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.
58
Latest Feb 14, 2003
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.
21%
of 278 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.
4
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 1990 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 58 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
The 25 most recent of 58, in the owner's own words
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningEngine+1 more
Filed Feb 14, 2003
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. AT 48,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER, GLENN E. THOMAS DODGE IN SIGNAL HILL. THEREAFTER, EVERY 15,000 TO 25,000 MILES OR SO, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED, PROBABLY 5 TIMES NOW; THE COMPUTER FOR THE TRANS HAS FAILED TWICE, THE MOTOR COMPUTER FAILED 2 TIMES, THE POWER WINDOWS BROKE OFF THEIR TRACKS, THE SLIDING DOOR JAMMED SHUT AND WOULDN'T ALIGN. NOW THE PAINT JOB ON MY WHITE 1990 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (WITH WOOD TRIM) IS PEELING OFF, MOSTLY ON THE ROOF (WHERE IT IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE, DOWN TO THE PRIMER, RUSTING THROUGH TO THE ROOF METAL) AND ON THE HOOD AND FRONT QUARTER PANELS. THE PAINT WAS NOT PROPERLY APPLIED TO THE PRIMER UNDERCOAT OR THE PRIMER WAS NOT PROPERLY APPLIED SO AS TO ADHERE TO THE TOP COLOR COAT. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER CARAVAN'S OF THE SAME MODEL WITH THEIR PAINT COMPLETELY OR PARTIALLY PEELED OFF AS I HAVE DRIVEN AROUND. IT IS A VERY OBVIOUS DEFECT OF THE PAINT--THERE ARE NO OTHER VEHICLES OUT THERE WITH THIS KIND OF PAINT FLAKING AND PEELING PROBLEM TO THIS EXTENT. THE PLASTIC COATING ON THE WOOD TRIM IS ALL FLAKING AND PEELING OFF AS WELL. IT MAKES THE CAR LOOK "SHAGGY!" WHAT A MESS. THIS CAR REALLY NEEDS A PAINT JOB TO BE PAID FOR BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE PAID OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR TRANSMISSIONS TO BE REPLACED. I AM ON A THREE-YEAR WARRANTY WITH DODGE FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND ON MY THIRD TRANSMISSION FAILURE UNDER THAT WARRANTY! THE OVERDRIVE UNIT IS FULLY DEFECTIVE AND THE COMPANY WILL NOT UNDERTAKE TO FIX IT. THE CAR WILL FAIL AND THE TRANS WILL JUST SPIN WITHOUT ENGAGING ANY FORWARD GEAR OR IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD OR OVERDRIVE. THE SPEED SENSOR UNIT IS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND FREQUENTLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHAT A MESS OF A TRANSMISSION! I HAVE IT REGULARLY SERVICED AND I DON'T DRIVE IT HARD OR ABUSE THE TRANS. HELP.
NHTSA ID
10005828
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
Mileage
140,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 7, 2003
PAINT ON 1990 DODGE CARAVAN IS PEELING OFF.
NHTSA ID
10000775
Incident
Dec 21, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Mar 29, 2000
THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE STRUT TO THE BODY OF THE LIFTGATE PUSHED INTO THE BODY OF THE VAN, CAUSING THE LIFTGATE TO DROP DOWN ONTO VICTIM'S HEAD. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
859366
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Mar 7, 2000
AFTER DRIVING AND WHEN LETTING PASSENGER OUT OF VEHICLE THE SIDE SLIDING DOOR FELL COMPETELY OFF, MAKING IT MPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SLIDING DOOR . CONSUMER TOOK VAN TO PRIVATE MECHANIC TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT HIS OWN EXPENSE, FEARS THAT IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. *AK *ML
NHTSA ID
858084
Incident
Feb 28, 2000
Body & structure
Filed May 12, 1999
WHILE OWNER WAS SHUTTING THE SLIDING DOOR , DOOR CAME OFF THE TRACK AND FELL OFF ONTO THE GROUND. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
837797
Incident
May 8, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Apr 20, 1998
PAINT COMING OFF ALL OVER THE VAN.
NHTSA ID
534543
Body & structure
Filed Mar 25, 1998
THE RIGHT HAND SIDE SLIDING DOOR ROLLER ASSEMBLY CAME OFF THE TRACK WHEN DOOR WAS BEING OPEN. DOOR WOULD JUST HANG THERE. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC HAD REPAIRED IT ONCE. NOW THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS FOR THE SAME REASON. *AK
NHTSA ID
822119
Incident
Nov 27, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Jul 17, 1997
RIGHT LIFTER BRACKET CAME OFF AT THE WELD POINT WHEN CLOSING LIFTGATE.
NHTSA ID
520858
Incident
Jul 3, 1997
Body & structureElectricalExterior lighting+3 more
Filed May 1, 1997
HATCHBACK STRUT MOUNT FAILED.
NHTSA ID
516881
Incident
Apr 30, 1993
Body & structureEngineTransmission
Filed Mar 21, 1997
TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED DUE TO VARIOUS PROBLEMS(SHUDDERING, JUMPING OUT OF GEAR, LEAKAGE ETC.)
NHTSA ID
515813
Incident
May 6, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Feb 25, 1997
PAINT IS COMING OFF THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
514476
Body & structure
Filed Feb 4, 1997
REAR HATCH LIFT STRUT FAILED, RESULTING IN HATCH STRIKING PASSENGER ON THE HEAD.
NHTSA ID
602869
Incident
Jul 1, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Nov 5, 1996
UPPER ANCHORAGE OF LIFTGATE STRUT AT TOP RIPPED/CRACKED INTERIOR BODY AT PIVOT; STRUT TORE UPPER PIVOT LOOSE AND PUSHED IT BETWEEN INNER FRAME AND UPPER BODY. *AK
NHTSA ID
803289
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Aug 19, 1996
MECHANISM INSIDE HATCH LOOSE DUE TO RETAINING SCREWS THAT SECURES IT TO BODY, FELL OUT. *AK PART WAS REPLACED WITH RECALL. *SLC
NHTSA ID
801070
Incident
Aug 15, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Aug 5, 1996
SRTRUCTURE OF REAR HATCH LATCH WOULDN'T OPEN PRIOR TO RECALL. *AK
NHTSA ID
800449
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Aug 1, 1996
REAR HATCH DOOR HYDRAULIC LIFT STRUTS FAILING, ALLOWING DOOR TO DESCEND IN INSTANCES PE92-027. *AK
NHTSA ID
986885
Incident
Jun 21, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Jun 3, 1996
OWNERS HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER 1 YEAR FOR THIS RECALL TO BE COMPLETED.MFR 800-LINE IS STATING NOW THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TILL NOV-DEC 1996. 95I001003. *A
NHTSA ID
985172
Body & structure
Filed Feb 23, 1996
Crash reported
EXPERIENCED REAR HYDRAULIC CYLINDER STRUT FAILURE, WHEN TAILGATE DESCENDED WITHOUT WARNING ONTO HEAD. *AK
NHTSA ID
979612
Body & structure
Filed Jan 23, 1996
SLIDING DOOR TRACK BENT, ALLOWING DOOR TO FALL OFF. *DSH
NHTSA ID
500957
Incident
Mar 23, 1995
Body & structure
Filed Nov 17, 1995
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LTR FROM CHRYSLER 11\02\95, CONTACTED DEALER SAME DAY BUT NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS. TT
NHTSA ID
975118
Incident
Nov 17, 1995
Body & structure
Filed Oct 24, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported
EXPERIENCED REAR HATCHBACK HYDRAULIC LIFT STRUT FAILURE, WHEN LEFT SIDE STRUT DISENGAGED, FALLING ON DRIVER'S HEAD. TT
NHTSA ID
973846
Body & structure
Filed Oct 12, 1995
THE STRUT THAT HOLDS UP THE BACK LIFTGATE BROKE AND WENT THROUGH THE ROOF OF THE VAN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA ID
973298
Incident
Jul 5, 1995
Body & structure
Filed Aug 8, 1995
THE REAR HATCH WHEN TAKING SOMETHING OUT CAME DOWN AND HIT CONSUMER IN THE HEAD HAD IT FIXED. TT
NHTSA ID
970121
Body & structure
Filed Jul 20, 1995
REAR LIFTGATE OPENED ON IT OWN, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY. TT
NHTSA ID
969167
Incident
Jul 6, 1995
Body & structure
Filed Jul 7, 1995
PREMATURE WEAR OF BOLTS HOLDING LIFTGATE STRUTS. *AK
NHTSA ID
485896
Incident
Jul 7, 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