Total Complaints
83 filings
DODGE CARAVAN · model year
1987 DODGE CARAVAN
83 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987DODGECARAVAN carries 83 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 6 fires, 14 injuries, and 2 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 1987 CARAVAN is latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock with 13 filings, followed by seats:front assembly:recliner (6) and engine and engine cooling:engine (6). 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 1987 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.
83
Complaints
11
Crashes
6
Fires
14
Injuries
2
Deaths
Crashes Reported
11 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 |
|---|---|
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK | 13 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 6 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 5 |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 2 |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20030702TIRES:TREAD/BELT
IN 1997 I PURCHASED TWO KELLY SPRINGFIELD TIRES. ON JUNE 14, 2002 THE TREAD ON ONE OF THEM PEELED OFF. THE DEALER REPLACED IT (WITH SOME ADDITIONAL COST). ON JUNE 23, 2003 THE TREAD ON THE OTHER TIRE PEELED OFF. I REPLACED IT AT A LOCATION SOME 300 MILES FROM HOME BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO KEEP THE BAD TIRE. I BELIEVE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A NOTICE OF RECALL ON THESE TIRES, BUT I DID NOT RECEIVE ONE. GOODYEAR NO LONGER SELLS THIS TIRE. ALSO THE MANUFACTURER, GOODYEAR, WAS NOT ABLE TO GIVE ME ANY REFUND BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THE BAD TIRE TO SHOW THEM. I DID HAVE THE RECEIPT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRE.*AK
Mileage: 117,500
20000627EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
TIRE CARRIER RUSTED, CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO FALL OFF UNDER THE VAN, AND BOUNCE ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT WERE UNWILLING TO REPAIR PROBLEM. *AK *ML
20000519ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I HAVE REPLACED THIS ENGINE TWICE AND NOW I AM ON THE THIRD TIME .I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP REPLACE ENGINE IN CARS OR VANS. IT IS MY IMPRESSION THAT THE DODGE COMPANY STANDS BY THEIR PRODUCTS OF EXCELLENT . BUT GUESS I WAS WRONG , I WILL TELL ALL MY FRIEND NOT TO BUY DODGE CARS AND VANS. IF YOU CAN HELP ME PLEASE LET ME KNOW . THANK YOU
19990413SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE WIHTOUT ANY WARNING, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO FALL BACKWARDS AND LOSE CONTROL WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.
19990212FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
IN EXTREME COLD CONDITION VEHICLE SLOWED TO 25 MPH AND WOULD GO NO FASTER. MANUFACTURER SAID THE GAS LINE WAS FREEZING NEAR THE CARBORATOR DUE TO CONDENSATION AND FREEZING, KNOWN PROBLEM AND A FIX IS AVAILABLE. DEALER WOULD NOT PAY FOR FIX, SAYING IT WAS NOT A SAFTEY ISSUE THEREFORE NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED. IF THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS IN EXTREME COLD WHERE A BREAKDOWN OR COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF THE ENGINE WOULD OCCUR, PEOPLE COULD FREEZE TO DEATH DUE TO WALKING FOR HELP OR STAYING IN CAR WITH NO SOURCE OF HEAT. ALSO, TRAVEL ON HIGHWAYS OR INTERSTATE AT A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 25 MPH TO GET TO A PLACE FOR HELP (ESPECIALLY IN THE WEST) IS VERY DANGEROUS. PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ITEM LONG AGO.
19990108POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
VEHICLE WAS IN PARK POSITION ON A SLIGHT SLANT LEFT IDLING FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES WHEN IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
19981130SUSPENSION
VEHICLE NOT ABLE TO BE CONTROLLED ON HIGHWAY DUE TO POOR STABILITY.
19981020POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
DRIVE SHAFT FELL OUT OF TRANSMISSION.
19980708ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE STALLS IN WARM WEATHER AND SOMETIMES WILL JUST CUT OFF AT ANY SPEED.
19980613VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE THROTTLE STUCK WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. STICKS DURING LONG HOT TRIPS WITH CONSTANT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND REMAINS STUCK UNTIL THE ENGIN COOLS COMPLETELY. DOES NOT STICK ON SHORT DRIVES.
19980313ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MOTOR MOUNT CAME OFF, ENGINE FELL ON TOP OF LEFT DRIVE SHAFT, CAUSING IT TO BRAKE AND DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION.
19980224STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
AT 65MPH VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND REAR TAILGATE OPENED DURING IMPACT.
19970818FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE: WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF SOUNDS LIKE IT IS STILL RUNNING. WENT TO SHUT OFF AND COULD NOT GET VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. SOMEONE CAME AND SHUT OFF, AND THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. *AK
19970522FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE W/CRUISE CONTROL ON, VEHICLE STALLED; ALL LIGHTS FAILED. GOT TO SIDE OF ROAD ,POPPED HOOD; FLAMES SHOT UP & OUT; FIRE STARTED BEHIND BATTERY CABLE. FIRE DEPT ARRIVED TO PUT FLAMES OUT; SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEM. VEHICLE AT DEALER'S. *AK
19970418ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
ELECTRICAL SHORT, THE CIRCUIT FUSE THAT GOES TO THE WIRING OVERCHARGES, CAUSING BATTERY TO OVERCHARGE AND LOSE POWER. *AK
19970324FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
UPON STARTING, LEFT ENGINE RUNNING, THEN WALKED AWAY A FEW MINUTES, UPON RETURNING OPENED DOOR AND FOUND BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM BEHIND STEERING WHEEL NEAR IGNITION ON DASH AREA, THEN FIRE STARTED TO SPREAD THOUGHOUT ENGINE COMPARTMENT, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK
19970206STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING: WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND MADE A TURN WENT TO TURN STEERING RACK AND THE STEERING WHEEL CAME RIGHT OFF, HAVE NOT TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR YET. *AK
19970206STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING: WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND MADE A TURN WENT TO TURN STEERING RACK AND THE STEERING WHEEL CAME RIGHT OFF, HAVE NOT TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR YET. *AK
19961106STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
LIFTGATE SUPPORTS FAIL TO SUPPORT LIFTGATE.
19960923SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
BACK FAR RIGHT SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT AND IS TOO SHORT, WILL NOT FIT OVER THE TOP PART OF BODY.*AK
Compare 1987DODGECARAVAN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 DODGE CARAVAN have?▼
The 1987 DODGE CARAVAN has 83 NHTSA complaints, 11 crashes, 6 fires, 14 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 DODGE CARAVAN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 DODGE CARAVAN is LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1987 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.