RoadVitals

1989 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
24
Latest Nov 7, 2004
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
11
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Dodge Grand Caravan, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine414.8%
  • Tires & wheels311.1%
  • Body & structure27.4%
  • Powertrain (other)27.4%
  • Suspension27.4%
  • Fuel system13.7%
  • Seat belts13.7%
  • Electrical13.7%
  • Interior & seats13.7%
  • Other / unspecified13.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

9
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

HOW MANY OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE TO FAIL BEFORE D-C OWNS UP TO POOR ENGINEERING/DESIGN??*AK

NHTSA ID 758921 · filed Mar 4, 2002

OVERALL BUILD QUALITY/REPAIR RELIABILITY/PARTS MFRG FAR BELOW AVG WITH NUMEROUS ROAD SIDE FAILURES UNSAFE. NO, SAFETY DEFCT STATED. *AK

NHTSA ID 754063 · filed Nov 4, 2001
All 9 reports naming transmission

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

RECALL CAMPAIGN 04 V 357 000/CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR/MIL: THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE (CMP) SENSOR AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. *JB *SC *JB

NHTSA ID 10099060 · filed Nov 7, 2004

AIR CONDITIONING, PAINT AND TRANSMISSION AS OF TODAY HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS THE A-604 ULTRADRIVE TRANSMISSION. AND IT IS STUCK IN ONE GEAR.

NHTSA ID 10069399 · filed Jan 15, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

PURCHASED TWO 205/75R15 COOPER TRENDSETTER SE TIRES FOR FRONT OF 1989 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ON DECEMBER 27, 2002 WITH 143,136 MILEAGE. TIRES HAD STEEL BELT SHOWING BADLY ON INSIDE OF BOTH TIRES AFTER 2,500 MILES. REPLACED ON APRIL 13, 2004 WITH 145,896 MILEAGE(AFTER ONLY 2,760 MILES) WITH TWO MORE 205/75 R15 COOPER TRENDSETTER SE TIRES. COOPER DEALER SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT EVEN BOTHER TO CONTACT COOPER TO ASK FOR WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. NOW DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION ON DANGER OF THESE TIRES AND THE USELESSNESS OF SO CALLED 45,000 MILES WARRANTY NOW SEEKING WAY TO CONTACT COOPER TIRES TO ASK FOR WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OF THESE COOPER TRENDSETTER SE TIRES. RICHYT. *AK

NHTSA ID 10066290 · filed Apr 16, 2004

TIRE TREAD CAME ALMOST COMPLETELY OFF AT 45 MPH CAUSE DAMAGE TO LEFT REAR FENDER AREA. THREE MONTHS LATER THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED BUT DIDN'T COME OFF AS MUCH SO NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THESE TIRES WERE ON THE REAR OF A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. WITH THE FIRST ONE I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE BUT NOW I AM SURE IT WASN'T. BOTH TIRES STILL HAVE GOOD TREAD. I KEPT BOTH TIRES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: HY DRT 195 TIRESIZE: P215/70R14)

NHTSA ID 750285 · filed Aug 13, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WINDSHIELD SUN VISOR MATERIAL SELECTION IS DEFECTIVE, CRUMBLES & DISINTIGRATES WITH AGE, DROPS INTO EYES OF DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER. *AK

NHTSA ID 754062 · filed Nov 4, 2001

FRAME DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID 516686 · filed Apr 23, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

AIR CONDITIONING, PAINT AND TRANSMISSION AS OF TODAY HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS THE A-604 ULTRADRIVE TRANSMISSION. AND IT IS STUCK IN ONE GEAR.

NHTSA ID 10069399 · filed Jan 15, 2004

FRAME DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID 516686 · filed Apr 23, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE DUE TO THE BALL JOINTS/ CV JOINTS UNDER THE LEFT DRIVER SEAT HAVE GONE BAD AND NEEDED REPLACING. ALSO, SHE HAD TWO OTHER DODGE PRODUCTS, MINI VANS IN WHICH BALL JOINTS FAILED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID 867704 · filed Aug 14, 2000

FRAME DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID 516686 · filed Apr 23, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

FUEL INJECTOR PUMP, TRANSMISSION SENSOR, WIRING HARNESS IN TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER ENGINE MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID 541659 · filed Sep 24, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT 30MPH, THE CENTER SEAT RIGHT SIDE SEAT BELT BECAME DETACHED FROM THE BELT BUCKLE. *AK

NHTSA ID 813626 · filed Jun 30, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE IGNITION LOCKED, OVERHEATED AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, AND THE SIDE DOOR HAD COME OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. IN AN ATTEMPTED TO SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN, THE CONSUMER REACHED FOR THE COIL WIRE AND THE WARPED SEAL GAVE AWAY AND BURNED THE CONSUMER'S HANDS AND FACE. SCC *JB

NHTSA ID 10019454 · filed May 15, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK ADJUSTMENT BROKE.

NHTSA ID 516075 · filed Apr 1, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

UNDER VAN SPARE TIRE CARRIER PLATE CORROSION FAILURE, FLAT PLATE BECAME V & DROPPED SPARE TIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID 754061 · filed Nov 4, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .