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1998 Dodge Grand Caravan

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 284.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

216 reports with mileage · 343 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 129 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 104 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 81 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

41 crash reports20 fire reports24 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

104 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2001
Air BagsCrash

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #752597

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2001
Air BagsElectrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AT THE SAME TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK AND THE HORN WOULD NOT WORK. THE DEALER ADVISED NOT A GOOD IDEA TO DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THE FACT THE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF COLLISION. ALSO, THE HORN NOT WORKING WAS A HAZARD. ALTHOUGH WE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON …

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AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AT THE SAME TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK AND THE HORN WOULD NOT WORK. THE DEALER ADVISED NOT A GOOD IDEA TO DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THE FACT THE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF COLLISION. ALSO, THE HORN NOT WORKING WAS A HAZARD. ALTHOUGH WE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER ADVISED THE MATTER WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE HAD PURCHASED. THE COST FOR REPAIR WAS $223.16. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A SAFETY ITEM AND NOT AS A WARRANTY ITEM. PLEASE HELP ! TFSINISDWAS RDU N. *AK

NHTSA ODI #749602

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2001
Air BagsElectrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON/ HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL HAD STOPPED WORKING. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #890531

Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2001
Air BagsVehicle Speed Control

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK AS LONG AS LIGHT IS ON. DEALER STATED THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND PART IS IN STOCK, BUT NO RECALL ISSUED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #890415

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT GOING AT 30-40MPH. VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH CHRYSLER, AND SPECIAL INVESTIGATION UNIT WILL CONTACT THE CONSUMER TO COME OUT AND INSPECT.*AK TOTAL DAMGE DONE TO VEHICLE WAS $…

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VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT GOING AT 30-40MPH. VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH CHRYSLER, AND SPECIAL INVESTIGATION UNIT WILL CONTACT THE CONSUMER TO COME OUT AND INSPECT.*AK TOTAL DAMGE DONE TO VEHICLE WAS $6700, CHRYSLER INVESTIGATOR STATED IT WAS JUST HIT IN THE WRONG SPOT. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #890141

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2001
Air Bags

THE PROBLEM/COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO AN ARTICLE I SAW IN 'AUTOMOTIVE NEWS' PUBLICATION ABOUT A NHTSA PROBE INTO DCX MINIWAN WIRING CAUSING AIRBAGS TO FAIL. BEGINNING LAST FALL SOME TIME, WE BEGAN NOTICING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON. AT FIRST IT WAS VERY INTERMITTENT-ONCE EVERY COUPLE WEEKS OR SO. NOW THE PROBLEM IS MORE FR…

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THE PROBLEM/COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO AN ARTICLE I SAW IN 'AUTOMOTIVE NEWS' PUBLICATION ABOUT A NHTSA PROBE INTO DCX MINIWAN WIRING CAUSING AIRBAGS TO FAIL. BEGINNING LAST FALL SOME TIME, WE BEGAN NOTICING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON. AT FIRST IT WAS VERY INTERMITTENT-ONCE EVERY COUPLE WEEKS OR SO. NOW THE PROBLEM IS MORE FREQUENT BUT STILL HAPPENING RANDOMLY. SOME DAYS THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL STAY ON ALMOST CONTINUOUSLY AND OTHER DAYS IT DOESN'T COME ON AT ALL. BUT ANYWAY, WHEN I READ THE ARTICLE, THE DESCRIPTION SOUNDED EXACTLY LIKE WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746625

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2001
Air BagsCrash

FRONT CRASH AT 20 MPH, VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #886626

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2001
Air Bags

I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AND THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL AND BE REIMBURSED FOR MY REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #743205

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2001
Air BagsElectrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION DUE TO BAD CLOCK SPRING. ALSO, HORN ASSEMBLY AND CRUISE CONTROL ARE INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #884264

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2001
Air BagsCrash

HAD LEFT STOP LIGHT AND ABOUT TO MAKE LEFT TURN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE KEPT STRAIGHT, AND WAS HIT ON DRIVER'S SIDE WITH DRIVER SIDE OF CARAVAN. AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #883691

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.

02V293000 · Air Bags:frontal

Nov 7, 2002

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.

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 VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON THIS COMPONENT FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL ALSO REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED ON THEIR VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 18, 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.

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.

97V231000 · Child Seat

Dec 15, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINT WEBBING WAS INCORRECTLY ROUTED AROUND THE METAL REINFORCEMENT BAR ON THESE SEATS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE CHILD SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ROUTING OF THE SHOULDER BELT WEBBING AND ANY FOUND INCORRECT WILL BE PROPERLY ROUTED.

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

6

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.

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