1998 Dodge Caravan
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.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1984 | 18 |
| 1985 | 49 |
| 1986 | 49 |
| 1987 | 69 |
| 1988 | 103 |
| 1989 | 191 |
| 1990 | 278 |
| 1991 | 617 |
| 1992 | 913 |
| 1993 | 949 |
| 1994 | 644 |
| 1995 | 489 |
| 1996 | 1403 |
| 1997 | 714 |
| 1998 | 629 |
| 1999 | 555 |
| 2000 | 470 |
| 2001 | 257 |
| 2002 | 245 |
| 2003 | 195 |
| 2004 | 64 |
| 2005 | 537 |
| 2006 | 173 |
| 2007 | 81 |
| 2008 | 302 |
| 2009 | 118 |
| 2010 | 172 |
| 2011 | 78 |
| 2012 | 87 |
| 2013 | 30 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 36 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 3 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
13% of complaints: power train — 82 distinct reports on file.
CRASH FIRE9% of complaints: air bags — 58 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURY DEATHShow 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, 20181210
VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION, CAUSING BURNS AND INJURIES TO FACE, NECK AND CHEST.
NHTSA ODI report, 19980302
AIRBAG LIGHT ON NO TURN SIGNALS AND NO REVERSE LIGHTS DUE TO FAILED AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING
NHTSA ODI report, 20190413
7% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 45 distinct reports on file.
CRASH7% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 42 distinct reports on file.
FIRE5% of complaints: air bags — 32 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURYShow complaint excerpts
WHILE DRIVING 45MPH ANOTHER CAR HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM BEHIND AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
NHTSA ODI report, 20020910
SAFETY TIMELINE
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.
Campaign 97V231000 — check if this car was fixed
POST-COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY
POST COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM
DC MINIVAN FUEL INJECTOR RAIL LEAK
AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING
REAR SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION
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 RAIL
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 BEGAN
Campaign 00V268000 — check if this car was fixed
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 DEA
Campaign 02V076000 — check if this car was fixed
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 M
Campaign 02V293000 — check if this car was fixed
DRIVER AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING FAILURE
DRIVER AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING FAILURE
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 WARRAN
Campaign 04V480000 — check if this car was fixed
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 BRAN
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 1-800-32
Campaign 06E022000 — check if this car was fixed
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 CONFORM
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.
Campaign 06E023000 — check if this car was fixed
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 DA
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.
Campaign 06E091000 — check if this car was fixed
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 FOREIGN
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 REIM
Campaign 07E104000 — check if this car was fixed
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 CONF
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.
Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed
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 CONF
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.
Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed
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 V
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.
Campaign 10E034000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
Campaign 03E053000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
Campaign 03E045000 — check if this car was fixed
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
1998 Dodge Caravan — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for power train issues (82 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for air bags issues (58 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (45 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 03E053000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
- Verify recall 03E045000 (equipment) has been completed.
- Verify recall 97V231000 (child seat) has been completed.
- Verify recall 00V268000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
- Verify recall 02V076000 (seat belts) has been completed.
- Verify recall 02V293000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 04V480000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E022000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E023000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E091000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
- Verify recall 07E104000 (visibility) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 10E034000 (equipment) has been completed.
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
BEST YEARS
WORST 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 power train:automatic transmission, accounting for 13% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1998 Dodge Caravan have?
14 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.