1994 Dodge Caravan recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Air bags

  MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON BECAUSE THE REAR WIPER SHORTED OUT AND BLEW THE FUSE, AND THE AIR BAGS ARE ON THE SAME FUSE.

  Aug 4, 2018 · 140,000 miles
• Engine

  DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE VEHICLE JUST QUIT. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD. ATTEMPT TO RESTART FAILED.4 TIMES. LET VEHICLE SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND NORMAL RESTART. THIS IS THIRD TIME IN THREE WEEKS. OTHER TWO NO STARTS WERE AFTER VEHICLE SITTING OVERNIGHT. NO ERROR CODES OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. FIRST NO START REPLACED AIR FILTER. SECOND NO START REPLACED BATTERY. INFO PROVIDED BECAUSE OF 2010 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ISSUE AN POTENTIAL FOR IT TO EXIST IN EARLY VEHICLES. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

  Mar 5, 2015 · 95,356 miles
• Structure › BodyCrash

  AS I SLOWLY WAS TURNING THE CAR TO PARK IN A PARKING LOT IN VIENNA VA SHOPPING CENTER, THE VAN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO HANDICAP PARKING POLE MARKER ( NO DAMAGE). DAMAGE TO MY VAN WHICH IS VISABLE APPEARS TO BE THE FRONT OF THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND A DAMAGED BUT FUNCTIONING RADIATOR AS BEST I CAN SEE. NOTE: THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT ACTIVEATED, AND WONDERED WHY THEY DIDN'T.( IS THIS ANOTHER PROBLEM ?) *TR

  Sep 21, 2014 · 119,444 miles
• Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump

  1994 DODGE CARAVAN GAS TANK LEAK. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION REGARDING A GAS LEAK AND CAME ACROSS RECALL 99V216000 AND WAS WONDERING IF IT APPLIED TO HER VEHICLE? AND IF SO, WILL DODGE HONOR THE RECALL AND FIX HER VEHICLE?

  Jan 1, 1901
• Service brakes, hydraulic

  WENT TO WORK ON APRIL 1, 2009 HAD BRAKES, WHEN I WENT TO GO HOME THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND ANTI BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, CHANGED FRONT BRAKES , DID NOT NEED IT , BUT DID IT ANYWAY, WAS GOING TO CHANGE THE BACK BUT THEY DID NOT NEED IT, BLED THE BRAKES, ALL WORKED FINE , THEN WENT OKLAHOMA APRIL 11TH , STAYED IN MOTEL AND BRAKES WHERE FINE, GOT UP NEXT MORNING AND WENT TO DO SOME THINGS AND AGAIN THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND ABS LIGHT COMES ON ,STILL HAS PLENTY OF FLUID. *TR

  Apr 1, 2009
• Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch

  I TRIED TO OPEN THE HOOD OF MY MINIVAN AND THE RELEASE BROKE OFF. THE RELEASE WAS ON THE INSIDE OF THE 1994 DODGE MINIVAN AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT TO BREAK OFF. I'VE CHECKED THE SAFETY DEFECT NOTIFICATIONS FOR "1994 DODGE MINIVANS" AND COULD NOT FIND ANY OTHER MENTIONS OF FAILURE OF THE HAND RELEASE FOR THE VEHICLES' HOODS. *TR

  Jan 26, 2008 · 235,000 miles
• Visibility › Glass, side/rear

  REAR WINDOW ON LIFT GATE SHATTERED IN A THOUSAND PIECES FOR NO REASON WHILE PARKED (GLASS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE). OUTSIDE TEMP WAS ABOUT 20 F AND CLOUDY. GLASS TYPE IS A PRIVACY TINTED WITH WINDOW DEFROSTER. IT APPEARS GLASS WAS NOT REQUIRED TO BE A SAFETY GLASS TYPE AS COMPARED TO A WINDSHIELD WITH A "PLASTIC SANDWICH IN-BETWEEN. ABOUT 10 HOURS OF CLEAN UP REQUIRED. MANY SMALL GLASS FRAGMENTS AND "GLASS DUST" TRAVELED AS FAR AS THE FRONT DASHBOARD. OWNER WILL BE REPLACING GLASS. COST ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN $300 TO $400 PARTS AND LABOR. I HAVE PICTURES AVAILABLE IF NEEDED .*CN

  Dec 31, 2007 · 176,380 miles
• Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys

  SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF...DRY, WET, SNOW..BIG, LITTLE ...LITERALLY NO PUDDLES...AND THE GATORBACK BELT DOESN'T FIX IT, NOR THE SNOW SHIELD ON THE PULLEY SHIELD.....WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND THE NUMEROUS TIMES MY BELT HAS COME OFF..YOU'D THINK CHRYSLER WOULD HAVE FIXED THIS LONG AGO...NO JUST SOAK PEOPLE FOR MONEY..IF THEY R NOT MECHANICALLY INCLINED( WHICH THANKS TO MY FATHER, BROTHER, AND HUSBAND) I AM.....AND I KNOW ABOUT THE INTERNET SITE FORUMS THAT HELP EACH OTHER OUT...IN TIMES LIKE THESE. SOME UNFORTUNATELY..SEVERAL HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS LATER...HOW UNFAIR OF CHRYSLER...AND WE'RE TALKING.... THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AROUND AWHILE...YOU'D HAVE THOUGHT THEY WOULD'VE FIXED…

  Nov 4, 2003

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• STEERING COLUMN SEPARATIONClosed

  MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR…

  DP03002 · opened May 7, 2003 · closed Jul 22, 2003
• STEERING WHEEL SEPARATIONClosedLed to recall 00V305000

  There is no summary currently available

  RQ00011 · opened May 1, 2000 · closed Apr 1, 2002
• INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTSClosedLed to recall 99V113000

  COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE FRONT AIR BAG (S) DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY--IN MOST CASES WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE.

  EA98006 · opened Feb 27, 1998 · closed May 24, 1999
• AIR BAG CIRCUIT/WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTORClosed

  There is no summary currently available

  PE97049 · opened Nov 18, 1997 · closed Mar 17, 1998
• INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTSClosed

  COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES' AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY (IN MOST CASES WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE).

  PE97046 · opened Oct 24, 1997 · closed Feb 27, 1998
• DEFECTIVE AIR BAG CRASH SENSOROpen

  CFAS SENT A FOLLOW-UP LETTER ON DECEMBER 12, 1996, TO CHANGE THE INTENT OF THE PETITION TO AIRBAG AGGRESSIVITY AND DEPLOYMENT VARIABILITY.NHTSA RECEIVED THE LETTER ON 12/12/96; ACCORDINGLY, THE PETITION DUE DAY WAS CHANGED TO APRIL 12, 1997.CFAS PETITIONED THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR AND/OR DEPLOYMENT SYSTEMS FOR THE 1991-92 CHEVROLET CORSICA/BERETTA, 1990-92 FORD TAURUS, AND 1994-96 CHRYSLER MINIVANS ARE DEFECTIVE.CFAS ALLEGE THAT INFORMATION ON LOW SPEED CRASHES HERE OCCUPANTS HAVE SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES SUGGESTS [THAT THE ABOVE VEHICLES] HAVE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR AND/OR DEPLOYMENT SYSTEMS.

  DP96014 · opened Nov 14, 1996
• SAFETY BLT LATCH OPERATIONClosed

  There is no summary currently available

  PE96008 · opened Jan 25, 1996 · closed Jun 28, 1996
• LIFTGATE LATCHESClosed

  LIFTGATE LATCHES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE FAILED IN LOW AND MODERATE SPEED IMPACTS RESULTING IN OCCUPANT EJECTIONS, INJURIES, AND FATALITIES.THERE ARE TWO FAILURE MODES ASSOCIATED WITH LATCH FAILURE: FORK BOLT-DETENT LEVER BYPASS, AND INERTIAL UNLATCHING.NHTSA ANALYSES OF CHRYSLER AND PEER MINIVANS TOOK THE FORM OF STATIC AND DYNAMIC CRASH TESTING, ENGINEERING EVALUATIONS, COMPLAINT AND FIELD ANALYSES, AND REAL WORLD DATA ANALYSES.A TECHNICAL REPORT DISCUSSING THESE ANALYSES CAN BE FOUND IN THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TECHNICAL REPORT IN THE PUBLIC VIEWING FILE.CHRYSLER HAS ADVISED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE LATCHES ON ALL THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE CHRYSLER CAMPAIGN WILL CONSIST OF NOTIFICATION LETTERS TO ALL OWNERS; FREE REPLACEMENT OF ALL LATCHES WITH STRONGER, SAFER LATCHES REGARDLESS OF THE AGE OF THE MINIVANS; NATIONAL ADVERTISING TO PROMOTE CUSTOMER…

  EA94005 · opened Jan 31, 1994 · closed Oct 25, 1995