DODGE CARAVAN · model year

1994 DODGE CARAVAN

836 NHTSA complaints, 116 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994DODGECARAVAN carries 836 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 116 crashes, 7 fires, 159 injuries, and 5 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 1994 CARAVAN is power train:automatic transmission with 96 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (66) and air bags (36). 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 1994 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.

836
Complaints
116
Crashes
7
Fires
159
Injuries
5
Deaths

Total Complaints

836 filings

Crashes Reported

116 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION96
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL66
AIR BAGS36
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP36
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK34
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE33
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER29
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR25
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION24
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS14
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH14
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS13
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER13
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE13

Recent Complaints

20180914AIR BAGS

MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON BECAUSE THE REAR WIPER SHORTED OUT AND BLEW THE FUSE, AND THE AIR BAGS ARE ON THE SAME FUSE.

Mileage: 140,000

20180914VISIBILITY/WIPER

MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON BECAUSE THE REAR WIPER SHORTED OUT AND BLEW THE FUSE, AND THE AIR BAGS ARE ON THE SAME FUSE.

Mileage: 140,000

20150305ENGINE

DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE VEHICLE JUST QUIT. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD. ATTEMPT TO RESTART FAILED.4 TIMES. LET VEHICLE SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND NORMAL RESTART. THIS IS THIRD TIME IN THREE WEEKS. OTHER TWO NO STARTS WERE AFTER VEHICLE SITTING OVERNIGHT. NO ERROR CODES OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. FIRST NO START REPLACED AIR FILTER. SECOND NO START REPLACED BATTERY. INFO PROVIDED BECAUSE OF 2010 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ISSUE AN POTENTIAL FOR IT TO EXIST IN EARLY VEHICLES. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

Mileage: 95,356

20140921CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

AS I SLOWLY WAS TURNING THE CAR TO PARK IN A PARKING LOT IN VIENNA VA SHOPPING CENTER, THE VAN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO HANDICAP PARKING POLE MARKER ( NO DAMAGE). DAMAGE TO MY VAN WHICH IS VISABLE APPEARS TO BE THE FRONT OF THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND A DAMAGED BUT FUNCTIONING RADIATOR AS BEST I CAN SEE. NOTE: THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT ACTIVEATED, AND WONDERED WHY THEY DIDN'T.( IS THIS ANOTHER PROBLEM ?) *TR

Mileage: 119,444

20140921CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

AS I SLOWLY WAS TURNING THE CAR TO PARK IN A PARKING LOT IN VIENNA VA SHOPPING CENTER, THE VAN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO HANDICAP PARKING POLE MARKER ( NO DAMAGE). DAMAGE TO MY VAN WHICH IS VISABLE APPEARS TO BE THE FRONT OF THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND A DAMAGED BUT FUNCTIONING RADIATOR AS BEST I CAN SEE. NOTE: THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT ACTIVEATED, AND WONDERED WHY THEY DIDN'T.( IS THIS ANOTHER PROBLEM ?) *TR

Mileage: 119,444

20100329FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

1994 DODGE CARAVAN GAS TANK LEAK. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION REGARDING A GAS LEAK AND CAME ACROSS RECALL 99V216000 AND WAS WONDERING IF IT APPLIED TO HER VEHICLE? AND IF SO, WILL DODGE HONOR THE RECALL AND FIX HER VEHICLE?

20090416SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WENT TO WORK ON APRIL 1, 2009 HAD BRAKES, WHEN I WENT TO GO HOME THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND ANTI BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, CHANGED FRONT BRAKES , DID NOT NEED IT , BUT DID IT ANYWAY, WAS GOING TO CHANGE THE BACK BUT THEY DID NOT NEED IT, BLED THE BRAKES, ALL WORKED FINE , THEN WENT OKLAHOMA APRIL 11TH , STAYED IN MOTEL AND BRAKES WHERE FINE, GOT UP NEXT MORNING AND WENT TO DO SOME THINGS AND AGAIN THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND ABS LIGHT COMES ON ,STILL HAS PLENTY OF FLUID. *TR

20080127LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

I TRIED TO OPEN THE HOOD OF MY MINIVAN AND THE RELEASE BROKE OFF. THE RELEASE WAS ON THE INSIDE OF THE 1994 DODGE MINIVAN AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT TO BREAK OFF. I'VE CHECKED THE SAFETY DEFECT NOTIFICATIONS FOR "1994 DODGE MINIVANS" AND COULD NOT FIND ANY OTHER MENTIONS OF FAILURE OF THE HAND RELEASE FOR THE VEHICLES' HOODS. *TR

Mileage: 235,000

20080101VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

REAR WINDOW ON LIFT GATE SHATTERED IN A THOUSAND PIECES FOR NO REASON WHILE PARKED (GLASS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE). OUTSIDE TEMP WAS ABOUT 20 F AND CLOUDY. GLASS TYPE IS A PRIVACY TINTED WITH WINDOW DEFROSTER. IT APPEARS GLASS WAS NOT REQUIRED TO BE A SAFETY GLASS TYPE AS COMPARED TO A WINDSHIELD WITH A "PLASTIC SANDWICH IN-BETWEEN. ABOUT 10 HOURS OF CLEAN UP REQUIRED. MANY SMALL GLASS FRAGMENTS AND "GLASS DUST" TRAVELED AS FAR AS THE FRONT DASHBOARD. OWNER WILL BE REPLACING GLASS. COST ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN $300 TO $400 PARTS AND LABOR. I HAVE PICTURES AVAILABLE IF NEEDED .*CN

Mileage: 176,380

20061102ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF...DRY, WET, SNOW..BIG, LITTLE ...LITERALLY NO PUDDLES...AND THE GATORBACK BELT DOESN'T FIX IT, NOR THE SNOW SHIELD ON THE PULLEY SHIELD.....WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND THE NUMEROUS TIMES MY BELT HAS COME OFF..YOU'D THINK CHRYSLER WOULD HAVE FIXED THIS LONG AGO...NO JUST SOAK PEOPLE FOR MONEY..IF THEY R NOT MECHANICALLY INCLINED( WHICH THANKS TO MY FATHER, BROTHER, AND HUSBAND) I AM.....AND I KNOW ABOUT THE INTERNET SITE FORUMS THAT HELP EACH OTHER OUT...IN TIMES LIKE THESE. SOME UNFORTUNATELY..SEVERAL HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS LATER...HOW UNFAIR OF CHRYSLER...AND WE'RE TALKING.... THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AROUND AWHILE...YOU'D HAVE THOUGHT THEY WOULD'VE FIXED IT LONG AGO ..EVEN BEFORE PUTTING OUT NEW ONES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM....I BET THOSE NEW BUYERS ARE FIT TO BE TIED RIGHT ABOUT NOW!!!! HOPEFULLY ALL THESE COMPLAINTS AND I HOPE YOU PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING...GETS SOMETHING DONE!! *NM

20060810STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

1994 DODGE CARAVAN MILEAGE 66.873 WITH WHEELCHAIR LIFT REAR LIFTGATE HINGE, BOLT HOLDING THE HINGE TOGETHER BROKE DUE TO METAL FATIGUE, LETTING HINGE SEPARATE, CAUSING LIFTGATE TO DROP DOWN. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. CHRYSLER/DODGE 1-800-992,1997 REF.#15261363 WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS TOLD THAT II WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. SORRY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VAN IS ALWAYS PARKED IN MY CARRAGE. LIKE NEW. I HAVE THE OLD PARTS AND 17 COLOR POCTURES. *JB

Mileage: 66,793

20050731FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

LACKS POWER, WANTS TO STALL LIKE IT'S NOT GETTING ANY FUEL, HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS INCLUDING WHAT WAS LISTED ON THE DIAGNOSTIC SCANS, CLUNKING NOISE UNDER VAN. NOTHING SEEMS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HAVE SPENT OVER $600 IN PARTS ALONE, NOT COUNTING LABOR. *NM

Mileage: 114,000

20050731ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

LACKS POWER, WANTS TO STALL LIKE IT'S NOT GETTING ANY FUEL, HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS INCLUDING WHAT WAS LISTED ON THE DIAGNOSTIC SCANS, CLUNKING NOISE UNDER VAN. NOTHING SEEMS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HAVE SPENT OVER $600 IN PARTS ALONE, NOT COUNTING LABOR. *NM

Mileage: 114,000

20050731POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

LACKS POWER, WANTS TO STALL LIKE IT'S NOT GETTING ANY FUEL, HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS INCLUDING WHAT WAS LISTED ON THE DIAGNOSTIC SCANS, CLUNKING NOISE UNDER VAN. NOTHING SEEMS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HAVE SPENT OVER $600 IN PARTS ALONE, NOT COUNTING LABOR. *NM

Mileage: 114,000

20050713POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DT: CONSUMER STATES HIS 1994 DODGE CARAVAN THAT HE PURCHASED USED ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IMMEDIATELY. THE TRANSMISSION WILL POP OUT OF GEAR WHEN IT IS HOT. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE SHUT OFF AND THEN IT WILL START AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, SEPTEMBER 2004, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 30 DAYS AGO AND HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY. *JB

Mileage: 44,900

20050307CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO STRIKE THE VEHICLE IN THE FRONT OF HIM. BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS COLLAPSED. THE DRIVER SEAT FELL ONTO THE CHILD PASSENGER, BREAKING SEVERAL BONES IN HIS FACE AND HAD TO UNDERGO SURGERY. *JB

Mileage: 17,000

20050302STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V213000, THE BOLT TO THE HATCH BROKE, CAUSING THE PISTON TO BREAK IN HALF. A STICK MUST BE USED TO HOLD THE HATCH UP. CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. *AK

20050222ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

THE SERPENTINE BELT CONTINUOUSLY SLIPS OFF WHICH CAUSES THE STEERING TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILS. *AK

20050222STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

THE SERPENTINE BELT CONTINUOUSLY SLIPS OFF WHICH CAUSES THE STEERING TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILS. *AK

20050131STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF THE HINGES. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO OPEN/CLOSE DOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 200,000

Compare 1994DODGECARAVAN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 DODGE CARAVAN have?
The 1994 DODGE CARAVAN has 836 NHTSA complaints, 116 crashes, 7 fires, 159 injuries, and 5 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 DODGE CARAVAN?
The most-complained component for the 1994 DODGE CARAVAN is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 96 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and AIR BAGS.
Is the 1994 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.