Total Complaints
85 filings
DODGE CARAVAN · model year
1985 DODGE CARAVAN
85 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985DODGECARAVAN carries 85 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 6 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1985 CARAVAN is structure:body:hatchback/liftgate with 5 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (4) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 1985 CARAVAN, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
85
Complaints
8
Crashes
6
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
8 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES | 2 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
Recent Complaints
19991217ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
19990816ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY DODGE CARAVAN MINIVAN IS ON HIGH . WHEN I DRIVE IT IT WILL REMAIN ONE SPEED UNTIL I PUT THE BRAKE ON. I KNOW THESE CARS WERE RECALLED. I WOULD LIKE A REFUND OF MY INVESTMENT. THE DOOR PANEL LIGHTS ALSO GET EXTREMELY HOT. THEY HAVE BURNT HOLES IN THEMSELVES AND HOLES ON MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS.
19990816STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
MY DODGE CARAVAN MINIVAN IS ON HIGH . WHEN I DRIVE IT IT WILL REMAIN ONE SPEED UNTIL I PUT THE BRAKE ON. I KNOW THESE CARS WERE RECALLED. I WOULD LIKE A REFUND OF MY INVESTMENT. THE DOOR PANEL LIGHTS ALSO GET EXTREMELY HOT. THEY HAVE BURNT HOLES IN THEMSELVES AND HOLES ON MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS.
19990407STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
HATCHBACK WINDOW IS RUSTING AROUND THE EDGE, AND THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP. THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE HATCHBACK WINDOW. *AK
19980923LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE HOOD FLEW UP INTO THE WINDSHIELD. *AK
19980713EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE RUSTED AND BROKE. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
19980220LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
REAR DOOR LATCH UNLOCKS ON ITS OWN.
19980220SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED.
19980220FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL WIRING TO LIGHTS IGNITED.
19980205STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
LEFT INNER TIE-ROD END FAILED, CAUSING WHEELS TO COME OFF IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
19971204VISIBILITY
PLASTIC WINDOW LATCH CRACKED/CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH.
19970918ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE RUNNING ON ITS OWN COMPRESSION EVEN THOUGH THE IGNITION KEY HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. *AK
19970825SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKES PULSATED DUE TO WARPED BRAKE ROTORS. *AK
19970325PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE RUSTED.
19970131SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
WAS DRIVING HOME THE COIL SPRING BROKE AND RUBBED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE, CAUSING THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT . *AK
19970131TIRES
WAS DRIVING HOME THE COIL SPRING BROKE AND RUBBED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE, CAUSING THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT . *AK
19961212VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE ACCELERATING AT 55 MPH, SUDDENLY RECEIVED NO ACCELERATION, GAS PEDAL DROPPED TO FLOOR, BLACK SMOKE CAME FROM REAR EXHAUST, DEALER CALLED IT PHANTOM/GHOST PROBLEM, COMMON TO THIS VEHICLE; DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, HAPPENS AT CONTINUED HIGH SPEED. *AK
19960930SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT ATTACHMENT FAILED (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)
19960904SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FRONT PASSENGER'S LAP/SHOULDER BELT RETRACTED AND LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT GET CHILD OUT OF THE SEAT, HAD TO CUT SEAT BELT TO GET CHILD OUT. *AK
19960718POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN AN IDLE POSITION IN PARK, JUMPED OUT GEAR, ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER YARD, HITTING STEPS. *AK
Compare 1985DODGECARAVAN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 DODGE CARAVAN have?▼
The 1985 DODGE CARAVAN has 85 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 6 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 DODGE CARAVAN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 DODGE CARAVAN is STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1985 DODGE CARAVAN safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.