Dodge Caravan Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 316 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Dodge Caravan across 17 model years. The 2005 model year has the most (90). The words owners use most often: “headlight switch” (8% of reports).
- 316exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $920typical repair cost reported by owners
- 44%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Headlight switch: mentioned in 25 of 316 complaints (8%)
- High beams: mentioned in 19 of 316 complaints (6%)
- Headlights turn: mentioned in 16 of 316 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical exterior lighting repair on the Dodge Caravan at $920, and half of them between $320 and $1,050.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2015), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 202 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 316 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 2 an injury.
Dodge Caravan exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Caravan | 1 | 3% | 49,700 |
| 2012 Caravan | 1 | 1% | 63,000 |
| 2010 Caravan | 11 | 6% | 75,000 |
| 2008 Caravan | 15 | 5% | 96,000 |
| 2007 Caravan | 2 | 2% | 3,618 |
| 2006 Caravan | 16 | 9% | 74,500 |
| 2005 Caravan | 90 | 17% | 89,242 |
| 2004 Caravan | 3 | 5% | 108,000 |
| 2003 Caravan | 10 | 5% | 38,000 |
| 2002 Caravan | 15 | 6% | 59,000 |
| 2001 Caravan | 30 | 12% | 54,000 |
| 2000 Caravan | 6 | 1% | 90,000 |
| 1999 Caravan | 16 | 3% | 50,000 |
| 1998 Caravan | 31 | 5% | 89,634 |
| 1997 Caravan | 20 | 3% | 82,552 |
| 1996 Caravan | 43 | 3% | 90,000 |
| 1995 Caravan | 6 | 1% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Model years: 2017
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017 Dodge Caravan and Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The brake switches on these vehicles may malfunction, keeping the brake lights illuminated and/or allowing the vehicle to be shifted out of the PARK position without the brake pedal being pushed.
Risk: Having the brake lamps continuously illuminated or being able to shift the vehicle out of PARK when the brake pedal is not pressed (and the ignition is in the RUN mode) can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake switches, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U09.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Model years: 1999
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
There is no incident, however I would like to report a manufacturer problem. Many manufacturers put vehicles on the market with front headlights that are too bright and not aimed properly. See [XXX] There are regulations for the lumens of headlights and system of reflectors, but I assume…
.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that the headlights appeared hazy and clogged. Additionally, the contact stated that the headlight failed to illuminate and provide proper illumination while driving. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The…
Headlights turning off during any driving ,stationary,city highway night day rain cold warm all the above antime any condition.flickering sometimes staying off most of the time need to hold passing flash brights on to still atleast have light sometimes dosent work all the time. Months now.
Airbag light on no turn signals and no reverse lights due to failed airbag clockspring
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Caravans have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 316 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the Dodge Caravan. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Dodge Caravan exterior lighting?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix exterior lighting problems on the Dodge Caravan?
Owners report a typical cost of $920 (half paid between $320 and $1,050), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Dodge Caravan?
The most frequent phrase is “headlight switch”, in 25 of 316 complaints, followed by “high beams” (19).
Other Dodge Caravan problems
See all Dodge Caravan problems.