1995 Dodge Caravan Problems and Recalls (485 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1995 Dodge Caravan is Transmission / driveline (16% of 485 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 485 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 1995 Dodge Caravan?

76 of 485 filings named Transmission / driveline (16% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Airbags (55 reports).

This snapshot lists no safety recalls for this year. That is not a clean bill of health. Still check the VIN at nhtsa.gov.

The 1994 has 642 reports on file; this year has 485. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 1995 Dodge Caravan

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 4 campaigns on file below.
  2. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  3. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  4. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Transmission / driveline. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Transmission / driveline 76 complaints · 15.7% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 54
  • Fires 6
  • Injuries 52
  • Deaths 0
All Dodge Caravan years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) appears in 76 of 485 owner complaints (15.7%) in this vehicle snapshot. Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 76 complaints, 15.7% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 4 crash reports 76 · 15.7% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 55 complaints, 11.3% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 29 crash reports 2 fire reports 55 · 11.3% Engine (ENGINE): 53 complaints, 10.9% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 2 fire reports 53 · 10.9% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 44 complaints, 9.1% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 3 crash reports 44 · 9.1% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 37 complaints, 7.6% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 37 · 7.6% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 31 complaints, 6.4% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 31 · 6.4% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 29 complaints, 6.0% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 29 · 6.0% Steering (STEERING): 21 complaints, 4.3% of reports Steering (STEERING) 21 · 4.3% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 18 complaints, 3.7% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 2 fire reports 18 · 3.7% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 416 complaints, 85.8% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 47 crash reports 5 fire reports 416 · 85.8% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 76 15.7% 4 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 55 11.3% 29 crashes · 2 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 53 10.9% 0 crashes · 2 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 44 9.1% 3 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 37 7.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 31 6.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 29 6.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 21 4.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 18 3.7% 0 crashes · 2 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 416 85.8% 47 crashes · 5 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 1995; the first recall shown was reported in Mar 1995. 1995-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 1995-Q2: 22 owner reports 22 1995-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 1995-Q4: 16 owner reports 16 1996-Q1: 21 owner reports 21 1996-Q2: 22 owner reports 22 1996-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 1996-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 1997-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 1997-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 1997-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 1997-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 1998-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 1998-Q2: 15 owner reports 15 1998-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 1998-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 1999-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 1999-Q2: 19 owner reports 19 1999-Q3: 35 owner reports 35 1999-Q4: 18 owner reports 18 2000-Q1: 21 owner reports 21 2000-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2000-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 2000-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2001-Q1: 14 owner reports 14 2001-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2001-Q3: 15 owner reports 15 2001-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2002-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2002-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2002-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2002-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2003-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2003-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2003-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2003-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2004-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2005-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2005-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 1995 Apr 2017 Recall campaign 95I001001 ◆ Recall campaign 95I001001 Recall campaign 95I001005 ◆ Recall campaign 95I001005 Recall campaign 99V113000 ◆ Recall campaign 99V113000 Recall campaign 03E045000 ◆ Recall campaign 03E045000 Investigation PE96008 ● Investigation PE96008 Investigation SQ96016 ● Investigation SQ96016 Investigation DP96014 ● Investigation DP96014 Investigation EA97003 ● Investigation EA97003 Investigation PE97049 ● Investigation PE97049 Investigation DP03002 ● Investigation DP03002
  • Campaign 95I001001 was reported 26 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 95I001005 was reported 26 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1995-Q1 Owner reports 7
1995-Q2 Owner reports 22
1995-Q3 Owner reports 16
1995-Q4 Owner reports 16
1996-Q1 Owner reports 21
1996-Q2 Owner reports 22
1996-Q3 Owner reports 14
1996-Q4 Owner reports 10
1997-Q1 Owner reports 6
1997-Q2 Owner reports 7
1997-Q3 Owner reports 13
1997-Q4 Owner reports 12
1998-Q1 Owner reports 10
1998-Q2 Owner reports 15
1998-Q3 Owner reports 10
1998-Q4 Owner reports 13
1999-Q1 Owner reports 9
1999-Q2 Owner reports 19
1999-Q3 Owner reports 35
1999-Q4 Owner reports 18
2000-Q1 Owner reports 21
2000-Q2 Owner reports 17
2000-Q3 Owner reports 16
2000-Q4 Owner reports 14
2001-Q1 Owner reports 14
2001-Q2 Owner reports 12
2001-Q3 Owner reports 15
2001-Q4 Owner reports 3
2002-Q1 Owner reports 15
2002-Q2 Owner reports 11
2002-Q3 Owner reports 2
2002-Q4 Owner reports 3
2003-Q1 Owner reports 7
2003-Q2 Owner reports 5
2003-Q3 Owner reports 3
2003-Q4 Owner reports 1
2004-Q1 Owner reports 7
2004-Q2 Owner reports 2
2004-Q3 Owner reports 2
2004-Q4 Owner reports 7
2005-Q1 Owner reports 4
2005-Q2 Owner reports 2
2006-Q2 Owner reports 1
2008-Q4 Owner reports 1
2009-Q3 Owner reports 1
2009-Q4 Owner reports 1
2011-Q2 Owner reports 1
2015-Q1 Owner reports 1
2017-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 95I001001
Recall campaign 1 95I001005
Recall campaign 1 99V113000
Recall campaign 1 03E045000
Defect investigation 1 PE96008
Defect investigation 1 SQ96016
Defect investigation 1 DP96014
Defect investigation 1 EA97003
Defect investigation 1 PE97049
Defect investigation 1 DP03002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

  1. Recall campaign 03E045000

    Safety recall 03E045000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    IF THIS CONDITION OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE ENGINE COULD STALL. ALSO, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THE FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
    Remedy:
    AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS FOR 1995-2000 SHORT WHEELBASE CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY, PLYMOUTH VOYAGER AND DODGE CARAVAN MINIVANS PART NO. 18232 AND DATE CODE 0237, 0249, OR 0252. REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS FOR 1995-2000 LONG WHEELBASE CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY, PLYMOUTH VOYAGER AND DODGE CARAVAN MINIVANS PART NO. 18230 AND DATE CODE 0237, 0249, 0251, OR 0304. REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS FOR 2001-2004 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY, PLYMOUTH VOYAGER AND DODGE CARAVAN MINIVANS PART NO. 28871 AND DATE CODE 0249. THESE PART NUMBERS AND DATE CODES APPEAR ON THE GOLD-TONE FILTER. DISTRIBUTORS AND RETAILERS WILL BE NOTIFIED TO ISOLATE AND RETURN AFFECTED INVENTORY. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE FUEL FILTER SERVICED ON ONE OF THE APPLICABLE VEHICLES AFTER SEPTEMBER 17, 2002 SHOULD RETURN THEIR VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE FACILITY TO BE INSPECTED TO SEE IF THE FUEL FILTER THAT WAS INSTALLED IS ONE THAT IS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. IF SO, THE OWNERS SHOULD HAVE THE FILTER REPLACED. TO RECEIVE A FULL REFUND PLUS THE COST OF POSTAGE, OWNERS SHOULD CUT THE CONNECTORS FROM THE HOSES, RINSE THE CONNECTORS AND RETURN THEM TOGETHER WITH PROOF OF THE AMOUNT PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART AND LABOR, TO INTERCONTINENTAL AT INTERCONTINENTAL AUTO PARTS, INC., P.O. BOX 861, MAHWAH, NJ 07430, ATTN: FUEL FILTER RECALL. INTERCONTINENTAL WILL MAIL A FULL REFUND TO THE OWNER.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 95I001001

    Safety recall 95I001001

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    IF THE LIFTGATE LATCH OPENS, OCCUPANTS CAN BE EJECTED RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH.
    Remedy:
    CHRYSLER DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LIFTGATE LATCH WITH A NEW STRONGER LATCH ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE. CHRYSLER BEGAN NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 1995.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 95I001005

    Safety recall 95I001005

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    IF THE LIFTGATE LATCH OPENS, OCCUPANTS CAN BE EJECTED RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH.
    Remedy:
    CHRYSLER WILL REPLACE THE LIFTGATE LATCH WITH A NEW STRONGER LATCH ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE. CHRYSLER BEGAN NOTIFYING OWNERS DURING DECEMBER 1995.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 99V113000

    Safety recall 99V113000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN INJURE A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL PERFORM AN ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. ANY SHORT CIRCUITS IDENTIFIED IN EITHER THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INITIATOR WIRE CIRCUIT WILL BE REPAIRED.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 485 complaints · page 1 of 20
2017-04-14Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10978515
CrashFireInjuryDeath
FRONT DOOR HINGE MOUNT SHEET METAL TEARS OR CRACKS. DOOR LATCHES FAIL DO TO SAGGING DOORS. SHEET METAL HAS CRACKED GOING BACK INTO THE FIRE WALL BULKHEAD. DOORS CAN FLY OPEN ON OUTSIDE TURNS WITH OUT WARNING, POTENTIALLY DISLODGING PASSENGETS.
2015-02-18Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 10684158
CrashFireInjuryDeath
IM DRIVING ALONG AND MY GAUGES START GOING ON AND OFF AND FLICKERING .THEN AFTER AWHILE THEY COME BACK ON THEN START BACK UP GOING OFF AND ON. *TR
2011-06-08Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 10406389
CrashFireInjuryDeath
INTERMITTENT ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK FAILURE. HAD THE MAIN CONTROL PANEL ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR REPLACED SHORTLY AFTER DISCOVERING THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF ABOUT $175 PART AND LABOR--CHANGED NOTHING. RESEARCHED ON LINE AND FOUND THAT REMOVING NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE FROM THE NEGATIVE POST FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES TEMPORARILY FIXES THE DOOR LOCKS FOR ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS. I AM NOT PUTTING OUT $150-$250 TO HAVE THE BCM RE-FLASHED. THIS IS DODGE'S PROBLEM--PLEASE RECALL.
2009-12-28Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10297165
CrashFireInjuryDeath
BAD FUEL LEAK FROM FUEL RAIL. HUGE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. *TR
2009-09-29Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 10285728
CrashFireInjuryDeath
BOUGHT A NEW 1995 DODGE CARAVAN IN MAY OF SAME YEAR. SHORT TIME LATER A LETTER NOTIFYING US OF REAR LATCH DOOR COMING OPEN AT IMPACT----TOOK CARE OF IT. ABOUT 3 YEARS AFTER THAT A 20 AMP FUSE IN POSITION #20 KEPT BLOWING, AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND REAR WINDOW WIPER WOULD GO OUT. A SHORT TIME AGO WHILE LOOKING UP PARTS FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE AT ADVANCE AUTO PARTS,JUST FOR CURIOSITY LOOKED UP RECALLS FOR THE 95 CARAVAN AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SHORT TO GROUND THAT EXISTS IN THE AIRBAG CIRCUIT. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM DODGE. YESTERDAY THE 28TH OF SEPT 2009 WENT TO DODGE AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLES BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST IF IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE. THE DIAGNOSTIC RUNS LIKE $110. NOW I'M UNEMPLOYED AND MY WIFE IS PICKING UP OUR GRANDBOY FROM SCHOOL WITH THIS SAFETY ITEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY I'M WORRIED SICK. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE,BECAUSE THERE IS DEFINITELY A SHORT IN THE CIRCUIT. MY NAME IS ENRIQUE GONZALEZ WOULD LIKE TO GET AN OPINION FROM YOU AS TO WHAT CAN BE DONE TO AVOID A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. THANK YOU *TR
2008-12-21Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10252385
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DODGE CARAVAN SE 1995 MODEL HAS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE DRIVER SEAT BACK RESTS. MY DODGE CARAVAN SE 1995 MODEL WAS REAR ENDED BY A SPEEDING TOYOTA COROLLA. THE DODGE WAS GOING BELOW 10 MPH DUE TO CONSTRUCTION AHEAD ON THE ROAD. THE COROLLA WAS SPEEDING OVER 65MPH(ABOUT 75MPH). THE DODGE CARAVAN DRIVER SEAT BACK REST FELL BACKWARD. I ABSOLUTELY LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. *TR
2006-06-30Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10161119
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. THERE WAS A SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC.
2005-05-26Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 10122198
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DT: CONSUMER STATED: HAD TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING. CONTACTS INSIDE WERE BAD, IT MALFUNCTIONED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON, HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DIDN'T WORK. *AK
2005-05-13SEAT BELTS
NHTSA ODI 10117832
CrashFireInjuryDeath
OWNER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND WAS REAR ENDED. UPON IMPACT, THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE DRIVER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER. THE BELT LOOSENED. SINCE THE SEAT BELTS LOOSENED ON THE FIRST IMPACT, THE OCCUPANTS HAD NO PROTECTION AFTER THAT AND WERE THROWN ALL OVER THE CAB OF THE VAN. *BF
2005-03-25Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10115859
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THERE'S A CRACK IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR THAT IS CAUSING THE DOOR TO SHIFT DOWN WARD AND FAIL TO LINE UP WITH THE LATCH. DOOR HAD TO BE TIED TO KEEP IT CLOSED. THE VEHICLE IS NOT BEING DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE DOOR.*AK

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1995 Dodge Caravan?

Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 76 of 485 reports (16%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 1995 Dodge Caravan?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. This snapshot lists none, which is not a clean bill of health. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 1995 Dodge Caravan?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources