Model year record
2002 Dodge Van recalls & problems
The 2002 Dodge Van has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 18 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is power train (3 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2002 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* |
|---|---|---|
| Power trainAutomatic transmission; Axle assembly | 3 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal › Sensor/control module; Frontal | 3 | — |
| VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer › Switch/wiring; Power window devices and controls | 2 | — |
| Equipment | 2 | — |
| SteeringHydraulic power assist › Power steering fluid | 2 | — |
| Tires | 1 | — |
| Electrical systemIgnition › Switch | 1 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | — |
| Suspension | 1 | — |
| SeatsFront assembly › Recliner | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 1 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Hoses/lines/piping/fittings
I OWN A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN,WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY OVERHEATED AND WOULDN'T START. RADIATOR FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. INSPECTION OF VEHICLE REVEALED A HOLE CAUSED BY A WEAKENED TUBING WALL AND MOUNT CLIP AT THE WELD POINT. MY VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 36,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. THIS INCIDENT WENT UNNOTICED BECAUSE OF LOCATION. DODGE REFUSES TO CORRECT PROBLEM COMPLAINT #16378324 ALSO A FRIEND OF MINE HAD SAME PROBLEM COMPLAINT#16376641. *TR
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Power steering fluid
POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING. DEALER DESCRIBES IT AS "MAJOR REPAIR". *TR
- Service brakes, hydraulicCrash
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES HAD CONSISTENT AND WORSENING PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS AND PARTS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED AFTER EVERY REPAIR. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINES BURSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE RESIDENCE WERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. UPON EXAMINATION THE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS FAULTY DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER DESIGN AND THE BRAKE LINE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS THAN TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE…
- Fuel system, gasolineCrashFire1 injury
WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT A 800 POUND HOG IN THE ROAD SENDING IT AIRBORN AND IT HIT OUR VAN BOUNCING OFF AND LANDING IN THE DITCH. OUR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE WINDSHIELD SMASHED INTO A BILLION PIECES , BUT THEN OUR VAN BURSTED INTO FLAMES TOTALLY GUTTING OUR VAN. HAD THE HOG ACTUALLY CAME IN ON US WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BURNED ALIVE AS THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY FOR US TO GET OUT. THE VAN WENT UP VERY FAST AND WE HAVE NO CLUE AS TO WHY OR WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *NM
- Seats › Front assembly › ReclinerCrash4 injuries
WE WERE REAR ENDED AT 40-45 MPH. THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS COLLAPSED ON TO THE PASSENGERS IN THE MIDDLE SEATS. BECAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND ALL THE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE WERE INJURED. THE PASSENGER IN THE MIDDLE SEAT WAS CRUSHED. WE ASKED A EMPLOYEE AT DODGE IF THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN AND HE SAID YES. HOW COULD THIS BE THE RIGHT WAY FOR THE SEATS TO REACT, SHOULDN'T THE SEAT STAY UP RIGHT SO THE AIR BAG IS BY YOUR HEAD. [I REALLY WISH SOMEONE WOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THERE ARE DEATHS. *NM
- Air bags
I PURCHASED MY CARAVAN IN NOVEMBER OF 2005. ONE MONTH AFTER BUYING IT THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY. NOW THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER WINDOWS SOMETIMES GO UP AND SOMETIMES DON'T. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING ON SUCH A NEWER VEHICLE? DO I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT WILL COST ME A FORTUNE? LG,MI. *NM
- Steering
I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING THAT HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY REPORTED, AND I HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. I AM EXPERIENCING A NOISE AND VIBRATION WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED US THERE IS A TSB FOR THE PROBLEM, AND THE REPAIR COST ARE ESTIMATED AT $275.00. THE SUSPENSION PROBLEM IS A KNOCKING AND RATTLING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. THE TECHNICIAN HAS SAID THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS, AND LINKS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THOSE REPAIRS IS AN ADDITIONAL $375.00. I HAVE NOT MADE THE REPAIRS AS THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. *NM
- Equipment
I HAVE REPEATLY (APPROX. 15-18) COMPLAINED TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER AND TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE MY VAN WAS BOUGHT, THAT MY AIR CONDITIONING DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT IS INTERMITTED. THERE HAVE BEEN VERY LOUD EXPLOSION-LIKE SOUNDS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ENGAGED. AFTER RUNNING THE VEHICAL AN 1/2 HOUR OR SO, THE INSIDE GRILL TEMP IS SOMETIMES 90. WE HAVE A VERY LARGE THERMOMETER THAT WE CAN PUT INTO THE AIR VENT TO GET AN ACCURATE TEMP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE COMPRESSOR 6 TIMES. THEY HAVE PULLED OUT THE GUTS. THEY REPLACED THE EVAPORATOR COILS,AND STILL THE AIR CONDITIONER IS INTERMITTED. DAIMLER EXTENTED THE WARRENTY ON THE COMPRESSOR ONLY, AND THE DEALERSHIP EXTENDED THE POWER…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.