THE VAN'S ENGINE WILL INTERMITENTLY CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN TOWN. IN MOST CASES THERE IS NO WAY TO WARN DRIVERS APPROACHING FROM THE REAR THAT YOU HAVE NO POWER OR ARE STOPPED IN THE ROAD. (WHEN THE ENGINE CUTS OUT THERE IS NO WARNING OR NOISE. THE ONLY WAY THE DRIVER KNOWS THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING IS THAT THE POWER STEERING IS GONE OR THE VAN DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN THE DRIVER STEPS ON THE GAS PEDAL.) RESTARTING THE ENGINE MAY TAKE 4 TO 6 TRIES BEFORE YOU CAN PLACE THE VAN BACK IN DRIVE AND CONTINUE. EVEN IF THE DRIVER WERE TO STEP ON THE BRAKES OR TURN ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS, OTHER CARS AND MACK TRUCKS APPROACHING FROM THE REAR HAVE A TENDENCY TO RUSH UP ON THE REAR BUMBER BEFORE THEY REALIZE WHAT IS HAPPENING. THIS IS, OBVIOUSLY, VERY UN-NERVING ESPECIALLY TO THE DRIVER WHO IS TRYING TO RESTART THE VAN BEFORE SOMEONE RUNS INTO HIM. I KNOW OF AT LEAST 6 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS STALLING PROBLEM IN EITHER A DODGE VAN OR CAR THAT HAS THE 3.0L ENGINE. MOST HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR DODGE DEALER AND HAVE SOLD THE UN-REPAIRED VAN OR CAR RATHER THAN ARGUE WITH THE DELERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE STALLING PROBLEM IN MY VAN HAPPENED ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS WHEN IT WAS NEW AND IT DID NOT REALLY SEEM TO BE A SAFETY PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IN THE PAST YEAR THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO THINK TWICE ABOUT GETTING OUT ON 495 AT RUSH HOUR FOR FEAR OF BEING RUN OVER. DODGE HAS JUST SENT ME A RECALL NOTICE
1994 Dodge Caravan complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1994 record →
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
DOOR ON PASSENGER IN BACK WON'T CLOSE COMPLETELY AND ROOF POPS IN WARM WHEATHER. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99V113000 REGARDING SUDDEN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. CONSUMER COMPLAINED LAST YEAR AND NOTHING WAS DONE. HOWEVER, AFTER CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE AND TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT. *AK *ML
WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE SLIDING DOOR, DOOR FELL OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SOME OTHER PROBLEMS. *AK
TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN EITHER REPLACED OR REBUILT ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS . CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED BOTH MANUFACTURER AND DEALER. *AK.ET.
RECALL 99V213000: LIFTGATE SUPPORT BRACKET. OWNER VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO FIX PROBLEM BEFORE RECALL NOTICE CAME OUT. PRESENTLY, DEALER AND MAMUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THEY WILL NOT REMEDY THE RECALL BECAUSE THE OWNER TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEMON ON HIS OWN. DEALER IS BOB RUWART CHRYSLER, WHEATLAND, WY 307-322-3146. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
RECALL COMPONENT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (99V-213). *MJS
THE BOLT ATTACHING THE LEFT LIFTGATE TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE CAUSING IT TO FALL ON CONSUMERS HEAD (99V-213). NLM
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE REAR RIGHT PASSENGER'S RESTRAINT DID NOT RETRACT AND LOCKED, THROWING THE PASSENGER FORWARD, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. *AK
WHEN SHIFTING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS TRANSMISSION DELAYS, AND IS VERY HARSH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
TRANSMISSION GEARS SLIP BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR ON ONLY 75,000 MILES. GEARS SHOULD LAST LONGER! *AK
RECALL COMPONENT FAILED PRIOR TO NOTIFICATION, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WHEN SUPPORT BROKE CAUSING LIFTGATE TO COLLASPE (99V213). *MJS
WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD PULLED OVER TO A NO PARKING ZONE, TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, AND THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. THE BOLT THAT HELD THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE OFF , THEY REPLACED IT. *AK
NHTSA RECALL 99V113000 AND MAMUFACTURER'S RECALL 818/ AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH RELAY SENDING A FAULTY SIGNAL TO THE GAS GAUGE INDICATOR. GAS GAUGE WOULD REGISTER EMPTY, BUT THERE WOULD STILL BE FUEL IN THE TANK. DEALER NOTIIFED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER.*AK
REAR TRUNK WINDOW MOLDING IS MELTING, WINDOW AND MOLDING MUST BE REPLACED TOGETHER. *MJS
THIS AUTOMOBILE HAS HAD 3 NEW TRANSMISSIONS, 3 NEW AIRCONDITIONERS,, A NEW STARTER, 3 OR 4 RECALLS FOR DIFFERENT THINGS AND NOW AN OIL LEAK THAT HAS TO BE REPAIRED. *AK
RECALL 99V113000/AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT: RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE, AND UNABLE TO GET DEALER TO HONOR RECALL. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK
RECALL COMPONENT FAILED PRIOR TO NOTIFICATION. (99V-213) *MJS
HORN/CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND THE BOOSTER IN THE RADIO DO NOT WORK. ALSO, WHEN TURNING HEATER FAN SWITCH ON HIGH, LIFTGATE OPENS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN. NONE OF THE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN CORRRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER INFORMATION.*AK
WINDSHIELD MOTOR (REAR) WAS RECALLED, VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. CONNSUMER SAT AT DEALER ALMOST 2 HOURS BEFORE BEING TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART IN, SIDE DOOR OF VAN- WHEN HITTING A BUMP THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF LIKE STROBE LIGHTS AND THE DOOR LATCH IS NOT LATCHING PROPERLY, THEREFORE THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF AND A BEEPING SIGNAL IN HEARD CONSTANTLY.. *AK
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING VEHICLE COLLISION, NOTICE SENT REGARDING POSSIBLE CAUSE (RECALL). *MJS
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 99V213000 CONCERNING LIFTGATE SUPPORT BRACKET. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT PROBLEM DUE DENT IN THE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO NOTIFICATION, RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF AIR BAG FUSES AND WIPER MOTOR UNIT DUE TO SHORT, REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. (99V-113) *MJS
WHN PULLING THE SIDE SLIDING DOOR, LATCH POPS OPEN PERIODICALLY. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
I ? FAILURE OF A RECENTLY ROUTINELY SERVICED TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD THAT DRIVING IN THIS CONDITION WOULD CAUSE THE SYSTEM TO LOCK UP AND CREATE OTHER FAILURES (AXLE). AM I ALONE IN THIS PROBLEM, ALSO, I HAD RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE VAN FOR AIRBAG PROBLEM - IT ALSO LISTED ON THE FORM IN VERY SMALL PRINT THAT THE REAR WIPER MAY ALSO HAVE TO BE SERVICED/REPLACED AT THEIR DISCRETION I BELIEVE. AFTER GETTING SERVICE FOR THIS THE WIPER BLOWS FUSES AS BEFORE DISABLING THE WIPER AND ALSO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WHAT RECOURSE IF ANY DO I HAVE WHEN THEY SAY THE WIPER IS DOING THIS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T CLEAR OFF THE REAR WINDOWS PROPERLY??? THANX FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME. *AK
THE LIFTGATE FAILED. *SLC
NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT RECALL 99V113000. *AK
NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT RECALL 99V113000. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THE LOWER REVERSE GEAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE WHILE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE. WOULD BE SLUGGISH & HARD TO SHIFT. WOULD HAVE NO PRIOR WARNING OF PROBLEM. SHUT VEHICLE OFF & THEN RESTARTED. WORKED FINE UNTILL IT WAS SHIFTED A FEW TIMES. THEN WENT BACK INTO LIMP MODE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS COMMON IN THIS YEAR MODEL OF THE DODGE CARAVAN. I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE THAT A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILES, AND REGULAR MAINTENCE WOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM ALREADY. PLEASE CONTACT US WITH YOUR SUGGESTIONS. *AK
THE SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF THE TRACK WHEN CONSUMER OPENED THE DOOR. NLM
TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUID SINCE PURCHASE FROM AXLE SEAL TRANSFER CASE. FRONT RIGHT STRUT ASSEMBLY MAKES EXSTREME NOISES OVER BUMPS AND SHARP CURVES. ENGINE HAS DEVELOPED A LEAK. LEFT DRIVER SIDE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED WITH KEY. SUSPECT FLOOD DAMAGE DUE TO A REOCCURRING ODOR FROM HEATER VENTS. WE HAVE CONTACTED DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES AND WERE GIVEN A "DODGE" ! DEALER HAS CHANGED THE BUISNESS NAME AND STATES HAS NO LONGER AN OBLIGATION TO HONOR THESE PROBLEMS WHICH WE ENCOUNTERED UNDER WARRANTY! ALSO, AIR CONDITION UNIT HAS BEEN LEAKING AND WAS SERVICED UNDER WARRENTY AND REMAINS A PROBLEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS TOO LONG TO LIST. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THIS VEHICLE IS FAILING RAPIDLY MECHANICALLY! I FEEL STRONGLY THAT I HAVE BEEN "RIPPED OFF!" BY THIS DEALER AND AM IN NEED OF SOME SORT OF SOLUTION!. *AK
THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF TBHIS PART. FIRST FAILURE WAS AT 61590 MILES. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER V-6 ENGINES AND ONE WHICH, IF IT OCCURS AT SPEED, CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WITH TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER AND ADVISING ME OF YOUR FINDINGS. *AK
CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL REPAIRS ON THE AIRBAG MODULE. WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE WIRING TO THE AIRBAG. AS OF TODAY THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TURNED THE CORNER, BRAKED JUST A LITTLE, AND IT DIDN'T TURN IN THE DIRECTION DRIVER WANTED TO GO. GOING UP HILL WITH A/C ON, GOT BEHIND A BIG TRUCK, WHICH CAUSED DRIVER TO SLOW DOWN, AND VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. *AK
RECALL # 99V113000 DAIMLER/CHRYSLER/AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT; DEALER DOES NOT HAVE PARTS TO CORRECT RECALL. OWNER HAS CONTACTED DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES SINCE RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 1994. DEALER STATED THAT PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. ALSO, REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING PRIOR TO RECALL. *AK
A/C EVAPORATOR FAILED AFTER ONLY 2.5 YEARS, $800 TO REPAIR, CHRYSLER AGREED TO PAY HALF, MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. IN MY OPINION, IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT. *AK
THE SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR BASICALLY FELL OFF. THE DOOR WAS NOT ABUSED, JUST NORMAL WEAR. MY WIFE WENT TO SHUT THE DOOR AND IT FELL OFF. (ONLY THING KEEPING IT OFF THE GROUND WAS ONE BENT HINGE. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER FROM WHICH I PURCHASED IT. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ADMIT TO MANUFACTURE FAULT. HOWEVER, I WAS ABLE TO GET THEM TO LOWER THE BILL TO FIX THE DOOR FROM $303 TO $133. I STILL BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, CAUSED BY A STRUCTURAL DESIGN FLAW IN THE SLIDING DOOR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS IN THE NHTSA DATABASE CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM. DODGE, CHRYSLER, AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE COSTS.
TRANSMISSION'S 2ND & 4TH GEARS WENT OUT, VEHICLE LOST POWER, AND SLOWED TO A CRAWL. PRESSED ACCELERATOR & NO RESPONSE. HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE BEFORE LOSS OF POWER. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE 4TH GEAR WAS INOPERATIVE. *AK
CHRYSLER WILL NOT PROVIDE FREE RELAY
SEVERAL TIMES I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO ARRIGO BUT THEY COULD NEVER FIND A PROBLEM. THEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT AND THEY SAID TOO BAD, NOT THERE PROBLEM. I HAVE RECORDS OF EVERY TIME I WAS THERE FOR SERVICE TELLING THEM THAT THE SQUEALING NOISE SOUNDED LIKE A COMPRESSOR LEAK. I'M JUST VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS ONCE THE VEHICLE IS PURCHASED.
THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF LEAKAGE. ONCE IN MAY OF 97 AND ONCE IN AUGUST OF 98. THE FILTER IS LOCATED VERY CLOSE TO THE CATAYLIC CONVERTER. THE DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 94 DODGE FAILED TWICE! 3 TIME. HAD REPAIR TRANSMISSION IN A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. IS THIS NORMAL? *AK
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION BANGS VERY HEAVY. WHEN CHANGING GEARS ON CAN FEEL THE CAR SHAKING. *AK
FOUR SPEED OD TRANSMISSIONS IN THE CHRYSLER VANS SEEM TO BE FAILING AT A HIGH RATE AT ABOUT 100K MILES. WHEN I INQUIRED TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS ABOUT GETTING MY TRANSMISSION FIXED, THEY ALL TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING IS COMMON IN THE CHRYSLER VANS. EVERY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT IS A COMBINATION OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND POOR QUALITY PARTS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE TRANSMISSIONS. ONE SHOP IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN REPLACING THESE TRANSMISSIONS ON THE MAGNITUDE OF 70-80 PER YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, I HAPPEN TO HAVE 6 NEIGHBORS WHO OWN OR HAVE OWNED '92-'95 CHRYSLER VANS WITH THE OD TRANSMISSION AND HAVE NEEDED REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLIES ANYWHERE FROM 60K TO 100K (MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR HAD HERS REPLACED 3 TIMES, SHE FINALLY TRADED IT IN FOR A NISSAN VAN). ONE MECHANIC, AFTER PERFORMING $1000 WORTH OF WORK REPLACING THE AXLES, TIE ROD ENDS, BRAKES, ROTORS, STRUTS (COMPLETE), TIRES, AND ALIGNMENT, TOLD ME TO "DUMP" THE VAN BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE TRANSMISSION FAILURES, BUT THEY HAVE VALVE GUIDE FAILURES WITH THE 3.0L ENGINE STARTING AROUND 100K MILES. HE TOLD ME $3000 TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION AND ANOTHER $2000 WHEN THE VALVE GUIDE (PLASTIC) FAILURE OCCURS. I MIGHT ADD THAT I'VE DONE ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AHEAD OF MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDED INTERVALS. I AM CERTAIN THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS AND PERHAPS LONGER AND BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WITH SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS, CHRYSLER HAS DONE NOTHING TO MAKE THE DESIGN FLAW RIGH
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 20 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, FOR NO REASON. NO POTHOLES OR BUMP WERE RAN OVER. DRIVER/ PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES/CUTS AND CHEMICAL BURNS. DEALER / MFR. NOTIFIED. *AK
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1994 Dodge Caravan → · Every Caravan year → · How the figures are calculated →