Dodge Caravan Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 849 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Dodge Caravan across 22 model years. The 1996 model year has the most (185). The words owners use most often: “transmission failed” (10% of reports).
- 849power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 50mention a crash
- 19mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $3,850typical repair cost reported by owners
- 29%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.
- Transmission failed: mentioned in 84 of 849 complaints (10%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Dodge Caravan at $3,850, and half of them between $2,750 and $4,800.
Based on 42 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2017), 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 power train problems happen?
Based on 274 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 849 complaints, 50 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 19 an injury.
Dodge Caravan power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Caravan | 1 | 100% | 3,000 |
| 2015 Caravan | 6 | 26% | 85,000 |
| 2014 Caravan | 2 | 10% | 80,000 |
| 2013 Caravan | 2 | 7% | 475,500 |
| 2012 Caravan | 3 | 3% | 3,154 |
| 2011 Caravan | 5 | 6% | 63,050 |
| 2010 Caravan | 14 | 8% | 35,814 |
| 2009 Caravan | 2 | 2% | 42,963 |
| 2008 Caravan | 11 | 4% | 78,000 |
| 2007 Caravan | 9 | 11% | 56,156 |
| 2006 Caravan | 13 | 8% | 60,000 |
| 2005 Caravan | 13 | 2% | 26,558 |
| 2004 Caravan | 4 | 6% | 32,000 |
| 2003 Caravan | 22 | 11% | 18,068 |
| 2002 Caravan | 27 | 11% | 56,000 |
| 2001 Caravan | 19 | 7% | 49,606 |
| 2000 Caravan | 86 | 18% | 62,000 |
| 1999 Caravan | 96 | 17% | 65,154 |
| 1998 Caravan | 103 | 16% | 71,000 |
| 1997 Caravan | 133 | 19% | 70,502 |
| 1996 Caravan | 185 | 13% | 85,313 |
| 1995 Caravan | 93 | 19% | 90,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists power train for the Dodge Caravan. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are 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…
I know it's my solenoid my vehicle won't go out of 2 gear. My name is [XXX].[XXX] my number is [XXX]. I'm not sure if anything can be done being the vehicle is so old but I thought I'd give it a try. Email is [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C…
Foot gas pedal is locked in one speed.at engine rpm of 1200. Rpm drops to 500 when stepped on brake pedal. I .had to pull over and have it towed.. No response using gas pedal.
Bought the van from cooks volkswagen on may 7th, 2018. In the first 3 mths of me owning it i had to get 2 motor mounts and a starter put in. Then from that point it was all down hill! It has had 3 transmissions(cooks has done 2 and i took the van to thompson for them to do the third), hub assembly…
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 dodge caravan. The contact stated that the transmission hesitated and would not switch gears properly while the vehicle was in motion. Also, the check engine indicator illuminated during a routine oil change at an independent mechanic. The leak from the transmission was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Caravans have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 849 owner complaints about power train 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 power train?
No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Dodge Caravan?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,850 (half paid between $2,750 and $4,800), from 42 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Dodge Caravan?
The most frequent phrase is “transmission failed”, in 84 of 849 complaints.
Other Dodge Caravan problems
- Electrical System problems (1,216)
- Air Bags problems (1,059)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (810)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (536)
- Steering problems (448)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (416)
- Latches/locks/linkages problems (354)
- Visibility problems (324)
See all Dodge Caravan problems.