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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

What owners actually said

470 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2003
Air Bags

REQUEST FOR AIR BAG ON AND OFF SWITCH.*MR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS MODIFIED WITH HANDICAP ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT, IN WHICH HER BODY WAS CLOSER THAN 10 INCHES TO THE STEERING WHEEL. *JB *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10048205

84,000 miles · Nov 3, 2003
Power Train

WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER AND DID NOT GO INTO THIRD OR FORTH GEAR. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 20 MPH, IT ALMOST RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION. DEALER SAID THAT TRANSMISSION TOTALLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10046186

95,000 miles · Oct 23, 2003
Power Train

COMPUTER CONTROLLED TRANSMISSION IN 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THIS TRANSMISSION HAS TWICE BEEN DISCONNECTED FROM THE ENGINE BY THE COMPUTER IN TRAFFIC. THE SECOND TIME I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE MIDDLE LANE OF INTERSTATE 20 AT WEATHERFORD, TX. AND HAD TO COAST OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE DODGE DEALER IN WEATHERFORD WHO FIXED …

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COMPUTER CONTROLLED TRANSMISSION IN 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THIS TRANSMISSION HAS TWICE BEEN DISCONNECTED FROM THE ENGINE BY THE COMPUTER IN TRAFFIC. THE SECOND TIME I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE MIDDLE LANE OF INTERSTATE 20 AT WEATHERFORD, TX. AND HAD TO COAST OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE DODGE DEALER IN WEATHERFORD WHO FIXED THE TRANSMISSION TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ACTUALLY WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THAT THE COMPUTER DISCONNECTED THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF LOW PRESSURE IN THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM TO KEEP THE ENGINE FROM TEARING THE TRANSMISSION APART. MY PROBLEM WITH THAT KIND OF SCENARIO IS THIS: WHAT THIS SHOULD HAPPEN WHEN I WAS PASSING A VEHICLE ON A TWO LANE HIGH WAY WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC AT WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY BUT ALL AT ONCE I FIND I AM COASTING IN THE WRONG LANE WITH TRAFFIC COMING AT ME HEAD ON? *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043462

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON,AND SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10044234

88,500 miles · Oct 14, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE DRIVER'S BELT ARM HAD BROKEN THREE TIMES. TWICE THE BELT SHREDDED WHILE AT SPEED CAUSING BREAK DOWNS AND RESULTED IN GETTING TOWED IN. ONCE I MANAGED TO CATCH THAT THE BELT WAS WEARING AND GOT IT TO THE DEALER. THEY NOTED THE TENSIONER WAS CLOCKED CAUSING THE BELT TO RIDE OFF. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10041759

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2003
Power Train

AT 51,000 MILES IN A THREE YEAR OLD CARAVAN THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED OUT AND NEEDED A $2300 REPAIR. THE DEALER TOLD ME GLEEFULLY MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, THERE WAS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD OR WOULD DO. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10041675

34,628 miles · Oct 12, 2003
Equipment

THERE IS A STRONG BAD ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER VENT. AIR CONDITIONER UNIT IS GETTING EXCESSIVE MOISTURE WHICH CAUSES MILDEW. THIS ODOR IS VERY TOXIC, AND IS MAKING THE OCCUPANTS SICK. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IS UNABLE TO CORRECT IT. *AK VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES DURING THE WARRANTY…

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THERE IS A STRONG BAD ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER VENT. AIR CONDITIONER UNIT IS GETTING EXCESSIVE MOISTURE WHICH CAUSES MILDEW. THIS ODOR IS VERY TOXIC, AND IS MAKING THE OCCUPANTS SICK. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IS UNABLE TO CORRECT IT. *AK VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD FOR REPAIRS AND IT WAS STILL SMELLING. IT WAS RECENTLY TESTED AND MOLD WAS FOUND. DODGE NEVER FOUND THE PROBLEM. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10039682

76,121 miles · Oct 12, 2003
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *AK *TS *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10034378

53,583 miles · Oct 3, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT GAS WAS LEAKING. THE CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10042285

59,997 miles · Sep 23, 2003
Steering

THE SERPINTINE BELT JUST CAME OFF MY 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE, I WAS ONLY TRAVELING 20 MPH AT THE TIME AND WAS LUCKY THAT THE BELT DID NOT WRAP AROUND ANY OF THE COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ODI #10039407

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