Complaints
840
Crashes
62
Fires
31
Injuries
47
Fatalities
2
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Dodge Caravan Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#182 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:77,558 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:2
#259 complaints
Airbags
Avg mileage:88,092 mi
Crash-related:4
#346 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
Avg mileage:116,622 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Dodge Caravan.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic Transmission | 82 | 1 | 2 | 77,558 mi | |
| Airbags | 59 | 4 | — | 88,092 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 46 | 1 | — | 116,622 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 42 | — | 1 | 68,585 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 32 | 18 | — | 88,757 mi | |
| Electrical System:Horn | 28 | — | — | 105,509 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 24 | — | 11 | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 19 | 2 | 1 | 62,674 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 19 | 3 | — | 102,000 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 18 | 2 | 1 | 87,772 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 18 | 4 | 1 | 90,667 mi | |
| Suspension:Front | 18 | 1 | — | 115,295 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 16 | — | 1 | 88,100 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 16 | — | — | 134,112 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 15 | — | 1 | 147,460 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 14 | — | — | 49,236 mi | |
| Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut | 11 | — | — | 91,000 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 9 | — | — | 72,867 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 9 | — | — | 104,434 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 8 | — | 1 | 27,656 mi | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 8 | — | — | 77,995 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 8 | 4 | 1 | 90,500 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 8 | 3 | — | 80,000 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 8 | — | — | 135,000 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 7 | — | — | 90,557 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 7 | 1 | 1 | 78,000 mi | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 7 | 2 | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 7 | — | — | 134,250 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 7 | — | — | 65,000 mi |
Automatic Transmission
82
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
77,558
Airbags
59
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
88,092
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
46
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
116,622
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
42
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
68,585
Air Bags:Frontal
32
complaints
Crashes
18
Fires
—
Avg Miles
88,757
Electrical System:Horn
28
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
105,509
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
24
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
11
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
19
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
62,674
Unintended Acceleration
19
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
102,000
Electrical Faults
18
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
87,772
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
18
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
90,667
Suspension:Front
18
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
115,295
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
88,100
Steering Defects
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
134,112
Engine & Cooling
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
147,460
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
49,236
Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
91,000
Tire Defects
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
72,867
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
104,434
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
27,656
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
77,995
Seat-Related Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
90,500
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
8
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
80,000
Structure:Body:Door
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
135,000
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
90,557
Electrical System:Ignition
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
78,000
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
134,250
Suspension Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
65,000
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Dodge Caravan. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Dodge Caravan Years
1998 Dodge Caravan — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Dodge Caravan reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1998 Dodge Caravan has 840 NHTSA complaints, 62 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Automatic Transmission with 82 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Dodge Caravan?
Top reported problems: Automatic Transmission (82 complaints, avg 77,558 mi); Airbags (59 complaints, avg 88,092 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys (46 complaints, avg 116,622 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Dodge Caravan?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 90,779 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Dodge Caravan?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Dodge Caravan include 62 crash-related reports, 31 fire reports, 47 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Dodge Caravan have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 Dodge Caravan as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1998 Dodge Caravan?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (automatic transmission) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Dodge Caravan reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Dodge Caravan
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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