Illustration1. NORMAL DRIVING 2. RUSTING DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER 3. HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET, BUT HAVE BEEN QUOTED $600 - $1000 *JB
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Grand 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
40–25K
1625–50K
4950–75K
5575–100K
68100–150K
24150K+
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
What owners actually said
559 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE HAS MICHELIN X RADIAL TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE SHOP STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE VALVE STEM AND THEY MADE THE REPAIR. APPROXI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE HAS MICHELIN X RADIAL TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE SHOP STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE VALVE STEM AND THEY MADE THE REPAIR. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE SHOP STATED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS CRACKED AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY OTHER FAILURES SINCE THAT TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 130,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER AT 5 MPH. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT CAME OFF TRACK DURING THE CRASH. DUE TO THE SEAT POSITION, THE CONTACT COULD NOT DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL OR CONTROL THE STEERING. TH…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER AT 5 MPH. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT CAME OFF TRACK DURING THE CRASH. DUE TO THE SEAT POSITION, THE CONTACT COULD NOT DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL OR CONTROL THE STEERING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 124,000.
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF IN WET WEATHER, AND IT MADE STEERING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THERE WAS NO LONGER POWER STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000. *…
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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF IN WET WEATHER, AND IT MADE STEERING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THERE WAS NO LONGER POWER STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000. *AK CONSUMER STATES DEALER MADE ADDITIONAL INSTALLATION OF THE BELT 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. UPDATE *4/23/07 **TR
AFTER HAVING CLOCK SPRING CHANGED FROM RECALL, VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND AUTOMATICALLY START BACK UP ON ITS OWN. IT WILL DO THIS FROM A COASTING SPEED TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 70 MPH. THERE IS NO WARNING!! I DON'T KNOW IF ITS FROM THE CLOCK SPRING OR ANOTHER ISSUE. HAD TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALS AND PERSONAL F…
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AFTER HAVING CLOCK SPRING CHANGED FROM RECALL, VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND AUTOMATICALLY START BACK UP ON ITS OWN. IT WILL DO THIS FROM A COASTING SPEED TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 70 MPH. THERE IS NO WARNING!! I DON'T KNOW IF ITS FROM THE CLOCK SPRING OR ANOTHER ISSUE. HAD TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALS AND PERSONAL FRIEND THAT HAS THE OBDII COMPUTER AND IT DOES NOT KICK OR STORE A CODE, EVEN WHEN HOOKED UP TO THE COMPUTER! I HAVE A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, 3.3L WITH THE FLEXFUEL ENGINE. *JB
TIRE BLOWOUT ON HIGHWAY 505. THE TREAD CAME OFF THE BACK LEFT TIRE OF MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WE PULLED OVER AND GOT AAA TO COME. THERE IS $1967.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WHICH INCLUDES DAMAGE TO FENDER, GAS COVER AND CAP, AND PAINT DAMAGE. JB
TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE GOING 60 ON INTERSTATE. POWER WOULD COME AND GO LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND ATTEMPTING TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT GETTING HIT. THE ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON UNTIL I WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD. NO PRIOR WARNING OF THE PENDING FAILURE. *JB
AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE I SMELLED A STRONG ODOR BUT EVERYTHING AROUND THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO WORK NORMALLY (NO SMOKE OR OVERHEATING PRESENT). LESS THAN 5 MINUTES AFTER THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE IS BURNED, THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. EXPERTS THAT LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OFF SUGGEST A FA…
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AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE I SMELLED A STRONG ODOR BUT EVERYTHING AROUND THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO WORK NORMALLY (NO SMOKE OR OVERHEATING PRESENT). LESS THAN 5 MINUTES AFTER THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE IS BURNED, THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. EXPERTS THAT LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OFF SUGGEST A FAILURE IN THE GAS HOSE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO CATCH FIRE. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE PEDAL WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE AND ENGAGE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER,…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE PEDAL WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE AND ENGAGE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT, WHEN I WENT TO MOVE FORWARD, IT CLUNKED, AND DID NOT MOVE FOR 1-2 SECONDS, THEN JUMPED FORWARD. TOOK TO TRANNY SHOP AND WAS TOLD I WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE SHOP INDICATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT COMPLETELY DAMAGED AT THE TIME, BUT RECOMMENDS THAT IT BE REPLACED. *N…
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MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT, WHEN I WENT TO MOVE FORWARD, IT CLUNKED, AND DID NOT MOVE FOR 1-2 SECONDS, THEN JUMPED FORWARD. TOOK TO TRANNY SHOP AND WAS TOLD I WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE SHOP INDICATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT COMPLETELY DAMAGED AT THE TIME, BUT RECOMMENDS THAT IT BE REPLACED. *NM
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.
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
6EA04013 · 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