RoadVitals

1991 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.
80
Latest Aug 6, 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.
13%
of 617 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.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
11

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 1991 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 80 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 80, in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed Aug 6, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT SLIDING DOOR CAME OFF TRACK WHEN CONSUMER'S 2 YEAR OLD CHILD OPENED THE SLIDING DOOR. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10032279
Incident
Aug 5, 2003
Body & structureDriver assistance
Filed Aug 1, 2003

THE DASHBOARD PUSHES FORWARD ALLOWING THE SPEDOMETER TO STICK AND NOT OPERATE. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT SPEED HE/SHE IS CRUISING AT AND COULD LEAD TO A CAR ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10030610
Incident
Aug 15, 2002
Body & structureFuel systemInterior & seats
Filed Mar 24, 2003

I OWN BOTH A 1991 AND A 1995 DODGE CARAVAN... THE 1991 HAS NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, INCLUDING A BACK HATCH THAT WON'T STAY UP BECAUSE THE AREA OF THE FRAME THAT THE SHOCK LATCHES INTO IS BROKEN DUE TO A STRESS CRACK.. THIS MAKES IT REALLY HARD TRYING TO GET THINGS IN AND OUT WHEN YOU HAVE A BABY.. THE DRIVER SEAT ALSO FALLS BACKWARDS AND DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE GAUGES DO NOT WORK, WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE... BOTH THESE VEHICLES ARE WHITE IN COLOR AND THE PAINT IS PEELING IN THE SAME EXACT SPOTS ON BOTH VANS. IT'S ACROSS THE HOOD AND ACROSS THE TOP. ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS, BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS - I HATE MY VANS AND PROBABLY WON'T EVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CARAVAN. *JB

NHTSA ID
10010969
Incident
Jul 1, 2002
Mileage
100,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 6, 2002

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE. AFTER PARKING VEHICLE THEY NOTICED THAT REAR HATCH DOOR WAS DETACHED FROM VAN BY A INCH OR TWO. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR COMPLETELY. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID THAT DOOR WILL FALL OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ID
8009281
Incident
May 6, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Jan 23, 2002

WHILE DRIVING REAR DOOR WILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE. HAD CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT IT COULD NOT BE FIXED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8002749
Incident
Jan 16, 2002
Body & structureEngineVisibility
Filed Jan 18, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, VENTILATION SYSTEM BLOWS OUT COLD AIR, AND HEAT GETS LUKE WARM. HEATER CORE AND THERMOSTAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PINS ON THE DRIVER DOOR HINGES KEEP FALLING OFF. *JB

NHTSA ID
8002504
Body & structureSteering
Filed Jul 24, 2001

THE TENSIONER AND PULLEY TO THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND SO WE REPLACED IT ALREADY BUT WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW FOR OTHER CONSUMERS. WE HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THE PAINT JOB. WE KNOW IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE OLDER CARS DON'T HAVE THEIR PAINT COMING OFF ON THEIR ROOF OR HOOD. WE CAN SEE OTHER MINIVANS AROUND TOWN WITH THE SAME MODEL AND BLUE COLOR PAINT PEELING OFF ALSO. AND WE ARE THE ONLY CARS WHICH HAVE THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE CONTACT US REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. OUR DOOR HINGE IS BAD ALSO BUT WE THINK IT HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED.*AK

NHTSA ID
749056
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Apr 30, 2001

TOP OF SLIDING DOOR BROKE FROM TOP OF VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
887137
Incident
Apr 26, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Dec 28, 2000

SIDE DOOR AND THE HINGS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE'S BODY. *AK

NHTSA ID
877122
Incident
Dec 28, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Dec 21, 2000

BACK LIFTGATE DOOR DOES NOT STAY OPEN UNLESS PUTTING SOMETHING IN THE DOOR TO HOLD IT OPEN. *AK

NHTSA ID
876862
Incident
Dec 15, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Nov 30, 2000

CONSUMERS NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE HATCH UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR 99V-213 OF THE REAR LIFT GATE, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT RIGHT REAR LIFT GATE SUPPORT WASHERS COULD NOT BE REPLACED PER RECALL DUE TO A PREVIOUS REPAIR TO THE HATCH, NOW THE HATCH CANNOT BE OPENED WITHOUT THE RIGHT SUPPORT FALLING OUT AND IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE. NLM

NHTSA ID
558186
Body & structure
Filed Oct 1, 2000

THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR IS CRACKED AT THE FRAME AND THE DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE SECURELY. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT AT THE BODY SHOP AND WAS ADVISED THAT IT LOOKED LIKE A DEFECT. I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER, BUT ALL THEY DID WAS LOOK AT THE DOOR AND OFFERED NO INFORMATION (OF COURSE!) I AM WONDERING IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SOMEONE ELSE? AND IF IT IS IN FACT A DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP. I AM A SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLD WITH ONE VEHICLE AND IT IS DANGEROUS FOR MY CHILDREN TO RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT IN CASE THE DOOR SHALL FLY OPEN. IT WILL NOT CLOSE ALL OF THE WAY, IT BARELY LATCHES. THANK YOU FOR ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE ME!

NHTSA ID
733049
Body & structure
Filed Jun 12, 2000

ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED. DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID
863452
Incident
May 1, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Feb 9, 2000

RECALL 99V213000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 730; STRUTS WHICH SUPPORT THE LIFTGATE BROKE, ALLOWING THE LIFTGATE TO FALL SUDDENLY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
856590
Body & structure
Filed Feb 3, 2000

RECALL WORK COMPLETED HOWEVER REPAIR WAS NOT COMPLETED PROPERLY AND THE LIFTGATE DOES NOT STAY OPEN PROPERLY. (99V-213) *MJS

NHTSA ID
550698
Incident
Dec 20, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Dec 8, 1999

PAINT IS PEELING OFF OF HOOD, ROOF AND AREAS SURROUNDING THESE. PERSONS IN PAINT INDUSTRY HAVE TOLD MY BROTHER THAT THE MANUFACTURES UNDERPAINTED VEHICLES TO MEET PRODUCTION DEMANDS WITHOUT EXCEEDING GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS ON VAPORS GENERATED FROM THE PAINT. *AK

NHTSA ID
715835
Incident
May 5, 1995
Body & structure
Filed Oct 26, 1999

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #99V213000 2 WEEKS AGO. THIS IS THE 2ND NOTICE. HAD CONTACTED DEALER & THEN MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED. NOTICE SENT 2YEARS AGO & IT HAD EXPIRED. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HAVE WORK DONE ON LIFTGATE SUPPORT BOLT. THE DEALER WOULD DO REPAIRS, BUT CHARGE OWNER FOR IT. *AK

NHTSA ID
851784
Incident
Oct 20, 1999
Body & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 15, 1999

THIS WAS THIRD TIME THAT UNIVERSAL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. ALSO, BOTH FRONT DOORS AND SLIDING DOOR GOT STUCK. THE HOUSING UNIT ROCKED. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO FALL RIGHT OFF THE HINGES. WHEN OPENING THE DOOR ALL THE WAY, IT STUCK WIDE OPEN. *AK

NHTSA ID
850822
Incident
Nov 15, 1998
Body & structure
Filed Jun 3, 1999

I'M NOT SURE I'M LISTING THIS IN THE RIGHT SECTION BUT,MY PASSAGER DOOR IS COMING APART AT THE WELD AND THE BODY SHOP MAN TOLDME THAT THIS IS A DEFECT FROM DODGE HE FIXED IT TEMPORARY TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR CAUSE IT PUSHED IT UP UNDER MY FENDER WHEN IT SEPARATED HE SAID, IT WOULD NEED TO BE RPIPED ALL APART AND REWELDED AND PAINTED AT ABOUT 350.00 ALSO SAID, THAT HE HAS ONLY SEEN 3 OF THESE FROM DODGE LIKE THIS IN THE 20 YEARS HE HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS. I'M NOT SURE OF ALL THE DATA OF INFORMATION ON THE VECHICLE CAUSE I NEVER GOT ANY BOOK WITH MY VAN.I DO LOVE MY CARAVAN AND WHEN I CAN AFFORD ANOTHER I'M GETTING ME A BRAND NEW ONE ONE DAY.THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN BE DEBBIE EVANS. *AK

NHTSA ID
707158
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Feb 11, 1999

MY CAR IS OLDER BUT IT IS GARAGE KEPT AND I MAINLY USE IS TO DRIVE THE KIDS BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL. YESTERDAY WHEN ONE OF MY KIDS WENT TO CLOSE THE SLIDING REAR DOOR IT FELL OFF ITS TRACK AND I HAD TO RUN OUT TO HOLD THE DOOR SO IN WOULDN'T FALL ON THE GROUND. NOW I HAVE A FRIEND THAT THE SAME EXACT THING HAS HAPPENED TO, I'M JUST WONDERING...IF DOORS FALL OFF IN YOUR HANDS ISN'T THIS A DANGER! IF MY KID WAS OUTSIDE THE CAR IT MIGHT HAVE FALLEN ON HER. HAVE YOU HEARD OF THIS? SHOULD THE DEALER BE RESPONSIBILE FOR THIS DEFECT...OR IS IT WARE AND TEAR AFTER SO MANY YEARS...PLEASE HELP...HAS ANYONE GOTTEN HURT BY THIS.

NHTSA ID
703163
Incident
Feb 9, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Dec 17, 1998

PASSENGER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR HAS COMPLETELY FALLEN OFF THE TRACKS,CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
832435
Incident
Dec 16, 1998
Body & structureBrakesElectrical
Filed Oct 30, 1998

BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA ID
542353
Incident
Oct 21, 1991
Body & structure
Filed Oct 15, 1998

SLIDING DOOR ON PASSENGER'S SIDE CAME OFF AND HANGING OFF DOOR ANCHOR.DEALER NOTIFED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ID
828993
Incident
Oct 14, 1998
Body & structure
Filed Oct 8, 1998

THE REAR DOOR BUTTON IS POSITIONED NEXT TO THE REAR DEFROSTER BUTTON. SEVERAL TIMES AT NIGHT THE REAR DOOR BUTTON HAS BEEN PRESSED RATHER THAN THE DEFROSTER, OPENING THE REAR DOOR WHILE CHILDREN IN REAR SEATS.

NHTSA ID
780864
Body & structure
Filed Oct 7, 1998

PAINT IS PEELING OFF ENTIRE BODY OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
780965

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .