DODGE GRAND CARAVAN · model year

1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

248 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994DODGEGRAND CARAVAN carries 248 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 7 fires, 13 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 1994 GRAND CARAVAN is power train:automatic transmission with 50 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (14) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (10). 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 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.

248
Complaints
10
Crashes
7
Fires
13
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

248 filings

Crashes Reported

10 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 TRANSMISSION50
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE10
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR10
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL10
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS9
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER8
AIR BAGS7
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE6
SUSPENSION:FRONT4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION3

Recent Complaints

20160706ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DON'T WORK

Mileage: 108,416

20160205STEERING

WHEN I WAS TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL TO GET OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, MY STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF. I WAS ABOUT TO BACK UP AND IF I DID I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED.

20150514AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 00V305000 (STEERING), 99V213000 (STRUCTURE), 99V113000 (AIR BAGS), AND 95I00100 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20150514STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 00V305000 (STEERING), 99V213000 (STRUCTURE), 99V113000 (AIR BAGS), AND 95I00100 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20150514STRUCTURE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 00V305000 (STEERING), 99V213000 (STRUCTURE), 99V113000 (AIR BAGS), AND 95I00100 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20150514LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 00V305000 (STEERING), 99V213000 (STRUCTURE), 99V113000 (AIR BAGS), AND 95I00100 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20111109ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WOULD DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WOULD RAIN OR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER. THE FAILURE WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER AND OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PULLEYS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR. THE DEALER AND SEVERAL MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE CONSISTENT FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,426 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 241,625.

Mileage: 203,426

20100725AIR BAGS

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH BRAUN HANDICAPPED MODIFICATIONS WHILE IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY DURING LOADING OF HANDICAPPED WOMAN. ATTENDANT WAS INJURED DUE TO PROXIMITY OF HEAD TO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20070410STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE CHRYSLER GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AROUND A MOUNTAIN THE STEERING LOCKED AND LOST POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR APPROXIMATELY 1/2 HOUR AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. THE DEALER DIDN'T TRY TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE REPLACED THE BELT IN 1996, BUT THE MECHANIC STATED THE BELT LOOKED FINE. UPDATE 05/10/07*TR

Mileage: 66,000

20070308FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

TL* -THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH 150000 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LEAKING GAS ON THE MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT A MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THERE WAS A RECALL # 00268000 ON THE 1996-2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVANS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE , AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. *AK THE FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING FUEL AT THE END OF THE RAIL WHERE A PIPE JOINED THE 2 RAILS TOGETHER, FUEL LEAKED ON THE MANIFOLD AND A SMALL FIRE WAS IGNITED. UPDATED 04/30/07. *JB

Mileage: 150,000

20050714ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, USUALLY WHEN WEATHER IS VERY WARM. NO INDICATION OF OVERHEATING. LET SET FOR 10-15 MINUTES AND VEHICLE STARTS AND RUNS FINE UNTIL NEXT TIME. HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS, USUALLY ON THE INTERSTATE CAUSING A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAVE NOT HAD TO A DEALER TO CHECK OUT BUT HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WHO HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER AND DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE STALLING.

Mileage: 125,000

20050125SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BACK BROKEN AT THE FIRST WELD ON THE VERTICAL PORTION OF THE SEAT BACK. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN NORMALLY, NO ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT OCCURRED. THERE WAS NO WARNING, THE SEAT JUST WENT TO A RECLINED POSITION WHILE DRIVING. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT IN ADDITION TO THE VERTICAL FRAME WELD FAILURE, A CASTING FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE HORIZONTAL PORTION OF THE SEAT FRAME IN THE VICINITY OF RECLINE LEVER. THE FRAME CASTING WAS COMPLETING SEVERED AND WOULD NOT HAVE RETAINED THE SEAT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN DECELERATION. THE SEAT WAS UNSAFE BUT DID NOT REVEAL ITSELF UNTIL THE BACK FRAME WELD FAILURE. MY STATE OF RESIDENCE IS WISCONSIN, YOUR PROGRAM DID NOT ALLOW ME TO ENTER THIS STATE SO I CHOOSE ONE AT RANDOM. *NM

Mileage: 190,890

20041216STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

(1) NO WARNING OF FAILURE.(2) SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BOLT FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING DURING A TURN. NO CONSEQUENCES RESULTED FROM THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT AT 5MPH. UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES (DOWNHILL ON TIGHT CURVE) THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND PROBABLY RESULT IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL.(3) ANTICIPATE REPLACING THE TENSIONER AND RETURNING VEHICLE TO SERVICE.*AK

20041012AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIR BAG. I OWN A 1994 GRAND CARAVAN. I HAVE NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG HAS HAD A PROBLEM SINCE ALMOST DAY ONE. THE AIRBAG PANEL LIGHT IS ALWAYS ILLUMINATED. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE SEVERAL YEARS AGO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAD THE VAN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL SERVICE TO RECTIFY THE OBVIOUSLY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT WAS TIED TO A PROBLEM W/ THE REAR WINDOW WIPER CIRCUIT. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WAS FIXED FOR ALL BUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND TO THIS DAY I DON'T HAVE A WORKING AIR BAG OR REAR WINDOW WIPER. I CAN LIVE W/O THE WIPER, I'D LIKE TO HAVE WORKING SAFETY EQUIPMENT. *NM

Mileage: 80,000

20040914STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

CONSUMER STATED THE SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF TRACK . THE PART HAD BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PARTS SEEM TO WEAR TO EASY AND RUST WHEN THEY SHOULD NOT. *TC

Mileage: 140,716

20031013POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSON FAILURE. *LA

20030719ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE HESITATES AS IF STARVING FOR FUEL AND STALLS WHILE TRAVELING,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON UNTIL YOU TURN OFF ENGINE AND RETSTART. TAKEN TO DEALER AND NO TROUBLE CODES FOUND. FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, FUEL INJECTOR O-RINGS, REPLACED. HAS HAPPENED OVER LAST SIX YEARS, SOME 20 TIMES AND DEALER HAS NO CLUE. 125,000 MILES ON ENGINE.*AK

Mileage: 80,000

20030714POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

PURCHASED ON 5/2001 A USED 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH 93,000 MILES FROM CARMICHAEL AUTO EXCHANGE "AS IS". AFTER 1,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILED. REPLACED @ $1875.60 WITH NEW MOPAR REBUILT AT 94,282. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR TRANS SERVICE ON 3/8/2002 AT 109,252 TO DEALER. INSTALLED TRANSMISSION COOLER ON 4/2002. NOW REBUILT TRANSMISSION FAILED ON 7/7/2003 AT 150,325. THIS ADDED EXPENSE WILL COST $2600.00 AT MY EXPENSE. *AK

Mileage: 150,310

20030708AIR BAGS

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED . *AK

20030603POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VAN IN APRIL OF 2001 THE TRANSAXLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE WHEN COLD. THE VEHICLE HAS APPARENTLY BEEN WARMED UP BEFORE WE TEST DROVE IT. THE TRANSMISSION FILTER AND FLUID WERE REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE UNTIL THE NEXT COLD SEASON . THE FLUID AND FILTER WERE REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE UNTIL THE NEXT COLD SEASON. THE FLUID AND FILTER WERE REPLACED AGAIN BUT IT DID NOT HELP. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR'S COLD SEASON JUST NOT GOING INTO REVERSE WHILE COLD, THEN IT QUICKLY PROGRESSED TO NO FIRST GEAR OR REVERSE WHILE COLD. DURING THE TIME WHEN IT HAD NO FIRST OR REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GO INTO LIMP MODE. (CHRYSLER A-604 ULTRADRIVE) DURING THIS TIME THE TRANSMISSION ONLY FUNCTIONS IN SECOND GEAR (WHILE THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN OVERDRIVE). THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP ACTED VERY SURPRISED THAT OUR TRANSMISSION LASTED 135K MILES! UNFORTUNATELY OUR WARRANTY COMPANY IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS

Mileage: 135,000

Compare 1994DODGEGRAND CARAVAN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN have?
The 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN has 248 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 7 fires, 13 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN?
The most-complained component for the 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 50 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1994 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.