1998 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Grand Caravan years
- More complaints than other years 8th of 26 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 559 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan. That ranks 8th out of 26 Grand Caravan model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (129 complaints, 23%), typically at around 86,228 miles. Complaints mention 41 crashes, 20 fires, 35 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 6 defect investigations involving it.
- 559owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 6NHTSA investigations
- 41complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Dodge Grand 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 | 129 | 23% | 86,228 | “serpentine belt” (35%) | $1,550 |
| Air Bags problems | 104 | 19% | 88,200 | “air bag” (49%) | — |
| Power Train problems | 81 | 14% | 78,027 | “transmission failed” (14%) | $3,650 |
| Electrical System problems | 79 | 14% | 103,700 | “cruise control” (22%) | $1,100 |
| Suspension problems | 51 | 9% | 114,500 | “strut tower” (27%) | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 38 | 7% | 97,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 27 | 5% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 | 5% | 88,400 | — | — |
| Steering | 23 | 4% | 64,893 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 21 | 4% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 21 | 4% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 19 | 3% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 13 | 2% | 87,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 13 | 2% | 124,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 13 | 2% | 129,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 13 | 2% | 57,796 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 | 2% | 59,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 1% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 5 | 1% | 122,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 1% | 178,282 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 3 | 1% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 1% | 92,779 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 0% | 175,500 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | 131,299 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Dodge Grand Caravan recalls (4)
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.
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.
- 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 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist and then stalled. Additionally, the odometer failed to display the correct mileage and the speedometer failed to…
The driver's horn does not work and hasn't since it was taken in to replace the clock spring assembly. This was done as per a recall issued by nhtsa and daimlerchrystler corporation relating to driver's airbag by the original owner. He also did not have the original paperwork on the van. I am the…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge grand caravan. While operating the vehicle, a knocking noise was heard coming from the engine and the vehicle hesitated when accelerating. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the failure was due to low oil pressure caused by…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN, SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT CALLED STEW HANSEN DODGE RAM CHRYSLER JEEP AT [redacted] (LOCATED AT 12103 HICKMAN RD, URBANDALE…
Service brake failure while driving, diagnosed by repair shop as a ruptured brake line. Inspection of other brake lines showed heavy corrosion. Vehicle was in motion (straight line) on a city street and retained minimal braking. I was able to stop at a stop light (no collision) and 'limp' to the…
Other Dodge Grand Caravan years
← 1997 Grand Caravan · 1999 Grand Caravan →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Grand Caravan | 20 | 1 |
| 2019 Grand Caravan | 245 | 4 |
| 2018 Grand Caravan | 271 | 4 |
| 2017 Grand Caravan | 414 | 3 |
| 2016 Grand Caravan | 1,002 | 6 |
| 2015 Grand Caravan | 281 | 4 |
| 2014 Grand Caravan | 359 | 5 |
| 2013 Grand Caravan | 471 | 4 |
| 2012 Grand Caravan | 584 | 6 |
| 2011 Grand Caravan | 530 | 4 |
| 2010 Grand Caravan | 869 | 6 |
| 2009 Grand Caravan | 544 | 7 |
| 2008 Grand Caravan | 1,293 | 8 |
| 2007 Grand Caravan | 182 | 2 |
| 2006 Grand Caravan | 284 | 3 |
| 2005 Grand Caravan | 995 | 5 |
| 2004 Grand Caravan | 116 | 1 |
| 2003 Grand Caravan | 219 | 2 |
| 2002 Grand Caravan | 290 | 5 |
| 2001 Grand Caravan | 298 | 3 |
| 2000 Grand Caravan | 442 | 5 |
| 1999 Grand Caravan | 432 | 3 |
| 1998 | 559 | 4 |
| 1997 Grand Caravan | 583 | 5 |
| 1996 Grand Caravan | 1,157 | 9 |
| 1995 Grand Caravan | 108 | 1 |
See all Dodge Grand 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 Grand Caravan?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, air bags, power train problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 129 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Grand Caravan model years, the 1998 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.