1998 Dodge Grand Caravan

◆ Worse than typical
1998 Dodge Grand Caravan
BUILT 2026-09-02

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than 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 Grand Caravan Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1998 highlighted. 1985: 1 complaints 1985 1986: 0 complaints 1987: 2 complaints 1988: 10 complaints 1989: 24 complaints 1990: 55 complaints 1990 1991: 129 complaints 1992: 256 complaints 1993: 289 complaints 1994: 199 complaints 1995: 108 complaints 1995 1996: 1157 complaints 1997: 583 complaints 1998: 559 complaints 1998 1999: 432 complaints 2000: 442 complaints 2000 2001: 298 complaints 2002: 290 complaints 2003: 219 complaints 2004: 116 complaints 2005: 995 complaints 2005 2006: 284 complaints 2007: 182 complaints 2008: 1291 complaints 2009: 543 complaints 2010: 868 complaints 2010 2011: 530 complaints 2012: 583 complaints 2013: 470 complaints 2014: 357 complaints 2015: 279 complaints 2015 2016: 964 complaints 2017: 402 complaints 2018: 265 complaints 2019: 235 complaints 2020: 16 complaints 2020
1998: 559 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19840
19851
19860
19872
198810
198924
199055
1991129
1992256
1993289
1994199
1995108
19961157
1997583
1998559
1999432
2000442
2001298
2002290
2003219
2004116
2005995
2006284
2007182
20081291
2009543
2010868
2011530
2012583
2013470
2014357
2015279
2016964
2017402
2018265
2019235
202016

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 23%

23% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 131 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing belts and associated pulleys and engine.

FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE ENGINE WAS OFF. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. TS

NHTSA ODI report, 20021226

AIR BAGS 19%

19% of complaints: air bags — 105 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing frontal and side/window.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT HIT THE BRAKES. THE CAR DID NOT STOP. I HIT TWO CARS AND THE MEDIAN. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED NUT NOT THE DRIVER SIDE. I HAD MAJOR INJURIES INCLUDING BROKEN ANKLE, HAND, RIBS AND BREATHING.

NHTSA ODI report, 20150422

Also filed under SERVICE BRAKES

CONSUMER STATES WAS HIT HEAD-ON WHILE TRAVELLING 30 MPH. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER STATES THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG CAUSED EXTENSIVE INJURIES TO CONSUMER'S EYE SOCKET, CHEST PALET AND TEETH.

NHTSA ODI report, 20021008

WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20020912

POWER TRAIN 15%

15% of complaints: power train — 85 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing automatic transmission and park/neutral start interlock switch.

CRASH FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

GEAR SHIFT WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED BY TWO YEAR OLD CHILD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A TREE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19981103

VEHICLE WA SPARKED USING THE GEAR SHIFT. KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER SEVERAL MOMENTS, VEHICLE ROLED SLIGHTLY FORWARD, PICKE DUP SPEED AND CRASHE DINTO A TREE, STOPPING IT. GEA RSHIFT WAS NOT IN PARK AFTER THE COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19980130

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%

14% of complaints: electrical system — 81 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing horn and ignition.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN, SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO FUNCTION.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180817

SUSPENSION 9%

9% of complaints: suspension — 53 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing front and macpherson strut.

SAFETY TIMELINE

1998 — complaint volume: 559
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

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 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 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

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1998 Dodge Grand Caravan — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (131 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (105 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for power train issues (85 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 97V231000 (child seat) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 00V268000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 02V293000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04V480000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E091000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E104000 (visibility) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1990 ▲ 1995 ▲ 2004

WORST YEARS

■ 2008 ■ 1996 ■ 2005

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan?

The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling, accounting for 23% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan have?

6 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.