RoadVitals

1985 Dodge Caravan Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Aug 16, 1999
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
27%
of 49 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1985 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureEngine
Filed Aug 16, 1999

MY DODGE CARAVAN MINIVAN IS ON HIGH . WHEN I DRIVE IT IT WILL REMAIN ONE SPEED UNTIL I PUT THE BRAKE ON. I KNOW THESE CARS WERE RECALLED. I WOULD LIKE A REFUND OF MY INVESTMENT. THE DOOR PANEL LIGHTS ALSO GET EXTREMELY HOT. THEY HAVE BURNT HOLES IN THEMSELVES AND HOLES ON MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS.

NHTSA ID
710042
Incident
Jun 13, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Apr 7, 1999

HATCHBACK WINDOW IS RUSTING AROUND THE EDGE, AND THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP. THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE HATCHBACK WINDOW. *AK

NHTSA ID
831706
Incident
May 12, 1995
Body & structureElectricalVisibility
Filed Nov 17, 1995

ELECTRICAL WIRING TO DOOR LOCKS & TO POWER WINDOWS BREAKS MAKING THEM NON FUNCTIONAL.TT BUNDLE OF WIRES TO DOOR FROM MAIN BODY THEY FLEX EACH TIME THE DOOR IS OPEN THERE ARE THREE BROKEN WIRES RENDERING POWER LOCKS AND POWER WINDOW INOPERABLE.*JB

NHTSA ID
975054
Body & structure
Filed Apr 27, 1995

HYDRAULIC LIFTS FAILED,CAUSING REAR LIFTGATE NOT TO STAY OPEN. TT

NHTSA ID
964447
Incident
Apr 1, 1995
Body & structureBrakesEngine+6 more
Filed Apr 14, 1995

LIFTGATE POPS OPEN PERIODICALLY WHEN DRIVING. LIFTGATE FALLS DOWN, WILL NOT STAY OPEN DUE TO DEFECTIVE SPRING HINGES. TT

NHTSA ID
963809
Incident
Apr 14, 1995
Body & structure
Filed Apr 8, 1995

METAL WHERE RIGHT/LEFT FRONT DOOR HINGE ATTACH IS TOO THIN, CAUSING 5 INCH CRACK WHERE HINGE IS WELDED TO THE DOORS.

NHTSA ID
489032
Incident
Apr 8, 1995
Body & structure
Filed Apr 5, 1995

IN EXTREME COLD WEATHER EXPERIENCES FAILURE OF HYDRAULIC CYLINDER STRUT LIFT, WHEN WON'T STAY UP AND WILL DECEND UNEXPECTEDLY, WITHOUT WARNING. TT

NHTSA ID
963133
Body & structure
Filed Apr 4, 1995

WHEN DRIVING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR COME OPEN. TT

NHTSA ID
963200
Incident
Mar 27, 1994
Body & structure
Filed Apr 4, 1995

SCREWS CAME AWAY FROM THE MEDAL IN THE TAILGATE CAME OPEN AND CONTENTS WERE SPILLED ONTO THE STREET. TT

NHTSA ID
963008
Incident
Nov 11, 1994
Body & structure
Filed Apr 4, 1995

REAR LIFTGATE HYDRAULIC SHOCKS DO NOT HOLD DOOR OPEN. TT

NHTSA ID
963004
Incident
Apr 4, 1995
Body & structure
Filed Mar 14, 1995

REAR DOOR HAS TO SHUT BUT DOESN'T ENGAGE UNTIL SEVERAL ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE. TT

NHTSA ID
962029
Body & structure
Filed Mar 8, 1995
Crash reported2 injuries reported

REAR LIFTGATE CAME OPEN FROM ACCIDENT AND OCCUPANTS WERE EJECTED. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

NHTSA ID
961636
Incident
Aug 15, 1994
Body & structure
Filed Mar 7, 1995
Crash reported

REAR LIFTGATE OPENED UPON REAR IMPACT AT 20 MPH. TT

NHTSA ID
961351
Incident
Jan 27, 1995

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Engine8Interior & seats8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .