MYRModel Year Report

2002 Dodge Caravan

● Typical for this model
2002 Dodge Caravan
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year's complaint volume is within 30% 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
245
Recalls
10

Campaigns on file for 2002

Investigations
5

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

25% 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 1994 1995: 489 complaints 1996: 1,403 complaints 1997: 714 complaints 1998: 629 complaints 1999: 555 complaints 2000: 470 complaints 2001: 257 complaints 2002: 245 complaints 2002 245 2003: 195 complaints 2004: 65 complaints 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 1996 1997: 714 complaints 1998: 629 complaints 1999: 555 complaints 1999 2000: 470 complaints 2001: 257 complaints 2002: 245 complaints 2002 245 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 1999: 555 complaints 2000: 470 complaints 2000 2001: 257 complaints 2002: 245 complaints 2002 245 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

2002: 245 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.

Air bags

25% · 61 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that while driving 2 MPH, burning fumes started to emit into the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-10-11

Steering

17% · 41 reports

Most commonly citing hose, piping, and connections and rack and pinion.

Show complaint excerpts

Something wrong with my gas tank, it always stops me even if it's halfway. The driver seat belt doesn't stay well. The holes where the engine always comes off and there's a lot of smoke coming out.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-04-28

Also filed under Fuel/propulsion system and seat belts

Electrical system

14% · 34 reports

Most commonly citing wiring and ignition.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Consumer states the vehicle was parked over night, when something ignited and caught fire. Consumer states it was the electrical wiring system in sliding door caught fire.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-10-23

Consumer states that while driving at 20 MPH and no warning the rear inside (Driver side rear speaker) of the vehicle caught on fire and the consumer was force to pull over. The vehicle was totaled. Sc.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-09-25

Power train

11% · 28 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and axle assembly.

CRASH

Engine and engine cooling

8% · 20 reports

Most commonly citing engine and catalytic convertor.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Driving vehicle .it flame from under. Belly of vehicle, . Totaled the vehicle nothing left of it. Lost my personals as well.thank god I did not have my kids in it when it happened been no time, to get them out.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-04-06

While driving there is a loud ticking noise coming from engine. Also, there is a strain in vehicle when changing gears. Dealer has seen vehicle and cant fixed it.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-03-13

Safety timeline

10 recalls · 5 investigations · oldest first

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

  1. R
    2001-10-08Child seat01V310000 Vehicle description: certain mini vans fail to comply with requirements of FMVSS No. 225, "Child restraint anchorage systems." The owner manuals supplied with these vehicles do not indicate…

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with the necessary child restraint system information. Owner notification is expected to begin October 8, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free information within a…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. I
    2002-09-24Preliminary evaluationClosed 2002-10-09 Fuel tank leak
  3. R
    2003-03-07Structure03V094000 Certain pickup truck, van, and mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components, inc.…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. Owner notification began March 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. I
    2003-04-09Preliminary evaluationClosed 2003-05-29 Power steering hose failure
  5. I
    2004-07-07Preliminary evaluationClosed 2004-11-05 Speaker fire in the rear of the vehicle
  6. R
    2004-09-27Steering04V386000 On certain minivans equipped with 3.3 or 3.8L v-6 engine, the upper power steering cooler hose may split and cause a fluid leak.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the upper power steering cooler hose. This recall began on September 27, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2005-01-31Equipment04V531000 On certain mini vans, condensation from the instrument panel air conditioning ducts may drop through vent holes in the top of the radio and result in a short circuit that subsequently sends direct…

    Remedy: Dealers will add a special tape to the top of the radio to prevent the potential of water intrusion. The recall began on January 31, 2005. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. I
    2005-02-02Preliminary evaluationClosed 2005-06-01 Headlight malfunction
  9. I
    2005-06-01Engineering analysisClosed 2006-05-02 Headlight malfunction
  10. 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 →

  11. R
    2008-06-16Exterior lighting08E039000 Maxzone is recalling 2,520 headlight assemblies, depo brand, p/nos. 3341103L-as and 334-1103R-as sold for use as aftermarket equipment for 2001-2007 Dodge Caravan passenger vehicles. These…

    Remedy: Maxzone will notify owners and offer reimbursement for any noncompliant headlights. The recall began on June 16, 2008. Owners may contact maxzone at the following locations: 1-888-286-1188 (Wa…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2008-09-30Exterior lighting08E048000 Eagle eyes is recalling 11,534 headlamp assemblies, p/nos. Cs090-B001L and CS090-B001R, sold for use as replacement equipment for the above listed passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Eagle eyes will notify owners and offer replacement headlamps free of charge. The recall began on September 30, 2008. Owners may contact eagle eyes at 1-800-568-1098.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. 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 →

  14. 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 →

  15. 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

2002 Dodge Caravan — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 61 reports on file for this year.
  • Steering: 41 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 34 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 03E053000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 03E045000 · Equipment
  • Recall 01V310000 · Child seat
  • Recall 03V094000 · Structure
  • Recall 04V386000 · Steering
  • Recall 04V531000 · Equipment
  • Recall 06E022000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 08E039000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 08E048000 · 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 2002 Dodge Caravan reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Dodge Caravan is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Dodge Caravan?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 25% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2002 Dodge Caravan have?
10 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.