MYRModel Year Report

1998 Dodge Caravan

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1998 Dodge Caravan
BUILT 2026-10-10

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
629
Recalls
14

Campaigns on file for 1998

Investigations
7

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Engine and engine cooling

22% of complaints

Complaints per year

1984: 18 complaints 1984 1985: 49 complaints 1986: 49 complaints 1987: 72 complaints 1988: 107 complaints 1989: 194 complaints 1989 1990: 283 complaints 1991: 623 complaints 1992: 923 complaints 1993: 955 complaints 1994: 661 complaints 1995: 489 complaints 1996: 1,403 complaints 1997: 714 complaints 1998: 629 complaints 1998 629 1999: 555 complaints 2000: 470 complaints 2001: 257 complaints 2002: 245 complaints 2003: 195 complaints 2004: 65 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
1984: 18 complaints 1984 1985: 49 complaints 1986: 49 complaints 1987: 72 complaints 1987 1988: 107 complaints 1989: 194 complaints 1990: 283 complaints 1990 1991: 623 complaints 1992: 923 complaints 1993: 955 complaints 1993 1994: 661 complaints 1995: 489 complaints 1996: 1,403 complaints 1997: 714 complaints 1998: 629 complaints 1998 629 1999: 555 complaints 2000: 470 complaints 2001: 257 complaints 2002: 245 complaints 2002 2003: 195 complaints 2004: 65 complaints 2005: 537 complaints 2005 2006: 173 complaints 2007: 81 complaints 2008: 302 complaints 2008 2009: 118 complaints 2010: 172 complaints 2011: 78 complaints 2011 2012: 87 complaints 2013: 30 complaints 2014: 20 complaints 2014 2015: 23 complaints 2016: 36 complaints 2017: 11 complaints 2017 2018: 5 complaints 2019: 3 complaints 2020: 3 complaints 2020
1984: 18 complaints 1984 1985: 49 complaints 1986: 49 complaints 1986 1987: 72 complaints 1988: 107 complaints 1988 1989: 194 complaints 1990: 283 complaints 1990 1991: 623 complaints 1992: 923 complaints 1992 1993: 955 complaints 1994: 661 complaints 1994 1995: 489 complaints 1996: 1,403 complaints 1996 1997: 714 complaints 1998: 629 complaints 1998 629 1999: 555 complaints 2000: 470 complaints 2000 2001: 257 complaints 2002: 245 complaints 2002 2003: 195 complaints 2004: 65 complaints 2004 2005: 537 complaints 2006: 173 complaints 2006 2007: 81 complaints 2008: 302 complaints 2008 2009: 118 complaints 2010: 172 complaints 2010 2011: 78 complaints 2012: 87 complaints 2012 2013: 30 complaints 2014: 20 complaints 2014 2015: 23 complaints 2016: 36 complaints 2016 2017: 11 complaints 2018: 5 complaints 2018 2019: 3 complaints 2020: 3 complaints 2020

1998: 629 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
198418
198549
198649
198772
1988107
1989194
1990283
1991623
1992923
1993955
1994661
1995489
19961,403
1997714
1998629
1999555
2000470
2001257
2002245
2003195
200465
2005537
2006173
200781
2008302
2009118
2010172
201178
201287
201330
201420
201523
201636
201711
20185
20193
20203

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Engine and engine cooling

22% · 137 reports

Most commonly citing belts and associated pulleys and engine.

CRASHFIRE
Show complaint excerpts

Vehicle was parked in the garage, there was fuel leaking from the top of the gas tank which caused a fire. Consumer doesn't want the vehicle back due to the fact that there was fuel coming from the radiator.

NHTSA ODI report, 1998-09-28

Power train

19% · 117 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and differential unit.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle lost power and became inoperable without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose a failure.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-09-17

Air bags

16% · 99 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASHINJURYDEATH
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owned a 1998 Dodge Caravan. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into a second vehicle. The front end was severely damaged. The driver's side air bag did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-12-10

While driving 45MPH another car hit consumer's vehicle from behind and air bags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-09-10

Violent deployment of air bag during collision, causing burns and injuries to face, neck and chest.

NHTSA ODI report, 1998-03-02

Also filed under Electrical system

Electrical system

11% · 70 reports

Most commonly citing horn and ignition.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Service brakes

8% · 50 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Safety timeline

14 recalls · 7 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    1998Complaint volume 629 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    1998-02-09Child seat97V231000 Vehicle description: passenger minivans equipped with integrated child seats. The shoulder harness restraint webbing was incorrectly routed around the metal reinforcement bar on these seats.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the routing of the shoulder belt webbing and any found incorrect will be properly routed.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. I
    1999-02-03Preliminary evaluationClosed 1999-06-11 Post-collision fuel system integrity
  4. I
    1999-06-11Engineering analysisClosed 2001-08-10 Post collision fuel system
  5. I
    2000-03-09Recall queryClosed 2002-03-18 Dc minivan fuel injector rail leak
  6. I
    2001-02-21Engineering analysisClosed 2002-11-22 Air bag clockspring
  7. I
    2002-01-16Preliminary evaluationClosed 2002-03-11 Rear seat belt malfunction
  8. R
    2002-01-25Fuel system, gasoline00V268000 Vehicle description: mini vans built with 3.3L and 3.8L engines have fuel rails with nitrole rubber o-ring seals that can degrade over time. Fuel leakage from the underhood fuel injection fuel…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a seal on the vehicle fuel rails to prevent external leakage of fuel from the fuel rail crossover tube, should the existing o-rings continue to degrade. Owner notification…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2002-06-03Seat belts02V076000 On certain minivans, some trim material can loosen and drop into the rear outboard seat belt assembly, causing the seat belt to become inoperative.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the trim with foam blockers and inspect and replace all 3RD row seat belt assemblies. Owner notification began June 3, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2002-11-18Air bags02V293000 On certain mini vans, the clockspring assembly may have been wound incorrectly during the vehicle assembly process.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly on all vehicles with 70,000 miles or less. An extended lifetime warranty will also be placed on this component for all affected vehicles, regardless of…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. I
    2004-01-28Recall queryClosed 2004-06-04 Driver air bag clockspring failure
  12. I
    2004-06-04Engineering analysisClosed 2005-05-25 Driver air bag clockspring failure
  13. R
    2004-10-12Air bags04V480000 On certain minivans, the driver's air bag may become disabled due to a failure of the clockspring, which is located in the hub of the steering wheel.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly on all covered vehicles with 70,000 miles or less. For those vehicles with more than 70,000 miles, daimlerchrysler will offer an extended lifetime…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. R
    2006-03-20Service brakes, hydraulic06E022000 Certain aftermarket brake hydraulic master cylinders sold as replacement brake cylinders for certain Ford, daimlerchrysler, and Jeep passenger vehicles. These brake cylinders were sold under the…

    Remedy: Affinia (Brake parts, inc.) will replace the subject brake hydraulic master cylinders free of charge. The recall began on March 20, 2006. Owners can contact affina group customer service at…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  15. R
    2006-05-09Exterior lighting06E023000 Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps are not equipped with amber side reflectors which fail to…

    Remedy: Anzo will notify owners and replace the headlamps free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2006. Owners may contact anzo USA at 909-468-3688.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  16. R
    2006-10-18Fuel system, gasoline06E091000 Certain airtex fuel pump modules, p/nos. E7089m, E7094M, E7113M, and E7129M, manufactured between June 1 and September 24, 2006. These fuel pump modules were sold as aftermarket for use in certain…

    Remedy: Airtex will notify owners and replace the defective fuel pump modules free of charge. The recall began on October 18, 2006. Owners may contact airtex toll-free at 1-866-867-3759.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  17. R
    2008-01-15Visibility07E104000 Certain curved tempered replacement glass manufactured by hangzhou safety glass ltd and supplied to safelite by auto temp inc., identified as DOT-430, and sold for use on certain domestic and…

    Remedy: Safelite will notify its retail customers and replace the glass free of charge. Retail customers can contact safelite toll free at 1-888-843-2906. Safelite will notify its wholesale customers and…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  18. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  19. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  20. R
    2010-08-13Equipment10E034000 Curt mfg is recalling certain class 3 receiver hitches, p/n 13347, sold as aftermarket equipment for use on 1997-2007 Chrysler town and country vans, 1996-2007 Dodge caravans, and 1996-2004 plymouth…

    Remedy: Curt mfg will notify owners of record and will replace the hitch free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during August 2010. Owners may contact curt mfg at 1-715-831-8713.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  21. R
    Date not on fileFuel system, gasoline03E053000 Certain aftermarket replacement fuel filters, models wix filter part numbers 33576, 33577, 33734; napa filter part numbers 3576, 3577, 3734; and carquest filter part numbers 86576, 86577, 86734 used on 1996-2000 daimlerchrysler town & country, Dodge...

    Remedy: Wix will notify its customers and replace the fuel filters free of charge. Note: this does not involve any products manufactured by the daimlerchrysler corp. Nor any dailmerchrysler dealers.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  22. R
    Date not on fileEquipment03E045000 Aftermarket replacement fuel filters manufactured between September 17, 2002, and January 20, 2003, sold under the brand names listed above.

    Remedy: Aftermarket replacement fuel filters for 1995-2000 short wheelbase Chrysler town & country, plymouth voyager and Dodge Caravan minivans part No. 18232 and date code 0237, 0249, or 0252.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1998 Dodge Caravan — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Engine and engine cooling: 137 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 117 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 99 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 03E053000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 03E045000 · Equipment
  • Recall 97V231000 · Child seat
  • Recall 00V268000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 02V076000 · Seat belts
  • Recall 02V293000 · Air bags
  • Recall 04V480000 · Air bags
  • Recall 06E022000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 06E023000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E091000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 07E104000 · Visibility
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 10E034000 · Equipment
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1998 Dodge Caravan reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1998 Dodge Caravan is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Dodge Caravan?
The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling, accounting for 22% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1998 Dodge Caravan have?
14 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.