Total Complaints
135 filings
DODGE CARAVAN · model year
1988 DODGE CARAVAN
135 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988DODGECARAVAN carries 135 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 6 fires, 4 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 1988 CARAVAN is latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock with 21 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (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 1988 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.
135
Complaints
5
Crashes
6
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
5 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 | 21 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 6 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 6 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE | 5 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 5 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK | 4 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 3 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20040630STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT BROKE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE MOTOR MOUNT BUT A YEAR LATER THE PROBLEM RECURRED BUT THIS TIME WHEN THE MOTOR MOUNT BROKE IT ALSO DAMAGED THE OIL PAN. *AK *NM
Mileage: 122,000
20030211TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
SAFETY CONCERN OF CABLES FOR SPARE TIRES.*AK *JB
20020904VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY APPROXIMATELY 82 DEGREES, WITH ALL WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN, CARGO DOOR SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING.*AK.*JB
20010910STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
FRONT DOORS ARE SEPARATING FROM HINGES. THIS IS CAUSING DOORS TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. DOORS WILL EITHER LOCK OR UNLOCK UPON BEING CLOSED. OWNER KNEW OF PROBLEM PRIOR TO PURCHASING. MECHANIC INDICATED VEHICLE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.*AK
20010625CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
20010507FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT GAS STARTED TO POUR OUT OF VEHICLE ONTO GROUND. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS DANGEROUS IN HOT VEHICLE AND COULD EASILY START A FIRE.*AK THE RUBBER CAP ON GASOLINE TUBING FAILED, CAUSING RAPID FUEL FLOW ON GROUND UNDER VEHICLE.*JB
20010313SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR
I BELEVE THE (FRONT SWAY BAR ) SHOULD NEVER BREAK UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *AK
20001101ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
PCV VALVE FAILS WEEKLY.*ET
20001101FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM/SENSORS FAILED.*ET
20001101EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONING H BLOCK VALVE AND COMPRESSOR FAILED. *ET
20001101SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
FRONT SUSPENSION WHEEL BEARINGS AND BALL JOINTS FAILED CAUSING MODERATE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 AND BECOMES SEVERE ABOVE 74 MPH. *ET
20001101SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
FRONT SUSPENSION WHEEL BEARINGS AND BALL JOINTS FAILED CAUSING MODERATE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 AND BECOMES SEVERE ABOVE 74 MPH. *ET
20001101STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
HIGH PRESSURE HOSES BEGAN TO LEAK CAUSING RAPID PUMP FAILURE REPAIRED ONCE FAILED AGAIN.*ET
20001027TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD IN CENTER WAS COMPLETELY GONE, SHATTERING LENS ON REAR TAIL LIGHT. SECONDS PRIOR TO INCIDENT, CONSUMER HEARD LOUD EXPLOSION, BUT TIRE DIDN'T BLOWOUT. P205/70R14 WITH 20,000 MILES, AFTER MARKET. *AK
20000824UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE FIRST CAR PAINT WAS RECALLED AND SECOND PAINT JOB WAS DONE WRONG. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
20000725FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
THE CAP OVER THEN END OF THE 5/16 INCH DIAMETER TUBE FOR DRAINING THE FUEL TANK DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THE TUBE WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL. THE RUBBER ON THE CAP WAS CRACKED AND MUSHY. THIS NOT ONLY ALLOWED THE FUEL TO LEAK OUT, BUT ALSO ALLOWED WATER TO RUST THE FUEL LINE THAT WAS UNDER THE DRAIN CAP. OTHER RUBBER COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM APPEAR TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. THEREFORE, I SUSPECT THAT THIS DRAIN CAP IS MANUFACTURED FROM INFERIOR RUBBER. THE DEALER SAID THE MANUFACURER DOES NOT HAVE THIS CAP IN THEIR PARTS SYSTEM SO I HAD TO BE CREATIVE IN BLOCKING THE DRAIN PIPE. I HAVE RETAINED THE OLD CAP IF YOU WOULD DESIRE TO INSPECT IT. ACCORDING TO THE SHOP MANUAL THAT I PURCHASED, ALL 1988 CHRYSLER CARS HAVE A SIMILAR DRAIN CAP ON THE FUEL TANK. THE LEAK FROM THE DRAIN TUBE WAS BIG ENOUGH TO LEAVE A 10 INCH WIDE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. MY CONCERNS ARE NOT ONLY WITH FIRE SAFETY, BUT ALSO WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. YOU MAY
20000519EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1988 DODGE CARAVAN ARE BECOMMING OPAQUE. I ONLY SEE A GLOW ON THE ROAD AHEAD. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY A DELERSHIP PARTS PERSON THE CAUSE IS WATER CONDENSING ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT'S LENSE, AND LEAVING A CALCIUM DEPOSIT WHEN THE HEADLAMPS ARE TURNED ON, CAUSING EVAPORATORATION OF THE MOISTURE. NOT ALL CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS THE RESULT OF A POORLY DESIGNED LENSE UNIT. OTHER HEADLIGHT LENSE UNITS DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM DUE TO POOR ILLUMINATION OF THE ROAD AHEAD. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY HEAD LIGHT UNITS REPLACED BY DODGE AT THEIR COST.
19991016UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PAINT ON THE TOP AND THE HOOD OF THE VAN HAS BEEN DETERIORATING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE CHRYSLER COMPANY A NUMBER OF TIMES OVER THE YEARS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM- TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE AALSO NOTICED A NUMBER OF OTHER V
19990923ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DUE TO HARMONIC IMBALANCE OF ENGINE, AIR CONDITIONER AND ALTERNATOR FAIL
19990923EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
DUE TO HARMONIC IMBALANCE OF ENGINE, AIR CONDITIONER AND ALTERNATOR FAIL
Compare 1988DODGECARAVAN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 DODGE CARAVAN have?▼
The 1988 DODGE CARAVAN has 135 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 6 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 DODGE CARAVAN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 DODGE CARAVAN is LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK with 21 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1988 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.