2002 Dodge Caravan Problems and Recalls (235 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2002 Dodge Caravan is Airbags (21% of 235 owner reports). There are 10 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Airbags — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 235 complaints · 10 recalls

What problems show up on the 2002 Dodge Caravan?

50 of 235 filings named Airbags (21% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Steering (33 reports).

There are 10 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Steering and Lights. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2001 has 250 reports on file; this year has 235. 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 2002 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 10 campaigns on file below.
  2. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  3. Steering. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight.
  4. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Airbags. 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: Airbags 50 complaints · 21.3% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 13
  • Fires 11
  • Injuries 9
  • Deaths 1
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 Airbags (AIR BAGS) appears in 50 of 235 owner complaints (21.3%) in this vehicle snapshot. Airbags (AIR BAGS): 50 complaints, 21.3% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 3 crash reports 1 fire reports 50 · 21.3% Steering (STEERING): 33 complaints, 14.0% of reports Steering (STEERING) 33 · 14.0% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 24 complaints, 10.2% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 5 fire reports 24 · 10.2% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 20 complaints, 8.5% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 2 crash reports 20 · 8.5% Engine (ENGINE): 17 complaints, 7.2% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 3 fire reports 17 · 7.2% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 11 complaints, 4.7% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 11 · 4.7% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 10 complaints, 4.3% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 crash reports 1 fire reports 10 · 4.3% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 9 complaints, 3.8% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 crash reports 9 · 3.8% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 9 complaints, 3.8% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 9 · 3.8% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 143 complaints, 60.9% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 11 crash reports 3 fire reports 143 · 60.9% 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)
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 50 21.3% 3 crashes · 1 fires
Steering (STEERING) 33 14.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 24 10.2% 0 crashes · 5 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 20 8.5% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 17 7.2% 0 crashes · 3 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 11 4.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 10 4.3% 1 crashes · 1 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 9 3.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 9 3.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 143 60.9% 11 crashes · 3 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 2002; the first recall shown was reported in Oct 2001. 2002-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2002-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2002-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2003-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2003-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2003-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2003-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2004-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2004-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2004-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2004-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2005-Q1: 18 owner reports 18 2005-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2005-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2005-Q4: 17 owner reports 17 2006-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2006-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2006-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2006-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2007-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2007-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2007-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2008-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2008-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2008-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2011-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2013-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 2001 Oct 2018 Recall campaign 01V310000 ◆ Recall campaign 01V310000 Recall campaign 03V094000 ◆ Recall campaign 03V094000 Recall campaign 03E045000 ◆ Recall campaign 03E045000 Recall campaign 03E053000 ◆ Recall campaign 03E053000 Recall campaign 04V386000 ◆ Recall campaign 04V386000 Recall campaign 04V531000 ◆ Recall campaign 04V531000 Recall campaign 06E022000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E022000 Recall campaign 08E039000 ◆ Recall campaign 08E039000 Recall campaign 08E048000 ◆ Recall campaign 08E048000 Recall campaign 10E034000 ◆ Recall campaign 10E034000 Investigation PE02068 ● Investigation PE02068 Investigation PE03012 ● Investigation PE03012 Investigation PE04049 ● Investigation PE04049 Investigation PE05004 ● Investigation PE05004 Investigation EA05009 ● Investigation EA05009
  • Campaign 04V386000 was reported 770 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 04V531000 was reported 1,014 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 08E039000 was reported 1,986 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 08E048000 was reported 2,045 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2002-Q1 Owner reports 4
2002-Q2 Owner reports 1
2002-Q3 Owner reports 10
2002-Q4 Owner reports 5
2003-Q1 Owner reports 8
2003-Q2 Owner reports 6
2003-Q3 Owner reports 8
2003-Q4 Owner reports 9
2004-Q1 Owner reports 9
2004-Q2 Owner reports 6
2004-Q3 Owner reports 8
2004-Q4 Owner reports 14
2005-Q1 Owner reports 18
2005-Q2 Owner reports 9
2005-Q3 Owner reports 8
2005-Q4 Owner reports 17
2006-Q1 Owner reports 4
2006-Q2 Owner reports 5
2006-Q3 Owner reports 8
2006-Q4 Owner reports 7
2007-Q1 Owner reports 6
2007-Q2 Owner reports 4
2007-Q4 Owner reports 5
2008-Q1 Owner reports 3
2008-Q2 Owner reports 6
2008-Q3 Owner reports 2
2008-Q4 Owner reports 2
2009-Q1 Owner reports 3
2009-Q2 Owner reports 3
2009-Q3 Owner reports 2
2009-Q4 Owner reports 2
2010-Q1 Owner reports 2
2010-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q3 Owner reports 3
2011-Q2 Owner reports 1
2011-Q3 Owner reports 2
2011-Q4 Owner reports 2
2012-Q2 Owner reports 2
2012-Q4 Owner reports 1
2013-Q1 Owner reports 2
2013-Q2 Owner reports 3
2013-Q3 Owner reports 2
2014-Q1 Owner reports 1
2014-Q2 Owner reports 2
2014-Q3 Owner reports 2
2015-Q2 Owner reports 1
2015-Q3 Owner reports 1
2015-Q4 Owner reports 1
2016-Q1 Owner reports 1
2017-Q1 Owner reports 1
2018-Q2 Owner reports 1
2018-Q4 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 01V310000
Recall campaign 1 03V094000
Recall campaign 1 03E045000
Recall campaign 1 03E053000
Recall campaign 1 04V386000
Recall campaign 1 04V531000
Recall campaign 1 06E022000
Recall campaign 1 08E039000
Recall campaign 1 08E048000
Recall campaign 1 10E034000
Defect investigation 1 PE02068
Defect investigation 1 PE03012
Defect investigation 1 PE04049
Defect investigation 1 PE05004
Defect investigation 1 EA05009
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (10)

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

In short, these campaigns were filed about Steering and Lights.

  1. Recall campaign 01V310000

    Safety recall 01V310000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ATTACHED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE CHILD.
    Remedy:
    OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH THE NECESSARY CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM INFORMATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN OCTOBER 8, 2001. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE INFORMATION WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  2. 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 →
  3. Recall campaign 03E053000

    Safety recall 03E053000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    A POSSIBLE FIRE CAN OCCUR IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.
    Remedy:
    WIX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. NOTE: THIS DOES NOT INVOLVE ANY PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP. NOR ANY DAILMERCHRYSLER DEALERS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2003. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT WIX AT 704-864-6711.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  4. Recall campaign 03V094000

    Safety recall 03V094000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. 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 SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  5. Recall campaign 04V386000

    Steering

    Report date
    Component:
    Steering (STEERING)
    Consequence:
    POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE UPPER POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE. THIS RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  6. Recall campaign 04V531000

    Safety recall 04V531000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    THIS COULD RESULT IN A SPEAKER FIRE.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL ADD A SPECIAL TAPE TO THE TOP OF THE RADIO TO PREVENT THE POTENTIAL OF WATER INTRUSION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  7. Recall campaign 06E022000

    Safety recall 06E022000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  8. Recall campaign 08E039000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    MAXZONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAXZONE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: 1-888-286-1188 (WA, OR, CA, ID, NV, AZ, MT, WY, UT, CO, KS, NM, OK, TX, AR, LA, AK, HI) 1-877-253-8930 (ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI, NY, NJ, PA, MD, DE, WV, VA) 1-800-859-4755 (NC, SC, GA, FL, TN, AL, MS) 1-866-783-6858 (ND, SD, NE, MN, IA, MO, WI, IL, MI, IN, OH, KY).
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  9. Recall campaign 08E048000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    EAGLE EYES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT EAGLE EYES AT 1-800-568-1098.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  10. Recall campaign 10E034000

    Safety recall 10E034000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    IF THE AREA IN QUESTION FRACTURES OR BREAKS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN UNSTABLE DRIVING CONDITION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    CURT MFG WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND WILL REPLACE THE HITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MFG AT 1-715-831-8713.
    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 235 complaints · page 1 of 10
2018-11-13Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11151374
CrashFireInjuryDeath
ENGINE BROKE
2018-04-28Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11090834
CrashFireInjuryDeath
SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY GAS TANK, IT ALWAYS STOPS ME EVEN IF IT'S HALFWAY. THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DOESN'T STAY WELL. THE HOLES WHERE THE ENGINE ALWAYS COMES OFF AND THERE'S A LOT OF SMOKE COMING OUT. THE HEADLINER IS COMING OFF AND THERE'S LIKE A SAND FALLING TO MY KIDS. THE BREAK IS NOT THAT STRONG
2017-03-29Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 10969351
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE STEERING WHEEL GETS LOCK WERE EVER I STOP ,INTERNAL CONTROL FAILURE, RADIATOR HEAT CONSTANTLY WHEN I AM DRIVING ,
2016-02-08Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 10838365
CrashFireInjuryDeath
2002 DODGE CARAVAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO INTERMITTENT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD AND CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. *SMD
2015-12-02Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10808044
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE VIN INFORMATION IN THE DATABASE HAS BEEN CHANGED BY THE AUTO BODY SHOP IN ORDER TO AVOID RETURNING THE VAN TO ITS "PRE ACCIDENT CONDITION".
2015-09-11FUEL SYSTEM
NHTSA ODI 10763107
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR HOSE WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.
2015-05-25Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 10721305
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000. UPDATED 8/10/15*CN
2014-07-27Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 10616608
CrashFireInjuryDeath
ON 6/5/14 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HWY AT 65MPH A DEER HAD BOLTED OUT IN FRONT OF MY 02 CARAVAN. I HAD REACTION TIME WITH HITTING MY BRAKES UNTIL MY BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED & MY VAN CONTINUES SLIDING ON DRY PAVEMENT, I ATTEMPTED HITTING MY HORN BUT NOTICED THE SECTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL THAT THE HORN ISS LOCATED WAS ROCK HARD & COULD NOT BE PUSHED IN EVEN THE SLIGHTEST. I ENDED UP HITTING THE DEER DEAD CENTER OF THE FRONT OF MY VAN, CRUMPLED MY HOOD, CRACKING MY RADIATOR, HEADLIGHT ASSEMLIES, GRILL & COOLING FANS. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. SINCE THIS INCIDENT MY BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED JUST ABOUT EVERY TIME I PRESS ON THE BRAKES & COME TO A REST LASTING 30 SECOND OR LONGER & WILL GO OFF MOMENTS AFTER RELEASING THE PEDAL. APPROX MILEAGE 165, 000 ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY, DAYLIGHT & 100% VISIBILITY. *JS
2014-07-17TIRES
NHTSA ODI 10611272
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN VAN ON JUNE 9, 2014. ON JULY 11, WHILE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED A FLAT TIRE. I TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE TO REPAIR THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS IRREPARABLE. MY SPARE TIRE HAD A HUMP IN IT AND CONSEQUENTLY I WASN'T ABLE TO PUT IT ON THE VEHICLE. ANOTHER TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2005. THE OTHER TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2012 BUT HAS A GASH IN THE TIRE. THE THREE REMAINING TIRES HAVE NO TREAD ON THEM. IN THE EVENT THAT ONE OF MY TIRES GOES OUT I HAVE NO SPARE. I PURCHASED A NEW TIRE FOR 79.00.I WAS TOLD TIRES ARE NOT COVERED. I HAVE BEEN DELAYED AND STRANDED DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. UPON BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REFUSED TO INSPECT IT. *TR
2014-06-25Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 10605809
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEAR SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE YEARS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2002 Dodge Caravan?

Owners named Airbags most often — 50 of 235 reports (21%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2002 Dodge Caravan?

NHTSA lists 10 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Steering and Lights. 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 2002 Dodge Caravan?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed. 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