Dodge Caravan: Owner Complaints and Recalls by Model Year
This is the Dodge Caravan complaint and recall record by model year (1988–2012). 9,981 owner reports are on file across 23 years. 1996 has the highest count (1,389) — often because that year has had longer to collect reports, not because this page ranked it. Open a year to see what owners named, the recall list, and the filings themselves.
Dodge Caravan filings that NHTSA splits across body-style names are combined here. Related weight classes stay separate.
Across these years, owners named Brakes more often than any other part of the truck. Unclassified leftovers from NHTSA are not a diagnosis.
In plain English
Across 23 years of the Dodge Caravan, owners named Brakes more often than any other system. That is a pattern in the file, not a diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
1996 has the most reports (1,389). Older years collect more filings just by being around longer. Open the year you are actually buying — not the peak year unless that is the one in the listing.
Each row is a model year. The system column is what owners named most that year. Click the year for the inspect list, the recall campaigns, and the owner text.
NHTSA Consumer Complaints · Oct 14, 2026 NHTSA Safety Recalls · Oct 15, 2026
Owner reports by model year
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recall campaigns | System named most often | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 Dodge Caravan | 103 | 5 | Body / frame (STRUCTURE) · 20 (19.4%) | not reported |
| 1989 Dodge Caravan | 189 | 5 | Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) · 40 (21.2%) | not reported |
| 1990 Dodge Caravan | 274 | 6 | Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) · 65 (23.7%) | not reported |
| 1991 Dodge Caravan | 612 | 11 | Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) · 196 (32.0%) | not reported |
| 1992 Dodge Caravan | 907 | 11 | Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) · 247 (27.2%) | not reported |
| 1993 Dodge Caravan | 941 | 10 | Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) · 307 (32.6%) | not reported |
| 1994 Dodge Caravan | 642 | 5 | Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) · 92 (14.3%) | not reported |
| 1995 Dodge Caravan | 485 | 4 | Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) · 76 (15.7%) | not reported |
| 1996 Dodge Caravan | 1,389 | 18 | Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) · 204 (14.7%) | not reported |
| 1997 Dodge Caravan | 708 | 15 | Airbags (AIR BAGS) · 103 (14.6%) | not reported |
| 1998 Dodge Caravan | 618 | 14 | Engine (ENGINE) · 116 (18.8%) | not reported |
| 1999 Dodge Caravan | 544 | 14 | Airbags (AIR BAGS) · 96 (17.7%) | not reported |
| 2000 Dodge Caravan | 455 | 13 | Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) · 77 (16.9%) | not reported |
| 2001 Dodge Caravan | 250 | 10 | Airbags (AIR BAGS) · 35 (14.0%) | not reported |
| 2002 Dodge Caravan | 235 | 10 | Airbags (AIR BAGS) · 50 (21.3%) | not reported |
| 2003 Dodge Caravan | 185 | 9 | Steering (STEERING) · 34 (18.4%) | not reported |
| 2005 Dodge Caravan | 531 | 9 | Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) · 83 (15.6%) | not reported |
| 2006 Dodge Caravan | 169 | 6 | Airbags (AIR BAGS) · 22 (13.0%) | not reported |
| 2007 Dodge Caravan | 78 | 4 | Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) · 15 (19.2%) | not reported |
| 2008 Dodge Caravan | 298 | 2 | Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) · 120 (40.3%) | not reported |
| 2009 Dodge Caravan | 115 | 2 | Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) · 60 (52.2%) | not reported |
| 2010 Dodge Caravan | 167 | 2 | Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) · 58 (34.7%) | not reported |
| 2012 Dodge Caravan | 86 | 0 | Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) · 35 (40.7%) | not reported |
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Caravan year has the most NHTSA complaints?
1996 has the highest owner-report count in this snapshot (1,389). That is not a recommendation to avoid the year.
What do Dodge Caravan owners complain about most?
Across published years, owners named Brakes more often than any other system. Open the year you are buying for the mix, the recall list and the inspect steps.
How should I use this Dodge Caravan page before I buy?
Open the model year in the listing — not the peak year unless that is the one you are shopping. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov, inspect the system owners named most, then read a few owner filings.
Do these counts mean the Dodge Caravan is unreliable?
No. Counts are self-selected and not normalised for sales volume. YearTell does not publish reliability scores.
Are Dodge Caravan body styles merged?
Where NHTSA splits the same consumer vehicle across cab or body-style names, YearTell combines those filings. Distinct weight classes stay separate.