MYRModel Year Report

1998 Dodge Grand Caravan

◆ Worse than typical
1998 Dodge Grand Caravan
BUILT 2026-10-10

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
559
Recalls
6

Campaigns on file for 1998

Investigations
6

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Engine and engine cooling

23% of complaints

Complaints per year

1985: 1 complaint 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 1996: 1,157 complaints 1997: 583 complaints 1998: 559 complaints 1998 559 1999: 432 complaints 2000: 442 complaints 2001: 298 complaints 2002: 290 complaints 2003: 219 complaints 2004: 116 complaints 2005: 995 complaints 2005 2006: 284 complaints 2007: 182 complaints 2008: 1,292 complaints 2009: 544 complaints 2010: 869 complaints 2010 2011: 530 complaints 2012: 584 complaints 2013: 471 complaints 2014: 358 complaints 2015: 281 complaints 2015 2016: 966 complaints 2017: 404 complaints 2018: 265 complaints 2019: 238 complaints 2020: 17 complaints 2020
1985: 1 complaint 1985 1986: 0 complaints 1987: 2 complaints 1988: 10 complaints 1988 1989: 24 complaints 1990: 55 complaints 1991: 129 complaints 1991 1992: 256 complaints 1993: 289 complaints 1994: 199 complaints 1994 1995: 108 complaints 1996: 1,157 complaints 1997: 583 complaints 1998: 559 complaints 1998 559 1999: 432 complaints 2000: 442 complaints 2001: 298 complaints 2002: 290 complaints 2003: 219 complaints 2003 2004: 116 complaints 2005: 995 complaints 2006: 284 complaints 2006 2007: 182 complaints 2008: 1,292 complaints 2009: 544 complaints 2009 2010: 869 complaints 2011: 530 complaints 2012: 584 complaints 2012 2013: 471 complaints 2014: 358 complaints 2015: 281 complaints 2015 2016: 966 complaints 2017: 404 complaints 2018: 265 complaints 2018 2019: 238 complaints 2020: 17 complaints
1985: 1 complaint 1985 1986: 0 complaints 1987: 2 complaints 1987 1988: 10 complaints 1989: 24 complaints 1989 1990: 55 complaints 1991: 129 complaints 1991 1992: 256 complaints 1993: 289 complaints 1993 1994: 199 complaints 1995: 108 complaints 1995 1996: 1,157 complaints 1997: 583 complaints 1998: 559 complaints 1998 559 1999: 432 complaints 2000: 442 complaints 2001: 298 complaints 2001 2002: 290 complaints 2003: 219 complaints 2003 2004: 116 complaints 2005: 995 complaints 2005 2006: 284 complaints 2007: 182 complaints 2007 2008: 1,292 complaints 2009: 544 complaints 2009 2010: 869 complaints 2011: 530 complaints 2011 2012: 584 complaints 2013: 471 complaints 2013 2014: 358 complaints 2015: 281 complaints 2015 2016: 966 complaints 2017: 404 complaints 2017 2018: 265 complaints 2019: 238 complaints 2019 2020: 17 complaints

1998: 559 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19840
19851
19860
19872
198810
198924
199055
1991129
1992256
1993289
1994199
1995108
19961,157
1997583
1998559
1999432
2000442
2001298
2002290
2003219
2004116
2005995
2006284
2007182
20081,292
2009544
2010869
2011530
2012584
2013471
2014358
2015281
2016966
2017404
2018265
2019238
202017

Known problem areas

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

Engine and engine cooling

23% · 131 reports

Most commonly citing belts and associated pulleys and engine.

FIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Vehicle caught on fire while engine was off. Dealer was not contacted has gone out of business. Ts

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-12-26

Air bags

19% · 105 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and side/window.

CRASHINJURY
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, 2015-04-22

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, 2002-10-08

While driving at 25MPH and when the vehicle was hit on front driver's side air bag did not deploy. Dealer notified.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-09-12

Power train

15% · 85 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and park/neutral start interlock switch.

CRASHFIRE
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.

NHTSA ODI report, 1998-11-03

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 1998-01-30

Electrical system

14% · 81 reports

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, 2018-08-17

Suspension

9% · 53 reports

Most commonly citing front and macpherson strut.

Safety timeline

6 recalls · 6 investigations · oldest first

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

  1. ▮
    1998Complaint volume 559 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    1998-02-09Child seat97V231000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. I
    1999-02-03Preliminary evaluationClosed 1999-06-11 Post-collision fuel system integrity
  4. I
    1999-06-11Engineering analysisClosed 2001-08-10 Post collision fuel system
  5. I
    2000-03-09Recall queryClosed 2002-03-18 Dc minivan fuel injector rail leak
  6. I
    2001-02-21Engineering analysisClosed 2002-11-22 Air bag clockspring
  7. R
    2002-01-25Fuel system, gasoline00V268000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2002-11-18Air bags02V293000 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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. I
    2004-01-28Recall queryClosed 2004-06-04 Driver air bag clockspring failure
  10. I
    2004-06-04Engineering analysisClosed 2005-05-25 Driver air bag clockspring failure
  11. R
    2004-10-12Air bags04V480000 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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2006-10-18Fuel system, gasoline06E091000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. 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 →

Buy-smart checklist

1998 Dodge Grand Caravan — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Engine and engine cooling: 131 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 105 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 85 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 97V231000 · Child seat
  • Recall 00V268000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 02V293000 · Air bags
  • Recall 04V480000 · Air bags
  • Recall 06E091000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 07E104000 · Visibility
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

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 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.