RoadVitals

1988 Dodge Caravan Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
15
Latest Sep 23, 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.
15%
of 103 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.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1988 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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 engine

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

Heating & air conditioningEngine
Filed Sep 23, 1999

DUE TO HARMONIC IMBALANCE OF ENGINE, AIR CONDITIONER AND ALTERNATOR FAIL

NHTSA ID
711879
Incident
Jan 1, 1998
Heating & air conditioningEngineFuel system+2 more
Filed May 4, 1999

PCV VALVE FAILS WEEKLY.*ET

NHTSA ID
782338
Heating & air conditioningEngineFuel system+2 more
Filed May 4, 1999

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
782337
Engine
Filed Jan 11, 1998

ENGINE CAM BOLT SHEARED OFF, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR/LOCKUP OF THE CAMSHAFT.

NHTSA ID
533783
Incident
Jan 1, 1998
BrakesEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Dec 18, 1997

SERPENTINE BELT FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. ALSO REPLACED RACK AND PINION STEERING/ STEERING PUMP/WATER PUMP/ MOTOR MOUNTS AND ENGINE VALVES. IN ADDITION, VEHICLE SHAKES AT 60 MPH. IN ADDITION, ABS BRAKES FAILED/REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
517688
Incident
Jun 1, 1997
Engine
Filed Aug 7, 1997

LEFT ENGINE MOUNT IS SEPERATING FROM BODY STRUCTURE; APPEARS NOT TO BE WELDED TO THE BODY.

NHTSA ID
522563
Incident
Aug 7, 1997
EngineInterior & seatsSteering
Filed Jun 12, 1997

POWER STEERING FAILURE; ALSO REPLACED SEPENTINE BELT/RACK AND PINION STEERING/WATER PUMP. IN ADDITION, VEHICLE STALLS WHEN EXITING HIGHWAY AFTER DRIVING 55-60 MPH; REAR HATCH OFTEN FALLS DOWN AND SHIFTING DIFFICULTY WHEN PARKED ON INCLINE. *AK

NHTSA ID
517571
Incident
Jun 1, 1997
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 25, 1997

FOUR TIMES WHILE DRIVNG VEHICLE AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE INNER CV JOINT BUSTED OPEN AND MADE OPERATION OF VEHICLE COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE. THE ENTIRE LEFT FRONT AXLE WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES DURING A 6 MONTH PERIOD IN MAR OF 96/JUN OF 96 AND TWICE IN AUG OF 96. AT SAME TIME OF AXLE REPLACEMENT A MOTOR MOUNT HAD TO BE REPLACED ALSO. *AK

NHTSA ID
810385
Incident
Mar 3, 1996
Engine
Filed Aug 14, 1996
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

NHTSA ID
507469
Incident
Jul 29, 1996
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 5, 1996

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE LOST POWER. *AK

NHTSA ID
800469
Engine
Filed Apr 24, 1996
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE HAD AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983432
Incident
Apr 10, 1996
Engine
Filed Jul 19, 1995

CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD CAUSED OIL LEAK. *DH

NHTSA ID
484239
Incident
Jul 19, 1995
Engine
Filed Jul 5, 1995

EXCESSIVE USE OF OIL AND IT SMOKES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID
968197
Incident
Aug 12, 1994
Engine
Filed Jun 23, 1995

THE VAN HAS LEAKY VALVE SEALS AND IT SMOKES AS A RESULT. TT

NHTSA ID
967604
Incident
May 29, 1995
Engine
Filed Mar 17, 1995

ENGINE; BURN TOO MUCH OIL CONSUMER HAD ENGINE REBUILT FROM A MECHANIC VAN IS OK. TT

NHTSA ID
962264
Incident
Oct 1, 1993

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

Interior & seats24Body & structure20Steering8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .