MYRModel Year Report

2005 Dodge Caravan

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2005 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
537
Recalls
9

Campaigns on file for 2005

Investigations
7

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Latches/locks/linkages

38% 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 1999 2000: 470 complaints 2001: 257 complaints 2002: 245 complaints 2003: 195 complaints 2004: 65 complaints 2005: 537 complaints 2005 537 2006: 173 complaints 2007: 81 complaints 2008: 302 complaints 2009: 118 complaints 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 2003: 195 complaints 2004: 65 complaints 2005: 537 complaints 2005 537 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 2003: 195 complaints 2004: 65 complaints 2005: 537 complaints 2005 537 2006: 173 complaints 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

2005: 537 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.

Latches/locks/linkages

38% · 203 reports

Most commonly citing latch.

Electrical system

23% · 125 reports

Most commonly citing instrument cluster/panel and software.

Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that the key failed to turn over in the ignition and the vehicle was unable to start. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer or independent mechanic.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-01-31

Exterior lighting

17% · 91 reports

Most commonly citing headlights and switch.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Dodge Caravan. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the low beam headlights failed. The contact veered off the road and crashed in a field. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2015-11-16

Air bags

9% · 49 reports

Most commonly citing sensor/control module and frontal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

My mother was involved in an accident, driving at 23 MPH in a Chrysler minivan. She hit a telephone pole head on. The air bags deployed, although they did not touch my mother, she was wearing her seatbelt.

NHTSA ODI report, 2004-10-09

Steering

5% · 29 reports

Most commonly citing rack and pinion and rack.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Dodge Caravan. While driving 40 MPH, the steering wheel seized and caused the contact to crash into a guardrail. There were no injuries. The airs bags did not deploy. A police report was filed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2019-02-28

Safety timeline

9 recalls · 7 investigations · oldest first

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

  1. R
    2004-02-23Seat belts04V047000 After performing the ncap test, it was discovered that on certain minivans equipped without the available "Stow 'n go" Seating option, the right front seat belt retractor assembly may have been…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the retractor assemblies and any seat belt assembly that does not have the stake will be replaced. Owner notification began on February 23, 2004. Owners should contact…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. ▮
    2005Complaint volume 537 complaints filed for this model year.
  3. I
    2005-11-10Preliminary evaluationClosed 2006-03-08 Front air bag crash sensor failure
  4. I
    2006-03-08Engineering analysisClosed 2007-05-22 Front air bag crash sensor failure
  5. 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 →

  6. R
    2006-06-19Visibility06V067000 On certain vans and sport utility vehicles, the front windshield wiper motor armature shaft may break.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield wiper motor free of charge. The recall began on June 19, 2006, to Dodge Durango owners. Minivan owners will be notified during July 2006. Owners…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2007-07-02Air bags07V192000 Certain minivans are being recalled that were originally sold in or currently registered in the 27 states plus the district of columbia that use greater amounts of salt for winter road deicing. The…

    Remedy: For vehicles registered in the recall states, dealers will replace the original uf air bag sensors with ones with greater corrosion resistance. Vehicles registered in other states will obtain a…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. 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 →

  9. 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 →

  10. 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 →

  11. I
    2009-07-01Recall queryClosed 2010-02-18 Front air bag crash sensor failure
  12. R
    2010-04-19Air bags10V008000 Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 Dodge Caravan, grand Caravan and Chrysler town & country vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Connecticut…

    Remedy: Chrysler will replace the front airbag sensors with a new design. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety improvement campaign will begin during June 2010. Owners may contact…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. I
    2010-07-12Preliminary evaluationClosed 2011-09-13 Loss of Headlight Illumination
  14. 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 →

  15. I
    2010-11-18Audit queryClosed 2015-12-28 Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
  16. I
    2011-09-06Engineering analysisClosed 2012-11-29 Loss of headlight illumination
  17. I
    2014-09-05Defect petitionClosed 2015-04-06 Engine Stall After Refueling

Buy-smart checklist

2005 Dodge Caravan — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Latches/locks/linkages: 203 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 125 reports on file for this year.
  • Exterior lighting: 91 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 04V047000 · Seat belts
  • Recall 06E022000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 06V067000 · Visibility
  • Recall 07V192000 · Air bags
  • Recall 07E104000 · Visibility
  • Recall 08E039000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 08E048000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 10V008000 · Air bags
  • Recall 10E034000 · Equipment
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2005 Dodge Caravan reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2005 Dodge Caravan is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Dodge Caravan?
The most-reported component is latches/locks/linkages, accounting for 38% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2005 Dodge Caravan have?
9 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.