Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
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.
18
Latest Jan 19, 2008
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
4
5 injuries, 0 deaths reported
Overview
Our database contains 18 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Dodge Van, most frequently naming the airbags, visibility and other / unspecified categories. 14 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
Monthly complaints peaked at 4 in Aug 2005. Most recent month: 1.View as table
Monthly owner complaints for the 2002 Dodge Van
Month
Complaints filed
Cumulative
Aug 2002
1
1
Jun 2004
1
2
Dec 2004
1
3
Feb 2005
1
4
Mar 2005
1
5
Jun 2005
1
6
Jul 2005
1
7
Aug 2005
4
11
Jan 2006
1
12
Mar 2006
1
13
May 2006
1
14
Oct 2006
1
15
Nov 2006
1
16
Apr 2007
1
17
Jan 2008
1
18
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Airbags315.0%
Visibility210.0%
Other / unspecified210.0%
Steering210.0%
Transmission210.0%
Fuel system15.0%
Interior & seats15.0%
Tires & wheels15.0%
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
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I OWN A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN,WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY OVERHEATED AND WOULDN'T START. RADIATOR FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. INSPECTION OF VEHICLE REVEALED A HOLE CAUSED BY A WEAKENED TUBING WALL AND MOUNT CLIP AT THE WELD POINT. MY VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 36,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. THIS INCIDENT WENT UNNOTICED BECAUSE OF LOCATION. DODGE REFUSES TO CORRECT PROBLEM COMPLAINT #16378324 ALSO A FRIEND OF MINE HAD SAME PROBLEM COMPLAINT#16376641. *TR
NHTSA ID
10215446
Incident
May 30, 2007
Mileage
35,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 25, 2007
POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING. DEALER DESCRIBES IT AS "MAJOR REPAIR". *TR
NHTSA ID
10188788
Incident
Nov 1, 2006
Brakes
Filed Nov 27, 2006
Crash reported
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES HAD CONSISTENT AND WORSENING PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS AND PARTS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED AFTER EVERY REPAIR. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINES BURSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE RESIDENCE WERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. UPON EXAMINATION THE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS FAULTY DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER DESIGN AND THE BRAKE LINE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS THAN TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE REPAIRS WERE DONE. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND NO FURTHER REPAIRS WERE MADE.
NHTSA ID
10174433
Incident
Sep 15, 2006
Mileage
36,500 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 22, 2006
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported
WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT A 800 POUND HOG IN THE ROAD SENDING IT AIRBORN AND IT HIT OUR VAN BOUNCING OFF AND LANDING IN THE DITCH. OUR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE WINDSHIELD SMASHED INTO A BILLION PIECES , BUT THEN OUR VAN BURSTED INTO FLAMES TOTALLY GUTTING OUR VAN. HAD THE HOG ACTUALLY CAME IN ON US WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BURNED ALIVE AS THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY FOR US TO GET OUT. THE VAN WENT UP VERY FAST AND WE HAVE NO CLUE AS TO WHY OR WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *NM
NHTSA ID
10171540
Incident
Oct 3, 2006
Mileage
75,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed May 4, 2006
Crash reported4 injuries reported
WE WERE REAR ENDED AT 40-45 MPH. THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS COLLAPSED ON TO THE PASSENGERS IN THE MIDDLE SEATS. BECAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND ALL THE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE WERE INJURED. THE PASSENGER IN THE MIDDLE SEAT WAS CRUSHED. WE ASKED A EMPLOYEE AT DODGE IF THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN AND HE SAID YES. HOW COULD THIS BE THE RIGHT WAY FOR THE SEATS TO REACT, SHOULDN'T THE SEAT STAY UP RIGHT SO THE AIR BAG IS BY YOUR HEAD. [I REALLY WISH SOMEONE WOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THERE ARE DEATHS. *NM
NHTSA ID
10156818
Incident
Nov 27, 2005
AirbagsVisibility
Filed Mar 5, 2006
I PURCHASED MY CARAVAN IN NOVEMBER OF 2005. ONE MONTH AFTER BUYING IT THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY. NOW THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER WINDOWS SOMETIMES GO UP AND SOMETIMES DON'T. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING ON SUCH A NEWER VEHICLE? DO I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT WILL COST ME A FORTUNE? LG,MI. *NM
NHTSA ID
10151817
Incident
Nov 19, 2005
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jan 19, 2006
I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING THAT HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY REPORTED, AND I HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. I AM EXPERIENCING A NOISE AND VIBRATION WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED US THERE IS A TSB FOR THE PROBLEM, AND THE REPAIR COST ARE ESTIMATED AT $275.00. THE SUSPENSION PROBLEM IS A KNOCKING AND RATTLING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. THE TECHNICIAN HAS SAID THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS, AND LINKS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THOSE REPAIRS IS AN ADDITIONAL $375.00. I HAVE NOT MADE THE REPAIRS AS THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. *NM
NHTSA ID
10148103
Incident
Jan 16, 2006
Mileage
45,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 23, 2005
I HAVE REPEATLY (APPROX. 15-18) COMPLAINED TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER AND TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE MY VAN WAS BOUGHT, THAT MY AIR CONDITIONING DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT IS INTERMITTED. THERE HAVE BEEN VERY LOUD EXPLOSION-LIKE SOUNDS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ENGAGED. AFTER RUNNING THE VEHICAL AN 1/2 HOUR OR SO, THE INSIDE GRILL TEMP IS SOMETIMES 90. WE HAVE A VERY LARGE THERMOMETER THAT WE CAN PUT INTO THE AIR VENT TO GET AN ACCURATE TEMP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE COMPRESSOR 6 TIMES. THEY HAVE PULLED OUT THE GUTS. THEY REPLACED THE EVAPORATOR COILS,AND STILL THE AIR CONDITIONER IS INTERMITTED. DAIMLER EXTENTED THE WARRENTY ON THE COMPRESSOR ONLY, AND THE DEALERSHIP EXTENDED THE POWER TRAIN WARRENTY. STILL NO ONE HAS OR WILL FIX THE AC. WE DID NOT MEET THE CRIERIA OF THE MD. LEMON LAW, MY THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WAS 3 MONTHS LATE. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE VEHICAL 2 YEARS AGO AND THEY REFUSED. I HAVE ALL MY DOCUMENTS AND WOULD SURLEY APPRECIATE ANY HELP.
NHTSA ID
10133907
Incident
Aug 22, 2005
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
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.
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.
23-015-20
EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE
Disinfectant Solution Recommended for COVID-19
08-049-20
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.
31-003-19
EQUIPMENT
Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.
3100619
EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE
Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.
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
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.