10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
98,307 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Dodge Caravan engine problems

engine problem

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1998 Dodge Caravan Owner Comments

problem #15

Jan 142010

Caravan

  • 470,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Caravan. While driving 30 mph the serpentine belt broke. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and could have caused a crash to occur due to inclement weather after the failure occurred. The serpentine belt was replaced three times. The contact stated there were numerous complaints regarding the serpentine belt and the manufacturer should issue a recall. The failure mileage was 470,000.

- Pueblo, CO, USA

problem #14

Jan 242008

Caravan

  • miles
The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that while driving in wet conditions, the serpentine belt would detach itself from under the vehicle. Once the failure occurred, the power steering would fail and became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was inspected and repaired by the contact. The manufacturer was contacted and informed him of the remedy. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Leander, TX, USA

problem #13

Mar 132010

Caravan

  • 100,000 miles
The serpentine belt on my 98 Dodge Caravan keeps breaking. When it does, I lose control of the car. I bought the car December 17, 2009 and have had the belt break 4 times since then, causing me near miss accidents and has left me stranded along the highway with my young children.

- Lancaster , PA, USA

problem #12

Mar 132010

Caravan

  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The serpentine belt on my 98 Dodge Caravan keeps breaking. When it does, I lose control of the car. I bought the car December 17, 2009 and have had the belt break 4 times since then, causing me near miss accidents and has left me stranded along the highway with my young children.

- Lancaster , PA, USA

problem #11

Oct 112009

Caravan

  • 10,600 miles
I bought a 1998 Dodge Caravan from falls church motors falls church va after a couple of months of driving I started to notice and feel a wobble in the front left drivers front tire a few months later I had a flat while the van was parked it took me and two other men to loosen the lugs on the tire to get of the tire the jack while the van in the air bent and the van fell to the side I pulled one of the men away from the van as I saw it falling toward us we got another jack and got the van back up in the air and put the donut on I than a short time later got on the highway and the donut flew off the van if it were in traffic it could have killed me and other on the highway a couple of month later the timing belt broke and the water pump I thought the van was still under warrant of the extended warranty from falls church motors I later found out it was not they I thought fixed the timing belt it has been running rough ever since the van now while running the motor turns off while any sharp turn to the left or right they said to me in the recent past after I thought they fixed it. It's not going to run like new I feel this dealer ship did sell me a defective van and unsafe parts on the vehicles and some other vehicles they are selling maybe endangering other peoples life I met one man at a gas station he said he had a transmission problem right away and it slipping after he bought it.

- Burke, VA, USA

problem #10

Feb 102010

Caravan

  • 250,000 miles
The serpentine belt popped off my 1998 Dodge Caravan, it is 02/10/10 -- the day of the blizzard. This happened before on the day of the blizzard in December. This leads to an immediate loss of power steering during the worst possible driving conditions. When I tried to find out what had happened in December, two mechanics at the Dodge dealership both immediately knew what had happened. They said it happens all the time when ice or snow gets up under the car. I believe this is a very dangerous manufacturer's defect. Loss of critical steering capability during the worst possible driving conditions.

- Marshall, VA, USA

problem #9

Sep 292007

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 148,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Caravan. After parking and exiting the vehicle, the contact noticed flames rising from under the hood. While inside the passenger compartment, the driver felt heat underneath her feet. The vehicle was towed to a garage and labeled as destroyed. The fuel pump and radiator were previously replaced. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer. The purchase date was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 148,000.

- Brandon , FL, USA

problem #8

Apr 012007

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 151,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Caravan. While driving 25 mph in rainy conditions, the serpentine belt detached from the vehicle. This failure occurred more than 20 times. The mechanic has been unable to duplicate the failure. The VIN was unknown. The current mileage is 153,242 and failure mileage was 151,000.

- Carney, MO, USA

problem #7

Mar 062005

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 135,000 miles
Air conditioning light is blinking; engine check and air bag light is on, nothing on the dash (speedometer etc) does not work. Door locks do not work; it's like it all went out at once.

- Loris, SC, USA

problem #6

Sep 172004

Caravan 6-cyl

  • miles
Experience lost of engine power and steering. Bolts broken and replace gaskets. Lost steering while driving. The front end appeared to be much lower than usual and the belt was hanging below the chassis.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #5

Jun 212004

Caravan

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving, the thermostat light flashed on the dashboard and remained on. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the junction box needed to be replaced and rewired.

- Atlantic Beach, FL, USA

problem #4

Nov 152003

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles
My A/C stopped working right after my 3 year 36 mile warranty ran out. Dealer said it was the evaporator coil. Costs me $400. Right now my A/C just quit. My van has 58,000 miles on it. I go through belts like crazy. My mechanic can't figure it out. And other mechanics say it's an epidemic with Caravan. Please help.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #3

Jul 152003

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles
Transmission not properly shifting in 2 nd gears. Air conditioning stills blows semi-warm air. Sway bars replaced.

- New Baltimore, MI, USA

problem #2

Jan 192004

Caravan

  • miles
I have a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan with just under 71,000 miles on it. We first noticed some anti freeze on the ground and could see it leaking thinking it was a hose or something. I went under to take a look and it was leaking from the engine block. I brought it in to have it checked out and it turns out the headgasket sprung a leak. I gave them the go ahead to fix it. He took it apart and said their was a 2 inch piece missing from the gasket. I couldn't believe it. It cost me $1000+ to have it repaired.what a piece of crap.

- Cottage Grove, MN, USA

problem #1

Nov 282002

Caravan

  • miles
Consumer states that while driving and without warning the head gasket blew causing coolant fluid to leak. Dealer notified.

- Medina, OH, USA

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