Model year record
1998 Dodge Van recalls & problems
The 1998 Dodge Van has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 24 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (4 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1998 Dodge Van.
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 | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 4 | 108,900 mi |
| Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch | 3 | — |
| Air bagsOn-off switch assembly; Frontal › Sensor/control module | 3 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc; Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2 | — |
| SuspensionFront; Front › Wheel bearing | 2 | — |
| TiresValve | 2 | — |
| Vehicle speed controlCruise control | 2 | — |
| Seat beltsFront › Retractor | 1 | — |
| Interior lighting | 1 | — |
| VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer › Motor | 1 | — |
| SteeringLinkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Tires
ON AUG. 8, 2017 I WAS DRIVING A LEVEL 2 LANE SECLUDED ASPHALT ROAD IN MY 1998 DODGE CAMPER VAN. THE VAN IS DODGE 3500 EXTENDED MODEL, MODIFIED BY SPORTSMOBILE INTO A CAMPER VAN IN 1999. AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 50 MPH SUDDENLY A LOUD NOISE OCCURRED AND PIECE OF TIRE BEGAN TO FLY OFF. THE TIRES HAS BEEN RECENTLY ROTATED AND PRESSURE ADJUSTED TO ABOUT 80 PSI BY LES SCHWAB TIRES. WE HAD BEEN ON A ROAD TRIP SO I CHECKED TIRE INFLATION ABOUT EVERY DAY. THE TIRE TREAD HAD DISINTEGRATED AND PART OF IT HAD FLOWN OFF BUT THE TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED (AND STILL IS). ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE TREAD IS GONE. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AND WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER AND REPLACE THE TIRE. HOWEVER UNDER…
- Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS; HOWEVER THERE IS NO OVER RIDE FOR THE LOCKS. THE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN ALERTED.
- Power train › Automatic transmission
1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN; RATTLING SOUND FROM ENGINE AREA FOR A FEW WEEKS, INTERMITTENT. SOUNDED FINE WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, USED, IN JULY. TOTALLY LOST THE TRANSMISSION OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND, STRANDING MY HUSBAND AND I AND OUR 6-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ALMOST 2 HOURS FROM HOME. NOW HAVE TO INVEST NEARLY $2,000 TO REBUILD THIS TRANSMISSION. *NM
- Electrical system
1-AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON 2-CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING 3-HORN STOPPED WORKING. *NM
- Electrical system
POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR MOTOR FAILURE - TRAPPED PASSENGER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. EXITING THE VEHICLE REQUIRED CRAWLING OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE, AND EXITING VIA ANOTHER DOOR WITH A STILL FUNCTIONAL LOCKING MECHANISM. DEALER HAD TO REMOVE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL AND DESTROY THE ACTUATOR MOTOR, AND INSTALL A NEW UNIT AT APPROXIMATELY $250.00 PARTS & LABOR. OLD ACTUATOR WAS RETAINED BY FLETCHER CHRYSLER-DODGE DEALERSHIP IN ROGERS, AR.
- Electrical system
POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR MOTOR FAILURES - TRAPPING OCCUPANTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. OPERATING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS NO EFFECT, NOR CAN THE LOCKING ROD BE RAISED MANUALLY; DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE BY THE DOOR HANDLE OR TURNING THE KEY LOCKING/UNLOCKING MECHANISM. DEALER HAS TO REMOVE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL, DESTROY THE ACTUATOR MOTOR, AND INSTALL A NEW UNIT AT APPROXIMATELY $200.00 PARTS & LABOR. OLD ACTUATOR WAS RETAINED BY FLETCHER CHRYSLER-DODGE DEALERSHIP IN ROGERS, AR.
- Electrical system
POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR MOTOR FAILURES - TRAPPING OCCUPANTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. OPERATING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS NO EFFECT, NOR CAN THE LOCKING ROD BE RAISED MANUALLY; DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE BY THE DOOR HANDLE OR TURNING THE KEY LOCKING/UNLOCKING MECHANISM. DEALER HAS TO REMOVE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL, DESTROY THE ACTUATOR MOTOR, AND INSTALL A NEW UNIT AT APPROXIMATELY $200.00 PARTS & LABOR. OLD ACTUATOR WAS RETAINED BY FLETCHER CHRYSLER-DODGE DEALERSHIP IN ROGERS, AR.
- Air bags
I STARTED THE VAN THAT MORNING AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINED ON. I WAS NOT AWARE AT THAT TIME THAT MY HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE ALSO AFFECTED. I FOUND THAT THE HORN DIDN'T WORK WHEN A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I ALMOST HIT IT. AFTER THAT I CHECKED THE FUSES AND RELAYS BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I EVEN TOOK THE HORNS OFF THE VAN AND WIRED THEM UP DIRECTLY TO THE BATTERY. ALSO MY CRUISE CONTROL WORKED FINE UNTIL THE PRODUCT FAILED. NOW THAT DODGE FIXED THE CLOCKSPRING THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS OFF, I DON'T KNOW IF THE AIRBAG WILL WORK ? THE HORN WORKS BUT IT'S NOT AS LOUD AS IT USED TO BE, AND OF COURSE THE CRUISE CONTROL DON'T. THE CRUISE LIGHT FLASHES OR STAYS ON FOR A SHORT TIME AND…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.