2002 Dodge Caravan Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2002 Dodge Caravan has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 975,323 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 326 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

EQUIPMENT 04V531000 2004-11-02 238,000 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, CONDENSATION FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AIR CONDITIONING DUCTS MAY DROP THROUGH VENT HOLES IN THE TOP OF THE RADIO AND RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT SUBSEQUENTLY SENDS DIRECT CURRENT TO THE REAR SPEAKERS.

Consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN A SPEAKER FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL ADD A SPECIAL TAPE TO THE TOP OF THE RADIO TO PREVENT THE POTENTIAL OF WATER INTRUSION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

STEERING 04V386000 2004-08-05 681,000 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH 3.3 OR 3.8L V-6 ENGINE, THE UPPER POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE MAY SPLIT AND CAUSE A FLUID LEAK.

Consequence

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE UPPER POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE. THIS RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

STRUCTURE 03V094000 2003-03-07 3,674 affected
Defect

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE…

Consequence

THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.

CHILD SEAT 01V310000 2001-10-04 52,649 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN MINI VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE OWNER MANUALS SUPPLIED WITH THESE VEHICLES DO NOT INDICATE WHICH SEATING POSITIONS ARE EQUIPPED WITH TETHER ANCHORAGES AND CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS AS REQUIRED BY THE…

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ATTACHED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE CHILD.

Remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH THE NECESSARY CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM INFORMATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN OCTOBER 8, 2001. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE INFORMATION WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS
39
4crashes1fires1injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
22
2crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
18
1crashes3fires
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
13
3crashes1injuries1deaths
TIRES
10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
9
1fires
STEERING
9
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
8
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
7
EQUIPMENT
6
Total complaints326

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Engine broke”

ENGINE · reported 2018-10-09

“Something wrong with my gas tank, it always stops me even if it's halfway. The driver seat belt doesn't stay well. The holes where the engine always comes off and there's a lot of smoke coming out. The headliner is coming off and there's like a sand falling to my kids. The break is not that strong”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2017-06-10

“Something wrong with my gas tank, it always stops me even if it's halfway. The driver seat belt doesn't stay well. The holes where the engine always comes off and there's a lot of smoke coming out. The headliner is coming off and there's like a sand falling to my kids. The break is not that strong”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2017-06-10

“Something wrong with my gas tank, it always stops me even if it's halfway. The driver seat belt doesn't stay well. The holes where the engine always comes off and there's a lot of smoke coming out. The headliner is coming off and there's like a sand falling to my kids. The break is not that strong”

STEERING · reported 2017-06-10

“The steering wheel gets lock were ever I stop ,internal control failure, radiator heat constantly when I am driving ,”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2017-02-01

“The steering wheel gets lock were ever I stop ,internal control failure, radiator heat constantly when I am driving ,”

ENGINE · reported 2017-02-01

“The steering wheel gets lock were ever I stop ,internal control failure, radiator heat constantly when I am driving ,”

STEERING · reported 2017-02-01

“2002 dodge caravan. Consumer writes in regards to intermittent airbag warning light displayed on the dashboard and clockspring failure. *smd”

AIR BAGS · reported 2016-02-01

Defect investigations

Investigation EA05009 Opened 2005-06-01 · closed 2006-05-02

HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION

OWNER REPORTS INDICATE ALLEGATIONS OF IMPROPER HEADLIGHT OPERATION OF ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS.SOME REPORT INTERMITTENT OUTAGE OR DIMMING.MANY REPORT THAT THE CONDITION IS RANDOM; IT SOMETIMES DOES NOT REPEAT AND LASTS FOR A VERY SHORT DURATION. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER…

Investigation EA05009 Opened 2005-06-01 · closed 2006-05-02

HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION

OWNER REPORTS INDICATE ALLEGATIONS OF IMPROPER HEADLIGHT OPERATION OF ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS.SOME REPORT INTERMITTENT OUTAGE OR DIMMING.MANY REPORT THAT THE CONDITION IS RANDOM; IT SOMETIMES DOES NOT REPEAT AND LASTS FOR A VERY SHORT DURATION. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER…

Investigation EA05009 Opened 2005-06-01 · closed 2006-05-02

HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION

OWNER REPORTS INDICATE ALLEGATIONS OF IMPROPER HEADLIGHT OPERATION OF ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS.SOME REPORT INTERMITTENT OUTAGE OR DIMMING.MANY REPORT THAT THE CONDITION IS RANDOM; IT SOMETIMES DOES NOT REPEAT AND LASTS FOR A VERY SHORT DURATION. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER…

Investigation PE02068 Opened 2002-09-24 · closed 2002-10-09

FUEL TANK LEAK

Investigation PE03012 Opened 2003-04-09 · closed 2003-05-29

POWER STEERING HOSE FAILURE

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED REPORT.

Investigation PE03012 Opened 2003-04-09 · closed 2003-05-29

POWER STEERING HOSE FAILURE

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED REPORT.

Investigation PE03012 Opened 2003-04-09 · closed 2003-05-29

POWER STEERING HOSE FAILURE

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED REPORT.

Investigation PE03012 Opened 2003-04-09 · closed 2003-05-29

POWER STEERING HOSE FAILURE

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED REPORT.

Investigation PE03012 Opened 2003-04-09 · closed 2003-05-29

POWER STEERING HOSE FAILURE

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED REPORT.

Investigation PE04049 Opened 2004-07-07 · closed 2004-11-05

SPEAKER FIRE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE

ON JULY 7, 2004, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING AN INTERIOR VEHICLE FIRE STARTING IN THE AREA OF THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SPEAKER.DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) INFORMED ODI THAT CONDENSATION FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AIR CONDITIONING…

Investigation PE04049 Opened 2004-07-07 · closed 2004-11-05

SPEAKER FIRE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE

ON JULY 7, 2004, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING AN INTERIOR VEHICLE FIRE STARTING IN THE AREA OF THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SPEAKER.DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) INFORMED ODI THAT CONDENSATION FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AIR CONDITIONING…

Investigation PE05004 Opened 2005-02-02 · closed 2005-06-01

HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS FROM CONSUMERS THAT THEIR HEADLIGHTS WOULD MALFUNCTION IN VARIOUS WAYS FROM FLICKERING TO COMPLETE NON-ILLUMINATION.HEADLIGHT OPERATION IS MONITORED BY THE VEHICLE'S BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) AND FRONT CONTROL MODULE (FCM).ODI…

Investigation PE05004 Opened 2005-02-02 · closed 2005-06-01

HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS FROM CONSUMERS THAT THEIR HEADLIGHTS WOULD MALFUNCTION IN VARIOUS WAYS FROM FLICKERING TO COMPLETE NON-ILLUMINATION.HEADLIGHT OPERATION IS MONITORED BY THE VEHICLE'S BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) AND FRONT CONTROL MODULE (FCM).ODI…

Investigation PE05004 Opened 2005-02-02 · closed 2005-06-01

HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS FROM CONSUMERS THAT THEIR HEADLIGHTS WOULD MALFUNCTION IN VARIOUS WAYS FROM FLICKERING TO COMPLETE NON-ILLUMINATION.HEADLIGHT OPERATION IS MONITORED BY THE VEHICLE'S BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) AND FRONT CONTROL MODULE (FCM).ODI…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Dodge Caravan as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.