RoadVitals

2002 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.
22
Latest Nov 13, 2018
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.
9%
of 245 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.
1

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 2002 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 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

Engine
Filed Nov 13, 2018

ENGINE BROKE

NHTSA ID
11151374
Incident
Oct 9, 2018
Mileage
105,677 mi
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Mar 29, 2017

THE STEERING WHEEL GETS LOCK WERE EVER I STOP ,INTERNAL CONTROL FAILURE, RADIATOR HEAT CONSTANTLY WHEN I AM DRIVING ,

NHTSA ID
10969351
Incident
Feb 1, 2017
Mileage
2 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 6, 2013
Fire reported

DRIVING VEHICLE .IT FLAME FROM UNDER. BELLY OF VEHICLE, . TOTALED THE VEHICLE NOTHING LEFT OF IT. LOST MY PERSONALS AS WELL.THANK GOD I DID NOT HAVE MY KIDS IN IT WHEN IT HAPPENED BEEN NO TIME, TO GET THEM OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10507365
Incident
Apr 6, 2013
Mileage
170,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 17, 2013
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH SHE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ORC MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE FAILURE WAS ALSO CONFIRMED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DID NOT TURN OFF. UPDATED 2/22/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID
10493326
Incident
Jan 15, 2013
Mileage
128,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Mar 25, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT DETECTED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND WATER PUMP WERE LEAKING FLUIDS. ALSO, THE FLYWHEEL BROKE IN HALF. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE OWNER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SERVICE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ID
10322092
Incident
Mar 25, 2009
Mileage
53,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 5, 2008

2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN MAKES CHIRPING SOUND AND HAVE REPAIRED IT OFTEN AT DEALERSHIPS. DEALER SAYS CANNOT BE FIXED IS STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WITH FAN BELT AND WHAT IT SITS IN - TENSIONER? - THEY ARE MISALIGNED AND CANNOT BE FIXED. CAR WAS BUILT WRONG. TIRED OF NOISE AND REPAIRING SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10230050
Incident
Jun 1, 2008
Mileage
25,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 28, 2007

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ROTTED OFF OF THE MANIFOLD AND FELL WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10210243
Incident
Nov 27, 2007
Mileage
74,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Oct 23, 2007

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 59,000 MILES- WILL COST ME AT LEAST $2650 WHEN I PICK IT UP THURSDAY, 10/25/07. WHAT CHOICE DO I HAVE, I HAVE TO GET TO WORK. I BOUGHT IT NEW AND IT WILL BE PAID OFF NEXT OCTOBER, 2008. I'VE HAD THAT VAN TO THE TWO DODGE DEALERS AND AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL MECHANICS. I'VE PAID FOR EMISSIONS REPAIRS, 3 SETS OF TIRES. I HAD THE "CARAVAN" LETTERS REPLACED AND THEY ARE NOW ETCHED OUT AGAIN, I'VE BEEN DRIVING IT AND IT QUIT BEFORE, BUT TODAY'S INCIDENT, WAS JUST A NEAR MISS I WASN'T CRUSHED BETWEEN A SCHOOL BUS AND A TRACTOR TRAILER. THE VAN JUST WOULDN'T GO. I WAS JUST SICK ALL DAY-SCARED AND ACTUALLY LEFT WORK EARLY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10206711
Incident
Oct 23, 2007
Engine
Filed Apr 25, 2007

I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN MY 2002 DODGE CARAVAN SPORT IN SEPTEMBER 2006. THERE IS A FAULT IN THE REAR HEATER ASSEMBLY TUBE WHICH CAUSES IT TO RUST OUT. WHEN THIS TUBE RUSTS OUT, ANTI-FREEZE LEAKS OUT, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT AND SEIZES THE MOTOR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10188880
Incident
Sep 20, 2006
Mileage
104,900 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 29, 2006

MY 2002 DODGE CARAVAN WITH 4 CYLINDER ENGINE HAS ABOUT 66,000 MILES ON IT AND THE EGR VALVE PACKAGE HAS GONE BAD. THE CHRYSLER DEALER IN MY AREA STATES THAT THIS PART IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED EMISSION'S CONTROL WARRANTY THAT EXPIRES AT 80,000 MILES. THE PART COST AROUND $170.00 AND WILL TAKE ABOUT $120-$200 FOR LABOR. THE PART # IS 4287820AC.

NHTSA ID
10177324
Incident
Dec 29, 2006
Mileage
65,900 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 25, 2006

2002 DODGE CARAVAN PROBLEMS. *TS *NM

NHTSA ID
10172240
Incident
Jul 18, 2006
Mileage
93,472 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 17, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY AND OCCURRED AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. UPDATE 5/2/2006 - ALL THE DASH LIGHTS FLICKERED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY. *NM

NHTSA ID
10155477
Incident
Apr 14, 2006
Mileage
75,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 13, 2005

2002 DODGE CARAVAN WILL STALL AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED - USUALLY WITHOUT WARNING. NO ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON INDICATING ENGINE HAS TURNED OFF. REALIZE ENGINE OFF WHEN NO RESPONSE OCCURS WITH PRESSING THROTTLE. MUST COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD TO STOP. VEHICLE WILL OFTEN NOT START FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES - ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL APPEAR. VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT 62 MPH AND EVEN AT LOWER SPEEDS ON ALL TYPES OF GROUND ELEVATION. VERY INTERMITTENT STALLING. ENGINE WILL ALSO NOT TURN OVER WHEN SITTING OVER NIGHT IN DRIVEWAY OR JUST WHEN EATING IN A RESTAURANT. EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS WILL STALL IN INTERSECTIONS, OR ON HIGHWAY TYPICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. A FEW TIMES CAR JERKED AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED THEN LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10136303
Incident
Sep 10, 2005
Mileage
64,000 mi
AirbagsEngineTransmission
Filed Jun 13, 2005

CONSUMER RECEIVED THIRD RECALL NOTICE FOR 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE DASH ON AND OFF, AND THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10126867
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 12, 2005

ON JANUARY 27, 2005, WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL INTERSTATE, THE AXLE BROKE, RACK AND PINION, AND THE CV JOINTS AND BOOTS ON MY 2002 DODGE CARAVAN WHICH WAS PURCHASED NEW, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT AND GREAT BODILY HARM TO MY WIFE WHO WAS DRIVING, OUR CHILDREN AGES 6YRS AND 4YRS, AND OTHER TRAVELING VEHICLES IN HER PATH. IN ADDITION TO THIS THE VEHICLE HAS A GAS EXHAUST PROBLEM. DIAMLERCHRYSLER SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED THE EXHAUST PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE CATALYSTIC CONVERTER IN AUG 2004 BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY, THE AXLE WAS REPAIRED ON 2/2005 BUT NOT THE OTHER PROBLEMS MENTIONED ABOVE.

NHTSA ID
10120817
Incident
Jan 27, 2005
Mileage
74,120 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 24, 2005

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO . *AK

NHTSA ID
10115742
Incident
May 1, 2002
Engine
Filed Oct 27, 2004

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A SERPENTINE BELT PROBLEM. HE HAD THE SERPENTINE BELT REPAIRED AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES, BUT IT KEPT COMING OFF. WHEN THIS HAPPENED EVERYTHING SHUT OFF. THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE CONSUMER COULD BE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND IF THE BELT SHUT OFF, CONSUMER COULD GET HURT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10097896
Incident
Oct 27, 2004
AirbagsElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Oct 12, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

I HAD PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN SE AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT WAS BACK IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. I HEARD A NOISE IN THE WINDOW AND THE DODGE PLACE TOLD ME IT WAS NOTHING NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. ALSO I HAVE MADE SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DODGE PLACE FOR THE BRAKES (REPLACED 6 TIMES ) , SLIDING DOOR DOESN'T STAY LATCHED AND ALWAYS SLIDES AND HITS MY CHILDREN WHILE GETTING IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT COMES UNDONE FOR NO REASON (IT WONT STAY LATCHED), I HAD A FLAT AND THE TIRE JACK BROKE WHILE JACKING UP THE VAN, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VAN JUST PROCEEDED TO GO AND I NO CONTROL OTHER THAN RUNNING IN A DITCH TO STOP, THE VAN ALWAYS DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT WHEN DRIVING AND DEALER SAID IT NOT FAULTY THAT'S HOW ITS MADE TO DO, I HAD 7 SETS OF TIRES AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE , I HAD AN ALIGNMENT DONE 4 TIMES BECAUSE OF THE DRIFTING AND TIRES WEARING OUT SO OFTEN, I HAVE HAD THE BALL BEARINGS REPLACED 2 TIMES, I HAD THE AC RECHARGED WITH FREON 2 TIMES IT JUST WOULDN'T KEEP COOL, THE BACK DEFROSTER SOMETIMES DOESN'T DEFROST MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHILE DRIVING, BAD SMELL COMING FROM VAN IT SMELLS LIKE A SKUNK AND IT MAKES IT HARD TO BREATHE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10095637
Incident
Aug 1, 2002
Mileage
120 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 4, 2004
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE. HAD SLOWED DOWN ,AND SMOKE CAME FROM VENTS. PULLED OVER, AND EVERYONE GOT OUT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER POPPED OPEN THE HOOD AND FLAMES SHOT OUT. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS BY FIRE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT FIRE WAS CAUSED BY ENGINE FUEL VALVE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10075695
Incident
May 31, 2004
Mileage
13,500 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Sep 12, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SLIPPING ON VEHICLE.*MR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT CONTROLLED THE TRANSMISSION ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT CHANGE GEARS PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR THE TRANSMISSION BUT TO DATE THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10040152
Incident
Aug 19, 2003
Mileage
9,965 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 6, 2003

THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY.*AK *JB

NHTSA ID
10009314
EngineTransmission
Filed Mar 13, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. ALSO, THERE IS A STRAIN IN VEHICLE WHEN CHANGING GEARS. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE AND CANT FIXED IT. *AK

NHTSA ID
8005545

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

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .