1998 Dodge Caravan

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1998 Dodge Caravan
BUILT 2026-09-02

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, 1998 highlighted. 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 1994 1995: 489 complaints 1996: 1403 complaints 1997: 714 complaints 1998: 629 complaints 1998 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
1998: 629 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
198418
198549
198649
198772
1988107
1989194
1990283
1991623
1992923
1993955
1994661
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

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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 22%

22% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 137 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing belts and associated pulleys and engine.

CRASH FIRE
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, 19980928

POWER TRAIN 19%

19% of complaints: power train — 117 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing automatic transmission and differential unit.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
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, 20120917

AIR BAGS 16%

16% of complaints: air bags — 99 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASH INJURY DEATH
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, 20181210

WHILE DRIVING 45MPH ANOTHER CAR HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM BEHIND AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20020910

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION, CAUSING BURNS AND INJURIES TO FACE, NECK AND CHEST.

NHTSA ODI report, 19980302

Also filed under ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%

11% of complaints: electrical system — 70 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing horn and ignition.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
SERVICE BRAKES 8%

8% of complaints: service brakes — 50 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH

SAFETY TIMELINE

1998 — complaint volume: 629
R 19980209 — child seat

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

I 19990203 — PE (closed 19990611)

POST-COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY

I 19990611 — EA (closed 20010810)

POST COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM

I 20000309 — RQ (closed 20020318)

DC MINIVAN FUEL INJECTOR RAIL LEAK

I 20010221 — EA (closed 20021122)

AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING

I 20020116 — PE (closed 20020311)

REAR SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION

R 20020125 — fuel system, gasoline

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

R 20020603 — seat belts

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

R 20021118 — air bags

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

I 20040128 — RQ (closed 20040604)

DRIVER AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING FAILURE

I 20040604 — EA (closed 20050525)

DRIVER AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING FAILURE

R 20041012 — air bags

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

R 20060320 — service brakes, hydraulic

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

R 20060509 — exterior lighting

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

R 20061018 — fuel system, gasoline

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

R 20080115 — visibility

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

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

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

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

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

R 20100813 — equipment

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

R Date not on file — fuel system, gasoline

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

R Date not on file — equipment

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 engine and engine cooling issues (137 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for power train issues (117 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (99 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

▲ 2013 ▲ 2016 ▲ 1985

WORST YEARS

■ 1996 ■ 1993 ■ 1992

See all years ranked →

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 2026-09-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.