Model year record

2008 Dodge Caravan recalls & problems

The 2008 Dodge Caravan has 2 safety recalls and 302 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (165 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints302filed by owners

Crashes · fires8 · 6reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths10 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

SuspensionApr 23, 2010

Rear

Recall 10V164000834 vehicles

Problem: THE BRAUN CORPORATION IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND DODGE CARAVAN MOBILITY CONVERSIONS WHICH WERE ALTERED BY BRAUN BETWEEN JANUARY 21, 2009 AND MARCH 19, 2010. DURING CONVERSION, THE CHASSIS WAS RAISED AND THE FLOOR WAS LOWERED TO ACCOMMODATE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES. IN RAISING THE CHASSIS, THE REAR SPRING HATS COME INTO CLOSER PROXIMITY TO THE REAR TIRES. IN ROUGH OR AGGRESSIVE DRIVING SITUATIONS THE TIRES MAY INTERMITTENTLY CONTACT THE REAR SPRING HATS.
Risk: CONTACT BETWEEN THE TIRE SPRING HAT MAY WEAR A HOLE IN THE TIRE OVER TIME. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL IN THE EVENT OF TIRE PRESSURE LOSS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: BRAUN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BRAUN TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-488-0359.

Fuel system, gasolineApr 13, 2010

Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap

Recall 10V148000843 vehicles

Problem: THE BRAUN CORPORATION IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND DODGE CARAVAN COMMERCIAL ENTERVANS WHICH WERE ALTERED BY BRAUN BETWEEN JANUARY 21, 2009 AND MARCH 19, 2010. DURING CONVERSION, THE CHASSIS WAS RAISED AND THE FLOOR WAS LOWERED TO ACCOMMODATE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES. IN RAISING THE CHASSIS, THE FUEL FILL PIPE COMES INTO CLOSER PROXIMITY TO THE LEFT REAR TIRE. IN ROUGH OR AGGRESSIVE DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE TIRE MAY INTERMITTENTLY CONTACT THE FUEL FILL PIPE.
Risk: CONTACT BETWEEN THE TIRE AND FUEL FILL PIPE MAY WEAR A HOLE IN ONE OR THE OTHER COMPONENTS OVER TIME. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL IN THE EVENT OF TIRE PRESSURE LOSS, OR A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE EVENT THE FUEL PIPE IS COMPROMISED.
Fix: BRAUN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BRAUN TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-488-0359.

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.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemIgnition; Ignition › Switch	165	2	5	2	80,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Rotor; Foundation components › Disc › Pads	43	0	1	0	23,000 mi
Air bagsSide/window	42	5	0	6	84,000 mi
Engine	24	2	0	0	100,000 mi
Service brakes	16	1	0	0	80,000 mi
Visibility/wiper	16	1	0	0	90,750 mi
Exterior lighting	15	1	0	0	96,000 mi
TiresPressure monitoring and regulating systems; Valve	13	0	0	0	35,595 mi
Unknown or other	12	0	0	0	50,000 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Driveline	11	0	0	0	78,000 mi
StructureBody › Door; Body	8	0	0	1	50,000 mi
Wheels	7	0	0	0	44,500 mi

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

Recent owner complaints

Engine
The van lunges the shuts off while driving happens any time any place, just had the crankshaft position sensor following the codes it was showing, and it still does it.
Jun 28, 2023
Air bagsCrash2 injuries
The contact owned a 2008 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, an unknown Toyota Minivan entered his driving route and crashed into the vehicle. The driver sustained injuries to his back, neck, and feet and bruising. Medical attention was provided. The passenger sustained injuries to his neck, back, and shoulder, and medical attention was provided. A police report was filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to his resident. The air bags did not deploy. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The failure mileage was…
Dec 27, 2021 · 200,000 miles
Exterior lighting
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that the headlights appeared hazy and clogged. Additionally, the contact stated that the headlight failed to illuminate and provide proper illumination while driving. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Oct 25, 2020
Air bags
The problems we are experiencing is the airbag indicator light keeps coming on and off dinging every time it comes on. The other issue we have experienced is the engine is in need of repair but the check engine light does not come on to let mechanics find the problem. However once every three months the light will come in but once vehicle is turned off the light goes off never to come back on until the next time a few months later. The check engine light issue has been going on for two years.
Feb 3, 2022
Service brakes
STARTED THE VEHICLE ONE MORNING AND DROVE UP TO A STOP SIGN. I WAS IN A CITY STREET MAKING A LEFT TURN. SAW CLEAR FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS OF ANY TRAFFIC.ACCELERATED AND THE BAS,ESP LIGHT, AND TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE WANTED TO STALL, LOST POWER, AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND ACCELERATED AGAIN TO ABOUT 20 MPH AND THE VEHICLE REPEATED THE STALLING AND HESITATED TO ACCELERATE, ONCE ABOVE 30 MPH ALL LIGHTS CONTINUED ON AND THE VEHICLE KEPT DRIVING ACCORDINGLY. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED UP AND DROVE FROM THAT DATE OF JAN.26,2021 THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONING CONTINUES. I FIND THIS TO BE A SEVERE MECHANICAL PROBLEM AND A…
Jan 26, 2021 · 180,970 miles
Exterior lighting
HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF DURING ANY DRIVING ,STATIONARY,CITY HIGHWAY NIGHT DAY RAIN COLD WARM ALL THE ABOVE ANTIME ANY CONDITION.FLICKERING SOMETIMES STAYING OFF MOST OF THE TIME NEED TO HOLD PASSING FLASH BRIGHTS ON TO STILL ATLEAST HAVE LIGHT SOMETIMES DOSENT WORK ALL THE TIME. MONTHS NOW.
Jun 9, 2020 · 120,000 miles
Structure › Body
ORIGINALLY HAD TAKEN CAR IN FOR RECALL. THE RECALL WAS FOR BOTH DOORS. THE DEALER HAD DELIVERED THE CAR AND TOLD ME I WOULD BE CONTACTED FOR REPAIR ON THE PASSENGER DOOR ONCE THE PARTS WERE IN STOCK. AFTER MONTHS OF WAITING I FINALLY CONTACTED THEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE IN STOCK. I MADE THE APPOINTMENT AND WHEN I WAS SET TO DROP OFF THE VAN I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS GOING TO BE CHARGED BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN PUT IN AS COMPLETE IN THE DEALERS RECORDS BUT SHOWED PARTS NOT INSTALLED. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT DODGE AND LEFT THE VAN THERE OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT DAY I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE PHONE TO GET THE RUNAROUND WITH DODGE. I PICKED UP THE CAR AND DIDN'T HAVE THE REPAIR DONE. MY FAMILY HAS…
Dec 2, 2010 · 50,000 miles
Structure › Body
I HAVE HAD MY DODGE 2008 CARAVAN FOR SOMETIME. WAS ORIGINALLY TAKEN FOR REPAIRS TO THE SLIDING DOOR RECALL.
Dec 2, 2010 · 50,000 miles

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

Totally Integrated Power Module FailureClosed
In a letter dated August 21, 2014, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged failures associated with the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) installed in Chrysler SUV?s, trucks, and vans beginning in the 2007 model year. The petitioner alleges that TIPM defects may result in engine stall, airbag non-deployment, failure of fuel pump shutoff resulting in unintended acceleration, fire, and other symptoms. On September 25, 2014, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened DP14-004 to evaluate the petition for a grant or deny decision. ODI analyzed complaint data provided by CAS as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers. In total, there were 296 complaints submitted by the petitioner in the original petition and five supplements, including 271 complaints related to…
DP14004 · opened Sep 25, 2014 · closed Jul 24, 2015