DODGE VAN · model year

1999 DODGE VAN

20 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999DODGEVAN carries 20 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 2 fires, 6 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 1999 VAN is seats with 3 filings, followed by tires (2) and equipment:electrical:radio/tape deck/cd etc. (1). 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 1999 VAN, 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.

20
Complaints
4
Crashes
2
Fires
6
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

20 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEATS3
TIRES2
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.1
STEERING1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM1
STRUCTURE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20090414ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED, HOWEVER IT WAS FINE, AS TIME WENT ON THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WENT, THE HORN, IGNITION SYSTEM, FAILS TO START RANDOM TIMES, GAUGES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY, INSTRUMENT LIGHT ON AND OFF, I AM TIRED OF PAYING FOR REPAIRS, WHO EVER CONSTRUCTED THIS DODGE GRAND GARBAGE CAN, SHOULD COME PICK ME AND MY 7 CHILDREN UP EVERY TIME WE BREAK DOWN AND SEE HOW THEY FEEL, I AM TIRED OF BEING RIPPED OFF WHEN IT CAME TO THINKING YOU ARE BUYING A GOOD RELIABLE QUALITY CAR, INSTEAD I GOT JUNK, GO TO THE WEB SITES AND LOOK AT ALL THE HEADACHES THESE VEHICLES ARE CAUSING, SOMEONE IS GETTING RICH ON THESE VEHICLES AND IT IS NOT THE OWNERS, WHAT IS UP? DO TELL! (MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A TOW TRUCK). *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20090414FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

I HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED, HOWEVER IT WAS FINE, AS TIME WENT ON THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WENT, THE HORN, IGNITION SYSTEM, FAILS TO START RANDOM TIMES, GAUGES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY, INSTRUMENT LIGHT ON AND OFF, I AM TIRED OF PAYING FOR REPAIRS, WHO EVER CONSTRUCTED THIS DODGE GRAND GARBAGE CAN, SHOULD COME PICK ME AND MY 7 CHILDREN UP EVERY TIME WE BREAK DOWN AND SEE HOW THEY FEEL, I AM TIRED OF BEING RIPPED OFF WHEN IT CAME TO THINKING YOU ARE BUYING A GOOD RELIABLE QUALITY CAR, INSTEAD I GOT JUNK, GO TO THE WEB SITES AND LOOK AT ALL THE HEADACHES THESE VEHICLES ARE CAUSING, SOMEONE IS GETTING RICH ON THESE VEHICLES AND IT IS NOT THE OWNERS, WHAT IS UP? DO TELL! (MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A TOW TRUCK). *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20090414ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED, HOWEVER IT WAS FINE, AS TIME WENT ON THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WENT, THE HORN, IGNITION SYSTEM, FAILS TO START RANDOM TIMES, GAUGES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY, INSTRUMENT LIGHT ON AND OFF, I AM TIRED OF PAYING FOR REPAIRS, WHO EVER CONSTRUCTED THIS DODGE GRAND GARBAGE CAN, SHOULD COME PICK ME AND MY 7 CHILDREN UP EVERY TIME WE BREAK DOWN AND SEE HOW THEY FEEL, I AM TIRED OF BEING RIPPED OFF WHEN IT CAME TO THINKING YOU ARE BUYING A GOOD RELIABLE QUALITY CAR, INSTEAD I GOT JUNK, GO TO THE WEB SITES AND LOOK AT ALL THE HEADACHES THESE VEHICLES ARE CAUSING, SOMEONE IS GETTING RICH ON THESE VEHICLES AND IT IS NOT THE OWNERS, WHAT IS UP? DO TELL! (MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A TOW TRUCK). *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20090129STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

1999 DODGE VAN 1500 HAS A RUSTED FRAME. CONSUMER STATES THAT CHRYSLER SAID THE VAN WAS PAST WARRANTY AND WILL NOT HELP. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. *JB

20071120CrashFireFatalFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

THE FAMILY IN THIS VAN WAS TRAVELING ON WAVELAND AVENUE APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION WITH MANNHEIM ROAD IN FRANKLIN PARK, ILLINOIS. THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL WAS GREEN AND THE VAN PROCEEDED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION. WHILE CROSSING THE INTERSECTION, THE CARAVAN WAS STRUCK BY A TRUCK WHO RAN A RED LIGHT.UPON IMPACT, THE CARAVAN BURST INTO FLAMES AND CAUGHT FIRE. TWO CHILDREN DIED AS A RESULT OF THE ENSUING FIRE; THREE OTHER PASSENGERS HAD FIRE-RELATED INJURIES. *TR

20061103ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE DEALERSHIP SOLD ME A 7 YEAR OR 70,000 MILES WARRANTY. MY ENGINE BLEW UP AND THEY DENIED MY WARRANTY, THEY WOULDN'T FIX MY VEHICLE. THEY SAID THAT I HAD SLUDGE IN MY ENGINE. I HAD A CERTIFIED MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TOP OF MY ENGINE WAS CLEAN AND THE BOTTOM WAS CLEAN. HE STATED THAT I HAD DEFECTIVE METAL THAT WOULDN'T STAND UP. I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO HELP ME ON THIS MATTER.*JB

Mileage: 45,000

20060613SEATS

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE FRONT SEAT BY PULLING THE LEVER UNDER THE SEAT WITH MY RIGHT HAND. THE FRONT SEAT WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE DASHBOARD, AND THE SEAT REFUSED TO MOVE. I GRABBED THE SIDE OF THE SEAT WITH MY LEFT HAND WHILE PULLING THE LEVER WITH MY RIGHT HAND WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SEAT MOVED QUICKLY BACKWARDS. MY FINGER WAS IN BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE SEAT TRACK WHICH I DIDN'T KNOW, THERE WAS NO GUARD TO KEEP MY FINGER FROM THE AREA. MY MIDDLE FINGER WAS AMPUTATED ON MY LEFT HAND DOWN TO THE FIRST JOINT AND THE EMERGENCY ROOM WAS UNABLE TO RE-ATTACHED MY FINGER. THIS OCCURRED ON A DODGE 15 PASSENGER VAN. *JB

20060608TIRES

1999 ROADTREK TIRES DRY ROTTED AND WERE REPLACED. *TS DURING AN INSPECTION THE VEHICLE TIRE WERE FOUND TO BE DRY ROTTED. THE TIRE WERE REPLACED WITH GENERAL GRABBER AT 2, RADIAL TIRES. AFTER THE TIRE WERE REPLACED THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WANDERED ON THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. *NM

20060119STRUCTURE

WHEN IT RAINS OR YOU DRIVE THROUGH A PUDDLE, THE TENSIONER BELT COMES OFF. THIS MAKES STEERING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. IF YOU DO MANAGE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE & DRIVE TO A SAFE SPOT TO STOP YOU RISK BURNING UP THE ENGINE DUE TO LACK OF COOLING. THE ABOVE IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. *NM

Mileage: 7,000

20051206CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

WHILE DRIVING MY MINIVAN IN A 25 MPH ZONE I HEARD A SNAP AND LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR RESULTING IN HITTING A CURB. DAMAGE TO FRONT LEFT WHEEL, SUSPENSION, FENDER & DOOR BODY DAMAGE. REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM CAME APART CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. REPAIR NEEDED TO ENTIRE SUSPENSION, ALLOY WHEEL, TIRE, BODY WILL COST OVER $3,000. *JB

Mileage: 115,000

20050727SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

FRONT STRUT MOUNTS ROTTED. MUST BE REPAIRED / REPLACED

Mileage: 140,000

20041213SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

THE UPPER BALL JOINTS DISENGAGES FROM THE A-ARM. THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE UPPER BALL JOINT DOES NOT SUPPORT IT THE WAY IT SHOULD. CONTACTED THE DEALER. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

Mileage: 97,528

20040406SEATS

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE DRIVER WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVER SEAT AND WITHOUT WARNING THE SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. *MR

20031009POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE HIT A SUPPORT POST AND THE BACK DOOR TO THE HOUSE WHILE CONSUMER WAS PARKING IT IN THE DRIVEWAY. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING WHEN THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND RAN INTO THE CONSUMERS GARAGE. *NLM

20031007CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN IT WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING ABOUT 40 MPH. THE IMPACT PUSHED THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT WITH THAT VEHICLE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES. *AK *NLM

20031007CrashSEATS

THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN IT WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING ABOUT 40 MPH. THE IMPACT PUSHED THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT WITH THAT VEHICLE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES. *AK *NLM

20000914SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

RECURRING BRAKE FAILURES ON FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER "REPAIRED" 2X PRIOR. ABNORMAL PAD WEAR -- INNER PAD, OKAY -- OUTER PAD GROUND DOWN TO BARE METAL. BRAKES PULL TO LEFT. DEALER UNCOOPERATIVE IN REPAIRING UNDER WARRANTY. WANTS US TO PAY FOR NEW PADS (EVEN THOUGH ONLY 5,000 MILES OR SO SINCE LAST REPAIR). *AK

20000822TIRES

UNDER RATED TIRES ON VAN CONVERSION, VEHICLE NOT SAFE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

20000218STEERING

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO WANDER TO THE RIGHT AND CALLED FOR CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT WHILE DRIVING ON GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS. NLM

20000214FireEQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

THE RADIO IN THE REAR OF THIS CONVERSION VAN HAD A SHORT THAT CAUSED A FIRE TO BREAK OUT IN THE REAR AREA ON THE GAS TANK SIDE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.

Compare 1999DODGEVAN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 DODGE VAN have?
The 1999 DODGE VAN has 20 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 DODGE VAN?
The most-complained component for the 1999 DODGE VAN is SEATS with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC..
Is the 1999 DODGE VAN 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.