1998 Dodge Caravan Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Caravan years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 23 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 629 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Dodge Caravan. That ranks 3rd out of 23 Caravan model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (135 complaints, 21%), typically at around 72,000 miles. Complaints mention 45 crashes, 23 fires, 37 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 7 defect investigations involving it.
- 629owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 7NHTSA investigations
- 45complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Dodge Caravan problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 135 | 21% | 72,000 | “serpentine belt” (33%) | — |
| Power Train problems | 103 | 16% | 71,000 | “transmission failed” (14%) | $3,950 |
| Air Bags problems | 99 | 16% | 85,450 | “air bag” (54%) | — |
| Electrical System problems | 68 | 11% | 91,929 | “air bag” (29%) | — |
| Steering | 42 | 7% | 100,301 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 41 | 7% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 39 | 6% | 59,423 | — | — |
| Suspension | 37 | 6% | 97,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 | 5% | 94,469 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 31 | 5% | 89,634 | — | — |
| Structure | 26 | 4% | 131,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 25 | 4% | 54,223 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 23 | 4% | 73,088 | — | — |
| Visibility | 18 | 3% | 83,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 17 | 3% | 52,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 15 | 2% | 53,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 13 | 2% | 90,500 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 1% | 61,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 4 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 4 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 0% | 119,000 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 3 | 0% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 0% | 141,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Dodge Caravan recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags
Problem: 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.
Risk: This condition will manifest itself through illumination of the air bag warning lamp, and could eventually result in a driver's air bag open circuit, if the part is not replaced in a reasonable amount of time.
Fix: 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 warranty under which it will replace the clockspring at no charge if it fails. Daimlerchrysler will also reimburse owners who have paid to have the clockspring replaced on their vehicles. The recall began on october 12, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Air bags:frontal
Problem: On certain mini vans, the clockspring assembly may have been wound incorrectly during the vehicle assembly process.
Risk: This condition will manifest itself through illumination of the air bag warning lamp, and could eventually result in a driver's air bag open circuit, if the part is not replaced in a reasonable amount of time.
Fix: 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 mileage. Daimlerchrysler will also reimburse owners who have paid to have the clockspring replaced on their vehicles. Owner notification began november 18, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Seat belts:rear/other
Problem: On certain minivans, some trim material can loosen and drop into the rear outboard seat belt assembly, causing the seat belt to become inoperative.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the trim with foam blockers and inspect and replace all 3rd row seat belt assemblies. Owner notification began june 3, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system
Problem: 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 could result, increasing the likelihood of a vehicle fire.
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.
Fix: 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 on january 25, 2002. Due to the large quantity of vehicles involved in this campaign, the owner notification will be phased over the next several months. However, if a vehicle is leaking fuel from the o-rings, the vehicle should be taken into a dealer to have this repaired as soon as possible. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Child seat
Problem: 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.
Risk: The child seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a collision.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the routing of the shoulder belt webbing and any found incorrect will be properly routed.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Driver air bag clockspring failure (EA04013) — opened Jun 4, 2004, closed May 25, 2005, led to recall 04V480000.
- Driver air bag clockspring failure (RQ04001) — opened Jan 28, 2004, closed Jun 4, 2004.
- Rear seat belt malfunction (PE02004) — opened Jan 16, 2002, closed Mar 11, 2002, led to recall 02V076000.
- Air bag clockspring (EA01007) — opened Feb 21, 2001, closed Nov 22, 2002, led to recall 02V293000.
- Dc minivan fuel injector rail leak (RQ00008) — opened Mar 9, 2000, closed Mar 18, 2002, led to recall 00V268000.
- Post collision fuel system (EA99013) — opened Jun 11, 1999, closed Aug 10, 2001.
- Post-collision fuel system integrity (PE99010) — opened Feb 3, 1999, closed Jun 11, 1999.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Airbag light on no turn signals and no reverse lights due to failed airbag clockspring
Tl* the contact owned a 1998 dodge caravan. While driving approximately 30 mph, the contact's vehicle crashed into a second vehicle. The front end was severely damaged. The driver's side air bag did not deploy. The passenger side air bag deployed although no passenger was present in the vehicle…
The indicator lamp air bag is on continuously. I drive a vehicle all the time, and my trip 50% highway and 50% city.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge caravan. While driving various speeds, the power steering seized without warning. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the serpentine belt failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge caravan. The contact stated that when driving on wet roads, the power brakes and steering failed. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the pulley needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not…
Other Dodge Caravan years
← 1997 Caravan · 1999 Caravan →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Caravan | 1 | 1 |
| 2016 Caravan | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 Caravan | 23 | 0 |
| 2014 Caravan | 20 | 0 |
| 2013 Caravan | 30 | 0 |
| 2012 Caravan | 87 | 0 |
| 2011 Caravan | 78 | 0 |
| 2010 Caravan | 172 | 2 |
| 2009 Caravan | 118 | 2 |
| 2008 Caravan | 302 | 2 |
| 2007 Caravan | 81 | 0 |
| 2006 Caravan | 173 | 2 |
| 2005 Caravan | 537 | 4 |
| 2004 Caravan | 65 | 1 |
| 2003 Caravan | 195 | 3 |
| 2002 Caravan | 245 | 4 |
| 2001 Caravan | 257 | 3 |
| 2000 Caravan | 470 | 4 |
| 1999 Caravan | 555 | 5 |
| 1998 | 629 | 5 |
| 1997 Caravan | 714 | 7 |
| 1996 Caravan | 1,403 | 9 |
| 1995 Caravan | 489 | 1 |
See all Dodge Caravan problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Dodge Caravan?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, power train, air bags problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 135 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Dodge Caravan?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Dodge Caravan a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Caravan model years, the 1998 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.