELS, NEW BRACKETS, ALIGNMENTS... NOTHING WORKS. WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?...WILL I HEAR ANYTHING BACK FROM NHTSA...WILL THIS BE A WAIST OF TIME? THANK YOU. *NM
LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND ALTERNATOR CHARGING - SERPENTINE BELT FALLING OFF AFTER HITTING SMALL WATER PUDDLE ON 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. I LOST POWER STEERING ON A CURVE AS A RESULT OF HITTING A SMALL WATER PUDDLE. VEHICLE HAS RECEIVED ALL SERVICE MAINTENANCE INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF BELT TENSIONER BUT STILL FELL OFF. I AM F…
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LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND ALTERNATOR CHARGING - SERPENTINE BELT FALLING OFF AFTER HITTING SMALL WATER PUDDLE ON 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. I LOST POWER STEERING ON A CURVE AS A RESULT OF HITTING A SMALL WATER PUDDLE. VEHICLE HAS RECEIVED ALL SERVICE MAINTENANCE INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF BELT TENSIONER BUT STILL FELL OFF. I AM FAIRLY STRONG AND WAS ABLE TO COME OUT OF THE TURN. SOMEONE WITH LESS ARM STRENGTH WOULD HAVE GONE STRAIGHT OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED. DODGE DEALER HAS NO FIX FOR THIS THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD SINCE MINIVANS OFTEN CARRY A LOT OF KIDS AND IF THIS HAPPENS ON A WET ROAD THERE COULD BE SERIOUS INJURIES AND FATALITIES FROM LOSS OF CONTROL. *NM
THE STRUT COVERS HAVE RUSTED AND NOW THERE IS A GREAT LIKELIHOOD THAT THE STRUT WILL SHORTLY COME THROUGH THE COVER AND POSSIBLY COME THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THIS PROBLEM ISN'T THAT VISIBLE WITHOUT LOOKING FOR IT. *JB
2000 DODGE CARAVAN CONSUMERS FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS ACCIDENT. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE MOTORIST WAY IN TIME, WHICH RESULTED IN HER VEHICLE BEING HIT. *JB *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING BELT DETACHED SEVEN TIMES. THIS OCCURRED FOUR TO FIVE TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD ON EACH OCCASION. THE STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHEN THIS OCCURRED.
THE STRUT TOWERS ON MY 2000 DODGE CARAVAN ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE DRIVER SIDE IS MUCH WORSE THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE MAIN BELT OF THE ENGINE SLIPPED OFF. THE POWER STEERING, WATER PUMP AND ALTERNATOR FAILED TO WORK. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO MOISTURE ON THE BELT. THE BELT WAS REPLACED HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT.
DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER RUSTING OUT VERY BAD. CARAVAN ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES AND IT HAS TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THE INSTALL OF NEW STRUT. IT IS ONLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND LOOKS TO BE THAT MY 2000 CARAVAN IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. THE BATTERY IS ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE RUSTED TOWER. THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT AFFECTED AT ALL. MY MECHANIC…
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DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER RUSTING OUT VERY BAD. CARAVAN ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES AND IT HAS TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THE INSTALL OF NEW STRUT. IT IS ONLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND LOOKS TO BE THAT MY 2000 CARAVAN IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. THE BATTERY IS ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE RUSTED TOWER. THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT AFFECTED AT ALL. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE IS SEEING A LOT OF THE CARAVANS AND TOWN AND COUNTRIES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TOP HALF OF THE TOWER HAS TO BE CUT OUT AND A NEW ONE WELDED IN. THANK YOU DAIMLER CHRYSLER FOR NOT STANDING BEHIND YOUR PRODUCTS. AND YOU WONDER WHY THE AMERICAN MARKET IS GOING TO THE JAPANESE AUTO MAKERS. *JB
Official recalls
404V480000 · 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
3EA04013 · 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