Total Complaints
4 filings
PLYMOUTH CARAVELLE · model year
1988 PLYMOUTH CARAVELLE
4 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988PLYMOUTHCARAVELLE carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 CARAVELLE is power train:axle assembly with 1 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (1) and steering: steering wheel/handle bar (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 5 investigation files overlapping the 1988 CARAVELLE. 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.
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070709TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 PLYMOUTH CARAVELLE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMP AND SMELLED RUBBER. SHE PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR KUMHO TIRE WAS FLAT AND HAD BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE SIZE WAS 1857R14-88T, WHICH WAS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE DROP DOWN MENU AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 134,077 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132.
Mileage: 132
20010305STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING COLUMN BROKE LOOSE AND STEERING DROPPED DOWN IN LAP. TURNED OFF CAR, AND CAUSED CONSUMER NOT TO HAVE BRAKES. *AK THE CONSUMER SAYS MODELS OF SIMILAR MAKE AND YEAR HAD BEEN RECALLED AND THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED TOO. *YH
19950814ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
PURCHASE CAR USED CAR TO DEALER ABOUT SIX TIME WITH THE OIL LEAKING THE ENGINE NEED TO REPLACE. TT
19950606POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
THE REAR AXLE WELD JOINT IS BROKE WHILE DRIVING OVER 3" CURB AT 5 MPH AND AT AN ANGLE. *AK
Compare 1988PLYMOUTHCARAVELLE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 PLYMOUTH CARAVELLE have?▼
The 1988 PLYMOUTH CARAVELLE has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 PLYMOUTH CARAVELLE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 PLYMOUTH CARAVELLE is POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR.
Is the 1988 PLYMOUTH CARAVELLE 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.