EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
2002 Dodge Grand Caravan
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 290 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan, most frequently naming the airbags, steering and transmission categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 5 NHTSA investigations name it; and 15 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | 4 | 213 |
| Feb 2008 | 1 | 214 |
| Mar 2008 | 2 | 216 |
| Apr 2008 | 2 | 218 |
| May 2008 | 2 | 220 |
| Jun 2008 | 3 | 223 |
| Jul 2008 | 2 | 225 |
| Aug 2008 | 1 | 226 |
| Oct 2008 | 5 | 231 |
| Dec 2008 | 1 | 232 |
| Jan 2009 | 1 | 233 |
| Feb 2009 | 1 | 234 |
| Mar 2009 | 1 | 235 |
| Jun 2009 | 1 | 236 |
| Jul 2009 | 1 | 237 |
| Aug 2009 | 1 | 238 |
| Nov 2009 | 1 | 239 |
| Jan 2010 | 1 | 240 |
| Feb 2010 | 2 | 242 |
| Mar 2010 | 3 | 245 |
| May 2010 | 1 | 246 |
| Jul 2010 | 1 | 247 |
| Sep 2010 | 1 | 248 |
| Nov 2010 | 1 | 249 |
| Dec 2010 | 2 | 251 |
| Apr 2011 | 1 | 252 |
| Jun 2011 | 1 | 253 |
| Aug 2011 | 1 | 254 |
| Sep 2011 | 1 | 255 |
| Oct 2011 | 1 | 256 |
| Dec 2011 | 1 | 257 |
| Jan 2012 | 1 | 258 |
| Feb 2012 | 1 | 259 |
| Mar 2012 | 1 | 260 |
| Jun 2012 | 1 | 261 |
| Sep 2012 | 1 | 262 |
| Nov 2012 | 1 | 263 |
| Dec 2012 | 2 | 265 |
| Mar 2014 | 1 | 266 |
| Aug 2014 | 1 | 267 |
| Nov 2014 | 2 | 269 |
| Apr 2015 | 1 | 270 |
| Jun 2015 | 1 | 271 |
| Aug 2015 | 2 | 273 |
| Sep 2015 | 1 | 274 |
| Oct 2015 | 1 | 275 |
| Nov 2016 | 1 | 276 |
| Mar 2017 | 1 | 277 |
| Apr 2017 | 1 | 278 |
| Nov 2017 | 2 | 280 |
| Dec 2017 | 1 | 281 |
| Jun 2018 | 1 | 282 |
| Nov 2018 | 1 | 283 |
| Jun 2019 | 1 | 284 |
| Jul 2019 | 1 | 285 |
| Oct 2019 | 1 | 286 |
| Feb 2022 | 1 | 287 |
| May 2022 | 1 | 288 |
| Sep 2023 | 1 | 289 |
| Apr 2026 | 1 | 290 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Airbags5914.8%
- Steering5313.3%
- Transmission379.3%
- Electrical379.3%
- Brakes369.0%
- Seat belts225.5%
- Exterior lighting215.3%
- Fuel system215.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
6 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govSTEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION
OWNER REPORTS INDICATE ALLEGATIONS OF IMPROPER HEADLIGHT OPERATION OF ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS.SOME REPORT INTERMITTENT OUTAGE OR DIMMING.MANY REPORT THAT THE CONDITION IS RANDOM; IT SOMETIMES DOES NOT REPEAT AND LASTS FOR A VERY SHORT DURATION. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL MONITOR THIS ISSUE AND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS FROM CONSUMERS THAT THEIR HEADLIGHTS WOULD MALFUNCTION IN VARIOUS WAYS FROM FLICKERING TO COMPLETE NON-ILLUMINATION.HEADLIGHT OPERATION IS MONITORED BY THE VEHICLE'S BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) AND FRONT CONTROL MODULE (FCM).ODI IS UPGRADING THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA05-009) TO FURTHER EXAMINE THE ISSUE.
POWER LIFTGATE LATCH
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AS PE04-054 REGARDING REPORTS OF ALLEGED POWER LIFTGATE (PLG) OPENING WHILE DRIVING.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004 BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) IN ITS SEPTEMBER 17, 2004 RESPONSE TO PE04-054. BY LETTER OF APRIL 5, 2005, DCC HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 70,235 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PLG OPTION.DCC HAS IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM IN EARLY PRODUCTION MY 2003 PLG CONTROL MODULES THAT CAN PREVENT THE PLG DOOR FROM LATCHING CLOSED IN A POWER OPEN/CLOSE CYCLE.IN THIS CONDITION THE PLG CAN RISE (NOT POWER OPEN) DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PLG CONTROL MODULE TO REMEDY THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.SEE SAFETY RECALL 05V134 FOR DETAILS.
SPEAKER FIRE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE
ON JULY 7, 2004, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING AN INTERIOR VEHICLE FIRE STARTING IN THE AREA OF THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SPEAKER.DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) INFORMED ODI THAT CONDENSATION FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AIR CONDITIONING DUCTS MAY DRIP ONTO THE RADIO AND INTO VENT HOLES ON TOP OF THE RADIO.THIS CAN RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT SENDING DIRECT CURRENT TO THE REAR SPEAKERS AND CAUSE A SPEAKER FIRE.THE CONDITION IS PRESENT ONLY ON SUBJECT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE BASE RADIO.SUBJECT VEHICLES WITH OTHER OPTION RADIOS CONTAIN CIRCUIT PROTECTION THAT PREVENTS SENDING DIRECT CURRENT TO THE SPEAKERS AND ARE NOT AFFECTED.ALL NINE COMPLAINTS PERTAIN TO VEHICLES WITH THE BASE RADIO.BY LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2004, DCC NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA# 04V531) COVERING MODEL YEAR 2001-2002 DODGE CARAVAN, GRAND CARAVAN, CHRYSLER VOYAGER, AND TOWN & COUNTRY MODELS WITH BASE RADIO ONLY (EST. 238,000 VEHICLES).DCC DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE TAPE TO THE TOP OF THE RADIO ASSEMBLY TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION.THE ACTION TAKEN BY DCC IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I just bought a 2002 Dodge Grand caravan. I have noticed the seat belts do not lock when I installed the car seat and pulled the seat belt to lock the car seat in place it will not work which makes the car seat tip and fall every direction. I tried every seat in van to see if the lock and they do not unless the car is started if you pull it down fast it locks but not when it's off and will not stay locked. Speedometer and gas gage quit working.
- NHTSA ID
- 11730502
- Incident
- Mar 30, 2026
I was driving down highway 60 when my van backfired. I thought it was a blown tire & started pulling off the highway. When pulling off the highway I noticed the orange glare off the side rails on the highway. That's when I realized that the van had caught on fire under the hood. Once I pulled over I had a friend call 911 to report my van on fire while I tried to open the hood & put the fire out. The hood was to hot to open so I grabbed everything I could from my van & stayed clear of it until the Arizona fire dept & Arizona highway patrol came. All my information was taken by the Arizona highway patrol. I was told that my van will be at J&S Towing & that my friends & i can leave the scene.
- NHTSA ID
- 11545506
- Incident
- Aug 21, 2023
Every time I go Though a small puddle rain or snow 10 to 30 mph I loose power steering and have a battery light pop on I have to pull over turn off van and restart sometime it goes back to normal
- NHTSA ID
- 11463671
- Incident
- Sep 20, 2019
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the heater blower had become inoperable and upon inspection, it was discovered that the heater blower wiring harness was burnt and the wires were melted together. The cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 185,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11450831
- Incident
- Feb 6, 2022
- Mileage
- 185,000 mi
MY VAN,2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, RANDOMLY STALLS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET/ROAD WHETHER ON STRAIGHT ROAD OR A CURVE, OR WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS OR LESS,GAS SEEMS TO BE IRRELEVANT . AFTER STALLING WILL NOT RESTART. I HAVE REPLACED ALL MINI-FUSES,BATTERY, STARTER,AND STILL WILL STALL. SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 25 MPH WHILE STILL MOVING IT WILL RESTART ON ITS OWN. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11270261
- Incident
- Oct 16, 2019
- Mileage
- 260,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOOR HANDLE HAD MELTED DUE TO EXPOSURE TO THE SUN AND THE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO BE OPENED. ALSO, THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD HAD ALSO MELTED AND CRACKED DUE TO EXPOSURE TO THE SUN CAUSING DEBRIS TO SEPARATE FROM THE DASHBOARD MAKING CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS OPENED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER JACKSONVILLE DODGE (11101 NURSERYFIELD DR. JACKSONVILLE FL) AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11240274
- Incident
- Feb 1, 2010
- Mileage
- 90,000 mi
AIR BAG FAILURE REPORTED TO DODGE IN 2003 AND MANY ATTEMPTS TO HAVE IT FIXED HAVE FAILED. CODE SAYS PASSANGER AIR BAG DEFECTIVE AND AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. IN MANY YEARS THE DEALER HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THEY SIMPLY RESET THE CODE TO TURN THE LIGHT OFF AND LATER IT COMES BACK ON. THE FIRST REPORTED FAILURES WERE UNDER THE WARRANTY. THEN THEY CHARGE $ 100.00 TO TURN THE LIGHT AND THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 10 TIMES IN THE PAST YEARS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM (NOT A WEAR ITEM) AND SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER NOW WANTS OVER A 1,000 TO REMOVE THE DASH ASM JUSTR TO DETERMINE IF IT IS A WIRING, CONNECTION PROBLEM OR IF THE AIR BAG IS ACTUALLY BAD. I HAVE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS VERIFYING MY CLAIM.
- NHTSA ID
- 11219750
- Incident
- Jun 10, 2019
CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSING POWER LOSS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY
- NHTSA ID
- 11153600
- Incident
- Nov 21, 2018
- Mileage
- 221,015 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:IMMOBILIZER/PROXIMITY:KEY/SENDER
KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:IMMOBILIZER/PROXIMITY:KEY/SENDER
KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.
EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE
Disinfectant Solution Recommended for COVID-19
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT
Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary.
STRUCTURE
Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.
EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE
Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 52.6 |
| 2019 | 238 | 4 | 1 | 63.3 |
| 2018 | 269 | 4 | 1 | 55.9 |
| 2017 | 411 | 3 | 1 | 53.6 |
| 2016 | 998 | 6 | 2 | 57.2 |
| 2015 | 278 | 4 | 1 | 59.2 |
| 2014 | 357 | 5 | 2 | 62.6 |
| 2013 | 470 | 4 | 2 | 57.8 |
| 2012 | 583 | 6 | 2 | 56.3 |
| 2011 | 530 | 4 | 2 | 57.3 |
| 2010 | 867 | 6 | 3 | 57.4 |
| 2009 | 543 | 7 | 2 | 55.6 |
| 2008 | 1,291 | 8 | 2 | 55.7 |
| 2007 | 182 | 3 | 1 | 56.3 |
| 2006 | 284 | 4 | 5 | 59.2 |
| 2005 | 995 | 6 | 7 | 58.5 |
| 2004 | 116 | 3 | 1 | 49.1 |
| 2003 | 219 | 3 | 3 | 58.3 |
| 2002Viewing | 290 | 6 | 5 | 61.7 |
| 2001 | 298 | 5 | 3 | 55.7 |
| 2000 | 442 | 8 | 3 | 61.2 |
| 1999 | 432 | 5 | 6 | 61.9 |
| 1998 | 559 | 6 | 6 | 64.2 |
| 1997 | 583 | 6 | 6 | 64.5 |
| 1996 | 1,157 | 11 | 11 | 60.7 |
| 1995 | 108 | 3 | 5 | 54.9 |
| 1994 | 199 | 6 | 5 | 61.4 |
| 1993 | 289 | 9 | 8 | 59.6 |
| 1992 | 255 | 8 | 6 | 65.0 |
| 1991 | 129 | 8 | 7 | 61.5 |
| 1990 | 55 | 3 | 2 | 54.8 |
| 1989 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 56.2 |
| 1988 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 55.6 |
| 1987 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 1985 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.