RoadVitals

2002 Dodge Caravan Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
13
Latest Sep 22, 2011
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.
5%
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.
0
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 headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 13 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 exterior lighting

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

Exterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 22, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND LOSE POWER. THE FAILURE WAS SPORADIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED THE OPPOSITE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ERRONEOUSLY AND THE OIL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID
10426744
Incident
Jun 15, 2010
Mileage
85,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 29, 2009

2002 DODGE CARAVAN HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL ISSUE. MY HEADLIGHTS DO NOT TURN ON WHEN I TURN THE SWITCH. SOMETIMES THEY COME ON QUICKLY SOMETIMES THEY TAKE MORE THAN 30 MINUTES. FOR THEM TO TURN OFF I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK. THEY TURN ON THE SAME WAY THE HEADLIGHTS DO. IF IT BEGINS TO RAIN WHILE I AM DRIVING I HAVE TO PULL OVER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10256849
Incident
Feb 2, 2008
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 3, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK AT HIGH OR LOW BEAM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT CONTROL MODULE MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE POSES A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. HE HAS READ ABOUT SIMILAR FAILURES ON THE INTERNET. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10244330
Incident
Sep 21, 2008
Mileage
120,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 12, 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE HEAD LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. ONLY ONE HEAD LIGHT WORKS AT A TIME. WHEN THE INTERMEDIATE LIGHTS ARE ON, ONLY THE PASSENGER HEAD LIGHT SIDE WOULD LIGHT, WHEN THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS ARE ON, ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE HEAD LIGHT WOULD LIGHT AND WHEN THE RUNNING LIGHTS ARE ON ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT WOULD LIGHT. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE DIMMER SWITCH. THE CONTACT CONTINUOUS TO HAVE THE SAME FAILURES, AND CAN PROVIDE COPIES OF INVOICE REPAIR ORDERS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10178499
Incident
Nov 1, 2006
Mileage
88,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 26, 2006

2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2002 DODGE CARAVAN FLASH OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY DRIVING AT NIGHT. I HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAVE NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENTS THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE OR POLICE REPORTS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE HAS THE ORIGINAL HEADLIGHTS. I REPORTED THIS IN AN EARLIER COMPLAINT BUT I FOUND THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME THE OBD FUSE HAS BEEN BLOWN. THE POSSIBLE CAUSE TO IT HAS BEEN THE VEHICLE WAS JUMPED DUE TO A LOW BATTERY. *NM

NHTSA ID
10176997
Incident
Dec 21, 2006
Mileage
40,001 mi
Exterior lightingOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Feb 2, 2006

HEADLIGHTS KEPT FLICKERING WHEN TURN SIGNAL WAS TURN ON ALSO HIGH BEAM LIGHT SWITCH WOULD STAY ON AFTER FLASHING THEM. FRONT SUSPENSION SQUEAKS AND MAKES CLUNKING NOISE WHEN HITTING BUMPS. BELTS SQUEAK THEY ARE BRAND NEW LESS THAN 10000 MILE WITH IT ON. *JB

NHTSA ID
10149332
Incident
Aug 19, 2005
Mileage
72,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 9, 2005

2002 DODGE CARAVAN HEADLIGHTS PERIODICALLY GO OFF, SOMETIMES STAYING OFF FOR 15-20 SECONDS. NOT RELATED TO ACCELERATION, BUMPS OR STOPS. AFFECTS BOTH HEADLIGHTS SIMULTANEOUSLY. VERY SCARY!! ESPECIALLY ON INTERSTATE AND HEAVY TRAFFIC. ALSO, CARS PULL OVER BECAUSE THEY THINK I'M FLASHING DELIBERATELY.*JB

NHTSA ID
10142244
Incident
Oct 22, 2005
Mileage
59,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 11, 2005

DT: 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2002 DODGE CARAVAN FLASHED OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY DRIVING AT NIGHT.. HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. HAD NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE NOR POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE HAS THE ORIGINAL HEADLIGHTS. *AK UPDATED 11/16/2005. *NM

NHTSA ID
10139288
Incident
Jan 15, 2002
Mileage
3,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 3, 2005

7/31/05 CONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFETY COMMISSION DAIMLER CHRYSLER MOTORS CORPORATION TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I HAVE A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE THAT WAS DESIGNED AND BUILT WITH A DANGEROUS DEFECT. THE TAIL LIGHT LENSES OR COVERS HAVE BEEN GLUED ON BUT THE GLUE HAS FAILED ON BOTH TAIL LIGHTS AND BOTH COVERS HAVE FALLEN OFF ONTO THE FREEWAY EXPOSING THE BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT BULBS AND DROPPING A LARGE PLASTIC LENS ONTO THE FREEWAY. WHEN THE FIRST ONE FELL OFF MY WIFE STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY AND PICKED UP THE LENS. WHAT A GREAT WAY TO GET KILLED. THE SECOND TIME I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY AND HEARD A NOISE BUT DID NOT STOP UNTIL I LEFT THE FREEWAY. THE DEALER SELLS THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR $ 99.00 BUT THE LENS COVER IS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY. LOOKS LIKE A GOOD FUNDRAISER FOR THE DEALER BUT A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR EVERYONE ON THE ROAD. THE PROBLEM IS THE NEW LENS HAS THE SAME DESIGN AND WAS BUILT THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL ONE. I TALKED TO THE SALES CLERK AT THE DODGE PARTS COUNTER AND HE SAID "WE HAVE SOLD A LOT OF THESE LATELY." SO THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENCE. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. IF THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER MOTORS CORPORATION ACTS RESPONSIBLE AND SOLVES THIS PROBLEM QUICKLY LIVES CAN BE SAVED AND INJURIES AVOIDED. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE NOTICED A LENS COVER FOR A VEHICLE LIGHT COVER THAT WAS NOT ATTACHED WITH SCREWS. THE GOOD THING IS THERE IS A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. DRILL TWO HOLES IN THE PLASTIC LENS AND INSTALL TWO SCREWS AS I HAVE DONE TO THE LENS COVER RETRIEVED FROM THE FREEWAY BY MY WIFE. AFTER DISCOVERING THIS PROBLEM I FEEL A RESPONSIBILITY TO NOTIFY AS MANY PEOPLE AS NECESSARY TO HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION ON THIS MATTER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10131372
Incident
Jun 15, 2005
Mileage
98,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 14, 2005

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
10115108
Incident
Mar 14, 2004
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 3, 2005

THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERS; ONCE THEY WENT OUT COMPLETELY FOR ABOUT FIVE SECONDS. THIS HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 20 TIMES SINCE NOVEMBER 2004. THERE IS NO TIME PATTERN AS TO WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OFF. THE DEALER KNOWS THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE DEALER THAT THEY HAVE A BACK ORDER OF OVER 800 SWITCHES AND THAT NO ONE IS MAKING THE SWITCHES.

NHTSA ID
10106699
Incident
Jan 3, 2005
Mileage
44,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 8, 2004

WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE IN USE THEY WOULD FLICKER INTERMITTENTLY. THE HEADLIGHTS ALSO WENT OUT COMPLETELY FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 SECONDS ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC

NHTSA ID
10099856
Incident
Sep 24, 2004
Mileage
45,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 2, 2003

INTERMITTENTLY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. ONCE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF FOR ABOUT A SECOND. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE AT NIGHT TIME. DEALER HAS INSPECTED SEVERAL TIMES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
10001888
Incident
Jan 2, 2003
Mileage
14,500 mi

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 .