1999 Dodge Caravan Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Caravan years
- Far more complaints than other years 4th of 23 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 555 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Dodge Caravan. That ranks 4th out of 23 Caravan model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (119 complaints, 21%), typically at around 89,000 miles. Complaints mention 46 crashes, 14 fires, 38 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 6 defect investigations involving it.
- 555owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 6NHTSA investigations
- 46complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1999 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 119 | 21% | 89,000 | “air bag” (54%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 102 | 18% | 86,396 | “serpentine belt” (31%) | $910 |
| Power Train problems | 96 | 17% | 65,154 | “transmission failed” (11%) | $4,000 |
| Electrical System problems | 64 | 12% | 86,979 | “air bag” (39%) | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 44 | 8% | 102,875 | — | — |
| Suspension | 33 | 6% | 106,584 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 | 6% | 87,597 | — | — |
| Steering | 27 | 5% | 77,535 | — | — |
| Structure | 27 | 5% | 123,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 22 | 4% | 29,461 | — | — |
| Tires | 21 | 4% | 28,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 16 | 3% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 16 | 3% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 14 | 3% | 90,193 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 10 | 2% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 9 | 2% | 101,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 8 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 8 | 1% | 83,597 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 1% | 200,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 1% | 190,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 1% | 34,581 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 0% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 0% | 29,999 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 0% | 77,700 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | 220,000 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 0% | 28,000 | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 0% | 49,888 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1999 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.
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.
Seat belts:front:retractor
Problem: Vehicle description: certain van, wagon, pickup trucks, passenger and sport utility vehicles, fail to comply with requirements of fmvss no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the front seat belt retractor may not comply with the requirements of the standard.
Risk: If the retractor does not work properly, it will not adequately protect occupants in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat belt retractor. Owner notification began august 20, 2001. 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.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: Vehicle description: mini vans built for fleet sales only. The headlamp module does not identify the park lamp as "drl" as requirement of fmvss 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Risk: These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 108.
Fix: All fleet owners/operators will be mailed non-removable decals with the required "drl" letters.
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.
- 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.
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the serpentine belt failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the serpentine belt needed to be replaced. The serpentine belt was replaced however, the failure recurred. The…
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle failed to function as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the timing belt needed to be replaced…
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 dodge caravan. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel ceased without warning. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and informed the contact that the serpentine belt was…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR TIRES, TIRE LINE: ALL SEASON ASSURANCE, TIRE SIZE: 215/65/R15, DOT NUMBER: [redacted]. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE PULL TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS…
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 dodge caravan. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was constantly illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 04v480000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of…
Other Dodge Caravan years
← 1998 Caravan · 2000 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 | 555 | 5 |
| 1998 Caravan | 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 1999 Dodge Caravan?
Owners most often report air bags, engine and engine cooling, power train problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 119 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Dodge Caravan?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1999 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 1999 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.