DODGE GRAND CARAVAN · model year

1989 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

30 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989DODGEGRAND CARAVAN carries 30 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 2 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 1989 GRAND CARAVAN is power train:automatic transmission with 9 filings, followed by unknown or other (3) and tires:tread/belt (2). 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 1989 GRAND 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.

30
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

30 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION9
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY1
SEAT BELTS1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT1
TIRES1
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1

Recent Complaints

20041029ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

RECALL CAMPAIGN 04 V 357 000/CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR/MIL: THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE (CMP) SENSOR AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. *JB *SC *JB

20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AIR CONDITIONING, PAINT AND TRANSMISSION AS OF TODAY HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS THE A-604 ULTRADRIVE TRANSMISSION. AND IT IS STUCK IN ONE GEAR.

20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AIR CONDITIONING, PAINT AND TRANSMISSION AS OF TODAY HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS THE A-604 ULTRADRIVE TRANSMISSION. AND IT IS STUCK IN ONE GEAR.

20040422POWER TRAIN

AIR CONDITIONING, PAINT AND TRANSMISSION AS OF TODAY HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS THE A-604 ULTRADRIVE TRANSMISSION. AND IT IS STUCK IN ONE GEAR.

20040416TIRES:TREAD/BELT

PURCHASED TWO 205/75R15 COOPER TRENDSETTER SE TIRES FOR FRONT OF 1989 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ON DECEMBER 27, 2002 WITH 143,136 MILEAGE. TIRES HAD STEEL BELT SHOWING BADLY ON INSIDE OF BOTH TIRES AFTER 2,500 MILES. REPLACED ON APRIL 13, 2004 WITH 145,896 MILEAGE(AFTER ONLY 2,760 MILES) WITH TWO MORE 205/75 R15 COOPER TRENDSETTER SE TIRES. COOPER DEALER SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT EVEN BOTHER TO CONTACT COOPER TO ASK FOR WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. NOW DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION ON DANGER OF THESE TIRES AND THE USELESSNESS OF SO CALLED 45,000 MILES WARRANTY NOW SEEKING WAY TO CONTACT COOPER TIRES TO ASK FOR WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OF THESE COOPER TRENDSETTER SE TIRES. RICHYT. *AK

Mileage: 145,896

20030515ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE IGNITION LOCKED, OVERHEATED AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, AND THE SIDE DOOR HAD COME OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. IN AN ATTEMPTED TO SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN, THE CONSUMER REACHED FOR THE COIL WIRE AND THE WARPED SEAL GAVE AWAY AND BURNED THE CONSUMER'S HANDS AND FACE. SCC *JB

20030515ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE IGNITION LOCKED, OVERHEATED AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, AND THE SIDE DOOR HAD COME OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. IN AN ATTEMPTED TO SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN, THE CONSUMER REACHED FOR THE COIL WIRE AND THE WARPED SEAL GAVE AWAY AND BURNED THE CONSUMER'S HANDS AND FACE. SCC *JB

20020307POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

HOW MANY OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE TO FAIL BEFORE D-C OWNS UP TO POOR ENGINEERING/DESIGN??*AK

20011106POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

IN A DESIGN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE GAS MILEAGE THE TRANSMISSION WAS BUILT TO "COASTS OR FREEWHEELS" DOWNHILL AT IDLE RPM OF APPROX 1000 AND ZERO ENGINE COMPRESSION BRAKING. THE RESULT IS EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION DOWNHILL, TAILGATING AND/OR EXCESSIVE BRAKE COMPONET WEAR.*AK

20011106EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK

UNDER VAN SPARE TIRE CARRIER PLATE CORROSION FAILURE, FLAT PLATE BECAME V & DROPPED SPARE TIRE. *AK

20011106STRUCTURE:BODY

WINDSHIELD SUN VISOR MATERIAL SELECTION IS DEFECTIVE, CRUMBLES & DISINTIGRATES WITH AGE, DROPS INTO EYES OF DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER. *AK

20011106ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

OVERALL BUILD QUALITY/REPAIR RELIABILITY/PARTS MFRG FAR BELOW AVG WITH NUMEROUS ROAD SIDE FAILURES UNSAFE. NO, SAFETY DEFCT STATED. *AK

20011106POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

OVERALL BUILD QUALITY/REPAIR RELIABILITY/PARTS MFRG FAR BELOW AVG WITH NUMEROUS ROAD SIDE FAILURES UNSAFE. NO, SAFETY DEFCT STATED. *AK

20010816TIRES

TIRE TREAD CAME ALMOST COMPLETELY OFF AT 45 MPH CAUSE DAMAGE TO LEFT REAR FENDER AREA. THREE MONTHS LATER THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED BUT DIDN'T COME OFF AS MUCH SO NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THESE TIRES WERE ON THE REAR OF A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. WITH THE FIRST ONE I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE BUT NOW I AM SURE IT WASN'T. BOTH TIRES STILL HAVE GOOD TREAD. I KEPT BOTH TIRES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: HY DRT 195 TIRESIZE: P215/70R14)

20000905TIRES:TREAD/BELT

AFTER SEEING INFORMATION ON TIRE RECALL. CONSUMER THEN CHECKED HIS VEHICLE TIRES FOUND CRACKS AND TIRES SPLIT. FIRESTONE FR360 205/75 R14. *AK

20000814SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE DUE TO THE BALL JOINTS/ CV JOINTS UNDER THE LEFT DRIVER SEAT HAVE GONE BAD AND NEEDED REPLACING. ALSO, SHE HAD TWO OTHER DODGE PRODUCTS, MINI VANS IN WHICH BALL JOINTS FAILED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

20000407POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS BEFORE FAILING AT 127,000 MILES. REMAN. TRANSMISSION INSTALLED WENT ONLY 12,375 MILES WHEN IT FAILED. DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE. THIRD TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AT ANOTHER DEALER WENT ABOUT 65,000 MILES AND FAILED ALSO. MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH TRANSAXLE CONTROLLERS, SPEED SENSORS. DEALERS CAN'T SEEM TO REPAIR WITHOUT REPLACING COMPLETE TRANSMISSION. *AK

19991231POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW WITH A 4 SPD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES, WITH NO COST TO ME EXCEPT THE TIME I DIDNT HAVE MY VEHICLE. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON THIS COMPONENT. *AK

19991026UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE PAINT PROCEEDED TO PEEL OFF AND RUST IMMEDIATELY

19990929POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ABOUT EVERY 10,000 MI. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON. OF COURSE THERE IS ALWAYS AN EXCUSE FROM THE DODGE MECHANICS AND I END UP PAYING FOR IT. I,M SURE THE TOTAL IS AROUND 5,000.00. THESE PROBLEMS HAD ALSO HAPPEN TO THE PREVIOUS OWNERS BECAUSE ALL THE RECEIPTS HAVE BEEN FORWARDED TO EACH OWNER, ME BEING THE LAST.

Compare 1989DODGEGRAND CARAVAN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN have?
The 1989 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN has 30 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN?
The most-complained component for the 1989 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and TIRES:TREAD/BELT.
Is the 1989 DODGE GRAND 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.