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1990 Dodge Grand Caravan

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 284.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Limited mileage data: 3 of 55 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

27 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WENT INTO "LIMP IN" MODE(2ND GEAR ONLY) THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST AT THAT TIME. NOW, THIS TIME I PAID FOR THE REPAIR SINCE I NO LONGER HAVE A WARRANTY IN EFFECT. WHAT, IF ANY, IS MY NEXT STEP TO RECOVERING SOM…

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TRANSMISSION WENT INTO "LIMP IN" MODE(2ND GEAR ONLY) THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST AT THAT TIME. NOW, THIS TIME I PAID FOR THE REPAIR SINCE I NO LONGER HAVE A WARRANTY IN EFFECT. WHAT, IF ANY, IS MY NEXT STEP TO RECOVERING SOME OF MY REPAIR EXPENSE?

NHTSA ODI #714002

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1999
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT HOSE THAT DIRECTS TRANSMISSION FLUID FLOW WENT OUT, CAUSING A LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850933

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 1999
Power Train

STEEL PIN IN THE DIFFERENTIAL IS LOOSE, DESTROYING IT, AND CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. TOTAL OF 3 TIMES PART HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850516

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Power Train

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF SECOND GEAR EVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS. DLR HAS REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #849120

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 1999
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE PREMATURE AND SUDDEN. VAN SUDDENLY WITHOUT CAUSE DOWNSHIFTS TO LOW GEAR. VAN ALSO UPSHIFTS SURGING FORWARD. DEALER EXPLAINS THAT THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER NEEDS REPLACEMENT. DEALER CHARGES ALMOST $1800.00 FOR REPAIR THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGES IS A COMMON DEFEC…

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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE PREMATURE AND SUDDEN. VAN SUDDENLY WITHOUT CAUSE DOWNSHIFTS TO LOW GEAR. VAN ALSO UPSHIFTS SURGING FORWARD. DEALER EXPLAINS THAT THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER NEEDS REPLACEMENT. DEALER CHARGES ALMOST $1800.00 FOR REPAIR THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGES IS A COMMON DEFECT IN THE 604 TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER IS CHARGING US A COST OF $800 FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO STATED, "THE MANUFACTURER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR PART OF THE BILL DUE TO THE KNOWN DEFECT IN THE 604 TRANSMISSION". THE WEATHER WAS INCLEMENT THE EVENING THAT THIS SUDDENLY HAPPENED, THANK GOODNESS THAT THERE WAS NO ONE TOO CLOSE IN FRONT OR BEHIND OF HER ON THIS 45 MPH HIGHWAY. IF MY WIFE OR I DRIVING WITH OUR THREE CHILDREN HAD BEEN ON A HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT THE ACCEPTED SPEED OF 70 MPH AND THE VAN SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED, WE MOST ASSUREDLY WOULD HAVE BECOME A NATIONAL HIGHWAY STATISTIC. THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY ISSUE, AND SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED ANYMORE BY THE NHTSA. THE RIGHT THING FOR DODGE TO DUE IS TO RECALL THE GRAND CARAVAN WITH THE 604 TRANSMISSION AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM ENTIRELY AT THEIR EXPENSE. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS WITH FATALITIES HAVE HAPPENED ALREADY DUE TO THIS COMMON DEFECT? IS NO ONE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY? *AK

NHTSA ODI #710852

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURES HAVE LED TO FOUR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS

NHTSA ODI #708652

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 1999
Power Train

THIS IS SECONED TRANSMISSION FOR THIS VEHICLE, WAS NOT TOLD THAT THIS WAS A REACOURING PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE ! PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHERS!

NHTSA ODI #708465

Mileage unknown · May 3, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING 55MPH. HAD FELT A JERKING/PULLING SENSATION. TOOK TO MECHANIC & INFORMED TRANSMISSION GEARS WERE DEFECTIVE & NEEDED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837336

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 1999
Power Train

THIS VAN BELONGS TO MY SON. IT HAS ALREADY HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND NOW IT NEEDS IT AGAIN. I KNOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF VAN. I USED TO WORK FOR RUSSWOOD CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH IN LINCOLN NE, SO I KNOW THE FACTS ON THIS. CHRYSLER HAS INFORMED MY SON THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AS TH…

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THIS VAN BELONGS TO MY SON. IT HAS ALREADY HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND NOW IT NEEDS IT AGAIN. I KNOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF VAN. I USED TO WORK FOR RUSSWOOD CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH IN LINCOLN NE, SO I KNOW THE FACTS ON THIS. CHRYSLER HAS INFORMED MY SON THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AS THEY DO NOT KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM. NOW I DO NOT BELIEVE NO ONE ELSE HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION HAS OVER DRIVE AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE PROBLEM, THE ONES WITHOUT OVERDRIVE DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. YOU CAN CHECK WITH ANY DODGE OR CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH DEALERSHIP AND THEY WILL TELL YOU THIS IS FACT ABOUT THIESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #703202

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1999
Power Train

THIS IS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION TO BE PUT IN THIS VAN. IN 1995 I HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES FOR THE TRANSMISSION BEFORE THE FINALLY REPLACED IT. NOW THE REPLACEMENT HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #701886

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

2

EA94005 · Liftgate Latches

Opened Jan 31, 1994 · Closed Oct 25, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

LIFTGATE LATCHES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE FAILED IN LOW AND MODERATE SPEED IMPACTS RESULTING IN OCCUPANT EJECTIONS, INJURIES, AND FATALITIES.THERE ARE TWO FAILURE MODES ASSOCIATED WITH LATCH FAILURE: FORK BOLT-DETENT LEVER BYPASS, AND INERTIAL UNLATCHING.NHTSA ANALYSES OF CHRYSLER AND PEER MINIVANS TOOK THE FORM OF STATIC AND DYNAMIC CRASH TESTING, ENGINEERING EVALUATIONS, COMPLAINT AND FIELD ANALYSES, AND REAL WORLD DATA ANALYSES.A TECHNICAL REPORT DISCUSSING THESE ANALYSES CAN BE FOUND IN THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TECHNICAL REPORT IN THE PUBLIC VIEWING FILE.CHRYSLER HAS ADVISED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE LATCHES ON ALL THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE CHRYSLER CAMPAIGN WILL CONSIST OF NOTIFICATION LETTERS TO ALL OWNERS; FREE REPLACEMENT OF ALL LATCHES WITH STRONGER, SAFER LATCHES REGARDLESS OF THE AGE OF THE MINIVANS; NATIONAL ADVERTISING TO PROMOTE CUSTOMER AWARENESS OF THE CAMPAIGN; QUARTERLY REPORTS REGARDING CAMPAIGN COMPLETION RATES; AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO ENSURE A HIGH COMPLETION RATE, ABOVE AND BEYOND THE ACTIONS THAT NORMALLY WOULD BE TAKEN IN A FORMAL SAFETY RECALL.THESE INCLUDE FOLLOW UP WRITTEN AND TELEPHONIC NOTIFICATIONS TO OWNERS WHO DO NOT BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION.NHTSA FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT THE CRASH PERFORMANCE OF THE LATCHES ON THESE MINIVANS RAISES SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS, AND THAT THE CAMPAIGN ADDRESSES THESE CONCERNS.THE CHRYSLER CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL INCREASE THE STRENGTH OF THE LIFTGATE LATCHES AND DECREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR INERTIAL UNLATCHING, THEREBY REDUCING THE RISK OF CRASH-RELATED OPENINGS OF THE LIFTGATE AND POSSIBLE OCCUPANT EJECTION THROUGH THE LIFTGATE OPENING.OWNERS OF CHRYSLER MINIVANS WILL GET A STRONGER, SAFER LATCH FREE OF CHARGE AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE TIME, WITHOUT THE NEED FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL INVESTIGATION AND COMPLEX AND TIME-CONSUMING LITIGATION WITH AN UNCERTAIN OUTCOME.BASED ON THE ABOVE, ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION.

EA91010 · Trans Park System Failure

Opened Dec 10, 1990 · Closed Dec 31, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

There is no summary currently available