1986 Dodge Caravan Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Dodge Caravan, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure1529.4%
- Interior & seats1325.5%
- Engine59.8%
- Seat belts59.8%
- Other / unspecified23.9%
- Fuel system23.9%
- Tires & wheels23.9%
- Driver assistance12.0%
- Brakes12.0%
- Steering12.0%
- Suspension12.0%
- Visibility12.0%
- Transmission12.0%
- Electrical12.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE TRUNK LID WAS OPENED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION TRUNK LID DROPPED, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER. PLEASED PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
DIFFICULTY GETTING REPAIRS DONE, RECALL #6404.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PROP ROD FOR THE HOOD CAME LOOSE AND FELL ON THE OWNER'S HEAD. MECHANIC SYAS MAY HAVE BEEN FAULTY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE IN HALF AND THE DRIVER FELL BACK AND ENDED UP IN THE REAR SEAT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
PLASTIC CAN'T BE USED FOR RADIATORS!
EGR VALVE KEEPS MELTING IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. REPAIRS WERE MADE AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED IT COULD BE FUEL LAYING IN THE SYSTEM, PROBLEM CANNOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
POOR SEAT AND SHOULDER BELT PERFORMANCE, THE LATCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WOULD NOT RELEASE, THE CONSUMER HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT IN ORDER TO GET OUT. *AK
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR INOPERATIVE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
SPARE TIRE DROPPED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. TT
THE CABLE THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE RUSTED OUT, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE PROCEEDING DOWN FREEWAY-LEFT REAR TIRE DISINTAGRATED. WHEN TIRE BLEW-THE TIRE COMPONENTS COMPLETLY TORE OFF THE FUEL FILLER INLET HOSE, AT THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING ENTIRE CONTENTS OF FUEL TANK TO POUR ONTO ROADWAY. THIS IS A SIXTEEN PASSENGER CHURCH VAN. FUEL DID NOT IGNITE. IF IT WOULD HAVE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL SITUATION- PERSON FILLING THIS FORM OUR IS J.P. SARVER- CHIEF OF POLICE- HASTINGS POLICE DEPT. (616) 945-5744, WHO IS ALSO AN ACCIDENT SCENE RECONSTRUCTIONISTS. *AK
CORROSION WITHIN THE ENGINE AT THE FIREWALL, CAUSING GROUND STRAPS TO SEPARATE, AND RESULTING IN FUEL SPRAYING ONTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALSO, GAS WAS COMING FROM THE FUEL FILTER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE, HE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE, AND PULL OVER TO SHOULDER, HE NOTICED THAT LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. *AK THE CORRECT TIRE SIZE IS FIRESTONE DAYTON THOROBRED STEEL P235/75 R15 M/S.*JB
VEHICLE PROCEEDING DOWN FREEWAY-LEFT REAR TIRE DISINTAGRATED. WHEN TIRE BLEW-THE TIRE COMPONENTS COMPLETLY TORE OFF THE FUEL FILLER INLET HOSE, AT THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING ENTIRE CONTENTS OF FUEL TANK TO POUR ONTO ROADWAY. THIS IS A SIXTEEN PASSENGER CHURCH VAN. FUEL DID NOT IGNITE. IF IT WOULD HAVE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL SITUATION- PERSON FILLING THIS FORM OUR IS J.P. SARVER- CHIEF OF POLICE- HASTINGS POLICE DEPT. (616) 945-5744, WHO IS ALSO AN ACCIDENT SCENE RECONSTRUCTIONISTS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR FISHTALES WHEN BRAKES ARE MODERATELY APPLIED.LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE IS IMMINENT IN WET WEATHER.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE BOLT CONNECTING THE STEERING HAVE COME LOOSE. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSAXLE FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOCKUP TWICE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, WHEN HIT BUMP, TAILGATE DISENGAGES AND SOMETIMES FLY UP, DEALER'S REPLACED BOLTS WHICH TEND TO LOOSEN AND HAS CAUSED ELECTRIC SHORT IN WIPER SYS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GEAR, PARKED ON FLAT SURFACE ROLLED AND DOWN ENBANKMENT AND HIT A TREE, IMPACT 6:00 POSITION. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED, THEN WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD, HEARD EXPLOSION, THEN BLACK SMOKE POURED FROM ENGINE, FLAMES ENGULFED VEHICLE TOTALLY, NO INJURIES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .