1991 Dodge Caravan

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1991 Dodge Caravan
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Dodge Caravan Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1991 highlighted. 1984: 18 complaints 1984 1985: 49 complaints 1986: 49 complaints 1987: 69 complaints 1988: 103 complaints 1989: 191 complaints 1989 1990: 278 complaints 1991: 617 complaints 1991 1992: 913 complaints 1993: 949 complaints 1994: 644 complaints 1994 1995: 489 complaints 1996: 1403 complaints 1997: 714 complaints 1998: 629 complaints 1999: 555 complaints 1999 2000: 470 complaints 2001: 257 complaints 2002: 245 complaints 2003: 195 complaints 2004: 64 complaints 2004 2005: 537 complaints 2006: 173 complaints 2007: 81 complaints 2008: 302 complaints 2009: 118 complaints 2009 2010: 172 complaints 2011: 78 complaints 2012: 87 complaints 2013: 30 complaints 2014: 20 complaints 2014 2015: 23 complaints 2016: 36 complaints 2017: 11 complaints 2018: 5 complaints 2019: 3 complaints 2019 2020: 3 complaints 2020
1991: 617 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
198418
198549
198649
198769
1988103
1989191
1990278
1991617
1992913
1993949
1994644
1995489
19961403
1997714
1998629
1999555
2000470
2001257
2002245
2003195
200464
2005537
2006173
200781
2008302
2009118
2010172
201178
201287
201330
201420
201523
201636
201711
20185
20193
20203

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 26%

26% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 163 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

LOST MY BRAKES FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THREE YEARS, DUE TO EVASIVE ACTION I MISSED HITTING A CAR BUT COULD NOT STOP FROM HITTING THE CURB AND SCRAPE A STREET POLE, BROKE AN AXLE AND SUSPENSION PARTS ALL ON THANKSGIVING. *NLM

NHTSA ODI report, 20030502

SEAT BELTS 7%

7% of complaints: seat belts — 46 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
POWER TRAIN 7%

7% of complaints: power train — 43 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND TRANSMISSION LOCKED INTO LOW, CAUSING DRIVER TO INJURE HIS BACK. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. CONSUMER WAS VERY UPSET. *AK *TC

NHTSA ODI report, 20041130

STRUCTURE 6%

6% of complaints: structure — 34 distinct reports on file.

INJURY
SEAT BELTS 5%

5% of complaints: seat belts — 28 distinct reports on file.

CRASH

SAFETY TIMELINE

1991 — complaint volume: 617
R 19910522 — exterior lighting

INCORRECT TURN SIGNAL FLASHER INHIBITS INDICATION OF SIGNAL LAMP OUTAGE.

Remedy: REPLACE TURN SIGNAL FLASHER WITH PROPER FLASHER.

Campaign 91V041000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19910628 — PE (closed 19911023)

ABS CONTROL FAILURE

I 19910705 — PE (closed 19911126)

BRAKING PERFORMANCE LOSS

R 19920110 — service brakes, hydraulic

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM HIGH PRESSURE HOSE MAY LEAK OR DETACH AT ITS CRIMPED END FITTING RESULTING IN THE DISCHARGE OF HYDRAULIC FLUID.

Remedy: REPLACE THE ABS HIGH PRESSURE HOSE WITH A HOSE OF DIFFERENT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.

Campaign 91V191000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19920228 — service brakes, hydraulic

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM HIGH PRESSURE PUMP MAY BE POROUS WHICH WILL RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.

Remedy: REPLACE THE ABS HIGH PRESSURE PUMP AND HIGH PRESSURE HOSE IF THE LAST SIX DIGITS OF THE BAR CODE LABEL ON THE PUMP ARE BETWEEN 052300 AND 059262.

Campaign 92V030000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19920311 — PE (closed 19920720)

SAFETY BLT ANCHORAGE BRKS

I 19920608 — PE (closed 19921009)

WINDOW SHATTERING

I 19930609 — PE (closed 19930914)

MELTED THROTTLE CABLES

I 19940131 — EA (closed 19951025)

LIFTGATE LATCHES

I 19940307 — PE (closed 19940729)

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILS

I 19940729 — EA (closed 19960624)

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILS

I 19950926 — EA (closed 19961113)

STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION

R 19951006 — latches/locks/linkages

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER MINIVANS WITHOUT REMOTE RELEASE. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL. THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERMINATION THAT A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS WITH THE MINIVAN LATCHES. CHRYS

Remedy: CHRYSLER DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LIFTGATE LATCH WITH A NEW STRONGER LATCH ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE. CHRYSLER BEGAN NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES IN OCTOBER 1995.

Campaign 95I001002 — check if this car was fixed

I 19960125 — PE (closed 19960628)

SAFETY BLT LATCH OPERATION

R 19960329 — latches/locks/linkages

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER MINIVANS WITH REMOTE RELEASE. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL. THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERMINATION THAT A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS WITH THE MINIVAN LATCHES. CHRYSLER

Remedy: CHRYSLER DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LIFTGATE LATCH WITH A NEW STRONGER LATCH ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE. CHRYSLER BEGAN NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES IN MARCH 1996.

Campaign 95I001006 — check if this car was fixed

I 19960506 — PE (closed 19961031)

ALLEGED REAR LIFTGATE SUPPORT FAILURE

I 19960514 — PE (closed 19961031)

THROTTLE WILL NOT RETURN TO THE POSITION

I 19960628 — EA (closed 19971217)

INCONSISTENT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE

R 19960903 — service brakes, hydraulic

THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON SEAL WEAR CAUSING PUMP-MOTOR DETERIORATION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE VEHICLE'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES IF NECESSARY. ALSO THE WARRANTY ON ALL ABS COMPONENTS WILL BE EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES (EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE

Campaign 96V099000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19961031 — EA (closed 19970516)

ALLEGED REAR LIFTGATE SUPPORT FAILURE

R 19961227 — steering

THE STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE STAMPING CAN CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ARMATURE CRACKS IN THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT AREA. ANY STEERING WHEELS SHOWING CRACKS WILL BE REPLACED. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL HAVE A REINFORCEMENT PLATE

Campaign 96V229000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19970410 — EA (closed 19971223)

SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE FAILURES

R 19971208 — seat belts

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI-VANS. COVERS ON THE SOLID STALK MOUNTED SEAT BELT BUCKLES CAN BECOME DISLODGED CAUSING THE RELEASE BUTTON TO STICK INSIDE THE COVER. THE BUCKLE WOULD THEN BE ONL

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A COVER RETAINING CLIP TO THE STALK MOUNTED BUCKLE COVER TO PREVENT DISLOCATION OF THE BUCKLE COVER.

Campaign 97V148000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19971208 — seat belts

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI-VANS. THE CENTER REAR SEAT, RIGHT OUTBOARD SIDE, SAFETY BELT ANCHOR HOOK CAN BECOME UNATTACHED FROM THE BODY ANCHOR POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ANCHOR HOOK RETAINING CLIP WITH A REVISED PROFILE CLIP AND A COVER PLATE.

Campaign 97V149000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19990419 — RQ (open)

REAR LIFTGATE SUPPORT

R 19990830 — structure

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THE BOLTS USED TO ATTACH THE STRUT TO THE BODY AND THE REAR LIFTGATE CAN ACCUMULATE FATIGUE DAMAGE IF THREE FACTORS COMBINE. IF THE BOLT IS LOOSE, THE GAS STRUT IS O

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR LOOSE FASTENERS, IF THE FASTENERS ARE LOOSE, THE STRUT (AND INTEGRAL BOLTS) WILL BE REPLACED. IF THE BOLT SHOWS EVIDENCE OF TORQUE, THE BOLT WILL BE REMOVED, LARGER WASHERS W

Campaign 99V213000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20000327 — visibility

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS. THE LEFT HAND WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT DRIVE ARM WAS NOT MECHANICALLY STAKED TO THE PIVOT SHAFT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT HAND SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT ASSEMBLY.

Campaign 99V189000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1991 Dodge Caravan — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (163 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for seat belts issues (46 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for power train issues (43 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 91V041000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 91V191000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 92V030000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 95I001002 (latches/locks/linkages) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 95I001006 (latches/locks/linkages) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 96V099000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 96V229000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 97V148000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 97V149000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 99V213000 (structure) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 99V189000 (visibility) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2013 ▲ 2016 ▲ 1985

WORST YEARS

■ 1996 ■ 1993 ■ 1992

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1991 Dodge Caravan reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1991 Dodge Caravan is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 1991 Dodge Caravan?

The most-reported component is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, accounting for 26% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1991 Dodge Caravan have?

11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.