1987 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 1987 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
- Interior & seats2229.3%
- Body & structure1013.3%
- Engine1013.3%
- Transmission68.0%
- Seat belts68.0%
- Other / unspecified45.3%
- Brakes34.0%
- Electrical34.0%
- Tires & wheels22.7%
- Driver assistance22.7%
- Steering22.7%
- Suspension22.7%
- Visibility11.3%
- Powertrain (other)11.3%
- Fuel system11.3%
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
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE WIHTOUT ANY WARNING, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO FALL BACKWARDS AND LOSE CONTROL WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.
DRIVERS SEAT BACK BREAKS AT LOWER RIGHT JOINT, CAUSING DRIVER TO FALL BACKWARDS.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
LIFTGATE SUPPORTS FAIL TO SUPPORT LIFTGATE.
FRONT SEAT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S MANUAL WINDOW (HANDLES) STICK COULD RESULT IN ENTRAPMENT UPON EMERGENCY EXIT. *AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE REPLACED THIS ENGINE TWICE AND NOW I AM ON THE THIRD TIME .I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP REPLACE ENGINE IN CARS OR VANS. IT IS MY IMPRESSION THAT THE DODGE COMPANY STANDS BY THEIR PRODUCTS OF EXCELLENT . BUT GUESS I WAS WRONG , I WILL TELL ALL MY FRIEND NOT TO BUY DODGE CARS AND VANS. IF YOU CAN HELP ME PLEASE LET ME KNOW . THANK YOU
ENGINE STALLS IN WARM WEATHER AND SOMETIMES WILL JUST CUT OFF AT ANY SPEED.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WAS IN PARK POSITION ON A SLIGHT SLANT LEFT IDLING FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES WHEN IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY. THIS IS THE FOURTH INCIDENT. TT
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
BACK FAR RIGHT SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT AND IS TOO SHORT, WILL NOT FIT OVER THE TOP PART OF BODY.*AK
SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED TO RETRACT, CAUSING IT TO LOCK IN POSITION. *AK
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
TIRE CARRIER RUSTED, CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO FALL OFF UNDER THE VAN, AND BOUNCE ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT WERE UNWILLING TO REPAIR PROBLEM. *AK *ML
THE CABLE BROKE AND THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF.*AK
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
DRIVER'S SHOULDER/LAP BELT PERIODICALLY STICKS; DIFFICULT TO UNBUCKLE. TT
ABS BRAKES FAILS TO STOP VEHICLE EFFECTIVELY CAUSING A GRINDING OR RUBBING NOISE WHEN APPLIED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. 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 W/CRUISE CONTROL ON, VEHICLE STALLED; ALL LIGHTS FAILED. GOT TO SIDE OF ROAD ,POPPED HOOD; FLAMES SHOT UP & OUT; FIRE STARTED BEHIND BATTERY CABLE. FIRE DEPT ARRIVED TO PUT FLAMES OUT; SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEM. VEHICLE AT DEALER'S. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT, THE CIRCUIT FUSE THAT GOES TO THE WIRING OVERCHARGES, CAUSING BATTERY TO OVERCHARGE AND LOSE POWER. *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
IN 1997 I PURCHASED TWO KELLY SPRINGFIELD TIRES. ON JUNE 14, 2002 THE TREAD ON ONE OF THEM PEELED OFF. THE DEALER REPLACED IT (WITH SOME ADDITIONAL COST). ON JUNE 23, 2003 THE TREAD ON THE OTHER TIRE PEELED OFF. I REPLACED IT AT A LOCATION SOME 300 MILES FROM HOME BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO KEEP THE BAD TIRE. I BELIEVE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A NOTICE OF RECALL ON THESE TIRES, BUT I DID NOT RECEIVE ONE. GOODYEAR NO LONGER SELLS THIS TIRE. ALSO THE MANUFACTURER, GOODYEAR, WAS NOT ABLE TO GIVE ME ANY REFUND BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THE BAD TIRE TO SHOW THEM. I DID HAVE THE RECEIPT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRE.*AK
VAN WAS PARK AND THE SPARE TIRE CAME OFF. TT
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 THROTTLE STUCK WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. STICKS DURING LONG HOT TRIPS WITH CONSTANT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND REMAINS STUCK UNTIL THE ENGIN COOLS COMPLETELY. DOES NOT STICK ON SHORT DRIVES.
VEHICLES THROTTLE STUCK WHILE DRIVING. TT
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
STEERING: WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND MADE A TURN WENT TO TURN STEERING RACK AND THE STEERING WHEEL CAME RIGHT OFF, HAVE NOT TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR YET. *AK
STEERING COLUMN FELL APART WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. 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
VEHICLE NOT ABLE TO BE CONTROLLED ON HIGHWAY DUE TO POOR STABILITY.
VEHICLE ROLLED OVER DURING ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN DEATH. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SKD
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
BACK GLASS WINDOW SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVE SHAFT FELL OUT OF TRANSMISSION.
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
IN EXTREME COLD CONDITION VEHICLE SLOWED TO 25 MPH AND WOULD GO NO FASTER. MANUFACTURER SAID THE GAS LINE WAS FREEZING NEAR THE CARBORATOR DUE TO CONDENSATION AND FREEZING, KNOWN PROBLEM AND A FIX IS AVAILABLE. DEALER WOULD NOT PAY FOR FIX, SAYING IT WAS NOT A SAFTEY ISSUE THEREFORE NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED. IF THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS IN EXTREME COLD WHERE A BREAKDOWN OR COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF THE ENGINE WOULD OCCUR, PEOPLE COULD FREEZE TO DEATH DUE TO WALKING FOR HELP OR STAYING IN CAR WITH NO SOURCE OF HEAT. ALSO, TRAVEL ON HIGHWAYS OR INTERSTATE AT A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 25 MPH TO GET TO A PLACE FOR HELP (ESPECIALLY IN THE WEST) IS VERY DANGEROUS. PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ITEM LONG AGO.
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 .