2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Owner Complaints

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

STRONG FUEL SMELL ENTERING THE CABIN AT LOW SPEED OR IDLE COMING FROM VEHICLE WHEN RUNNING.

NHTSA ID

11104678

Incident

May 15, 2018

Mileage

108,000 mi

THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON EACH TIME I START THE ENGINE AND STAYS ON .

NHTSA ID

11054506

Incident

Dec 2, 2017

Mileage

193,000 mi

REAL AXLE RUSTED OUT ON RIGHT SIDE CAUSING THE WHEEL BRAKE LOOSE IN MY DRIVEWAY AS I PULLED IN AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP IN MY DRIVEWAY AS I CAME TO A STOP I HAD IT REPAIRED AT A COST NEAR $800 I CAN NOT ACCESS RECORDS AT THIS BUT COULD IF NECESSARY

NHTSA ID

11051019

Incident

Sep 8, 2013

Mileage

90 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN OR SNOW BETWEEN APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 70 MILES PER HOUR, THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF THE PULLEY AND THE POWER STEERING ABILITY WAS REDUCED. ALSO, THE BATTERY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE, AND THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11048763

Incident

Nov 26, 2017

Mileage

170,000 mi

LEAKING FUEL RAIL CAP 2002 DODGE CARAVAN IS LEAKING GAS ALL OVER THE SPARK PLUGS ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL PARTS WHEN 1ST TURNING THE VEHICLE ON IN THE MORNING.

NHTSA ID

10971147

Incident

Mar 16, 2017

MY STEERING WHEEL ACTS UP WHEN IT RAINS OUTSIDE MAKES IT HARD TO STEER MY LEFT SIDE SPEAKERS WENT OUT THE TAPE DECKS NEVER WORKED ON MY VAN MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW GOES DOWN BUT SEEMS TO HAVE DIFFICULT GOING UP MY SLIDING DOORS SEEM TO HAVE DIFFICULTIES AT TIMES THE RIGHT SIDE NEVER OPENS

NHTSA ID

10969083

Incident

Oct 27, 2015

DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT. HAS REAR AXEL CRAKED. THIS PROBLEM CAN PUT THE VEHICLE USAFE ON THE ROAD, AND ALSO CAUSE DEATH OR INJURY.

NHTSA ID

10925670

Incident

Nov 13, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TROUBLE CODE DETECTED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10780201

Incident

Apr 15, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

I PARKED MY MINI VAN @ 3:00 PM STAURDAY-22-2015 ON 115 STREET BEFORE MYRTLE AV RICHMOND HILL QUEENS NEW YORK, SUNDAY 6:00 AM I CAME HOME AND DECIDED TO CHECK ON MY CAR IF SOMEBODY HAD BROKEN-IN/STEEL MY 3 PEACE TOOL BOX BUT MY CAR HAD DISSAPEARED, I SAW BROKEN DRIVER SIDE GLASS ON THE GOUND AND CALL COPS RIGHT AWAY.

NHTSA ID

10762755

Incident

Aug 22, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V234000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10747570

Incident

Aug 11, 2014

I ROLLED INTO THE WOMAN IN FRONT OF ME AND MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO EITHER CAR EXCEPT FOR THE AIRBAGS. THE DRIVER AIRBAG SMACKED ME IN THE FACE AND CHEST AND THUMB. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 3 MPH BECAUSE I HAD STOPPED AND THE WOMAN IN FRONT OF ME HAD STOPPED AND WE WERE BOTH GOING FORWARD TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AT A REALLY SLOW SPEED. I ROLLED INTO HER AND A SECOND OR TWO LATER THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. UPDATED 12/03/15*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

10746376

Incident

Aug 5, 2015

Mileage

142,000 mi

THE DATE AND MILEAGE ARE APPROXIMATE, BUT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE LAST FALL (2014). WHEN PLACING THE KEY IN THE ACC POSITION EVERYTHING WORKS. AFTER STARTING THE MOTOR, MANY TIMES THE WIPERS, RADIO, POWER WINDOWS AND INTERNAL FAN WILL NOT COME ON FOR AS LITTLE AS A FEW SECONDS OR AS LONG AS AN HOUR. IT DOES NOT TO ALWAYS HAPPEN, BUT VERY FREQUENTLY IT DOES. IT SOMETIMES SEEMS TO BE WEATHER RELATED... HEAT, COLD, RAINING OR SNOWING WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE DANGER IS SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF ESPECIALLY ON A RAINY/SNOWY DAY, BEING AWAY FROM HOME AND THE WIPERS WILL NOT WORK WHEN RE-STARTING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THE FUSE AND COMPUTER UNITS CHANGED (TOTAL FUSE POWER BOX REPLACED NEW ABOUT 1-1/2 YEARS AGO WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS AN UPGRADED BETTER SEALED UNIT AND THE COMPUTER ATTACHED IN FRONT OF IT REPLACED WITH A USED ONE ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO) BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. IT IS MY OPINION THIS IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT CONCERNS THE WIPERS NOT ABLE TO WORK. I KNOW WHICH FUSE OPERATES THEM AND HAVE TRIED REPLACING IT, BUT THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS, IT WILL NOT CLICK ON UNTIL WHAT EVER IS CAUSING IT NOT TO DECIDES TO LET IT COME ON. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY DODGE AND NOT BE AN EXPENSE TO MYSELF OR ANY OTHER OWNER WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY GRIEVANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10730482

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

165,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY CAR JUST TURN OFF,I TURN BACK ON WHIT NO PROBLEM AND TIME LATER PASSES AGAIN,SOMETIMES TURN OFF 2 OR 3 TIMES A DAY AND SOMETIMES WORK FINE, THE COMPUTER SHOWS NO CODE, AND I CHANGE MANY THING TRYING TO FIX IT, SPARK PLUGS, RELAY FUEL PUMP, SPARK PLUG WIRES, RELAY STARTER. I WENT WHIT THE MECHANIC FOR CHECK THE FUEL PUMP AND IS GOOD. DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME. THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10704346

Incident

Feb 12, 2015

Mileage

159,200 mi

WE HAVE BEEN SMELLING THE SMELL OF GAS FOR AWHILE, TODAY IT GOT ALOT STRONGER,WE HAD JUST PUT GAS IN THE VAN AND WE THOUGHT MAY SOME HAD GOTTEN SPILLED ON THE OUTSIDE. WHEN WE STOPPED TO WASH IT I LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW A HUGE PUDDLE OF GAS FORMING ON THE GROUND. COME TO FIND OUT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL IN OCTOBER 2002. LOOKED ON MY CARFAX AND IT DOESNT LIST THAT AS BEING REPAIRED. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10661121

Incident

Nov 26, 2014

Mileage

250,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 203,000.

NHTSA ID

10658732

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

203,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE SIDE MIRROR POWER SWITCH. THE PANEL MELTED ALTHOUGH NO FLAMES WERE PRESENT. IN ADDITION, THE HORN FAILED TO ACTIVATE WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE POWER SWITCH, BUT THE HORN WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,700.

NHTSA ID

10622199

Incident

Aug 12, 2014

Mileage

137,700 mi

WHENEVER IT RAINS, IN PORTLAND OREGON, THAT IS ALL THE TIME, THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. YOU CAN HEAR THE BELT SLIPPING AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL WARNINGS GO ON. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. DUE TO THE DANGERS OF THIS PROBLEM, WE WILL NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT IS OR HAS BEEN RAINING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573451

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

90,000 mi