Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 08E048000 · 2008 · reported 08/08/2008
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2002 Dodge Caravan Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Air Bags — runs 2.9× the fleet median for that category across the 1998 model-years tracked on this site.
245Complaints
10Recalls
13Crashes
11Fires
9Injured
1Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Air Bags (15.9% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Air Bags complaints here are 2.9× the median for that category across the 1998 model-years tracked on this site.
None of the 6 most-reported categories on this page have a recall or open investigation on file — they rest on unverified owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 39 · 15.9% | No official action | — |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 22 · 9% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System | 18 · 7.3% | Investigation closed | EA05009 · PE05004 · PE04049 → recall 04V531000 |
| Air Bags:frontal | 13 · 5.3% | No official action | — |
| Tires | 10 · 4.1% | No official action | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 9 · 3.7% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 245 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 10 campaigns
Equipment
NHTSA campaign 10E034000 · 2010 · reported 08/10/2010
IF THE AREA IN QUESTION FRACTURES OR BREAKS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN UNSTABLE DRIVING CONDITION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 08E039000 · 2008 · reported 06/10/2008
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
NHTSA campaign 06E022000 · 2006 · reported 03/13/2006
LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.
NHTSA campaign 04V531000 · 2004 · reported 11/02/2004
THIS COULD RESULT IN A SPEAKER FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Fuel System, Gasoline
NHTSA campaign 03E053000 · 2003 · reported 10/24/2003
A POSSIBLE FIRE CAN OCCUR IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections
NHTSA campaign 04V386000 · 2004 · reported 08/05/2004
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Child Seat
NHTSA campaign 01V310000 · 2001 · reported 10/04/2001
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ATTACHED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE CHILD. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Structure
NHTSA campaign 03V094000 · 2003 · reported 03/07/2003
THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Equipment
NHTSA campaign 03E045000 · 2003 · reported 09/26/2003
IF THIS CONDITION OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE ENGINE COULD STALL. ALSO, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THE FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD STAY ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PASSENGER'S SEAT…”NHTSA complaint 10111724 — filed 03/23/2005 · AIR BAGS
“WRONG VIN NUMBER ON RECALL LETTER, CONSUMER REQUESTED A NEW LETTER FOR CLOCKSPRING RECALL. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE RECALL CLOCKSPRING BECAUSE THE VIN…”NHTSA complaint 10110879 — filed 01/13/2005 · AIR BAGS
“WHILE DRIVING, THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE CONSUMER DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC…”NHTSA complaint 10097148 — filed 10/19/2004 · AIR BAGS
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Dodge Caravan?
Air bags issues are the most-reported category, cited in 39 of 245 NHTSA complaints (15.9%), followed by power train:automatic transmission (22), electrical system (18), air bags:frontal (13). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2002 Dodge Caravan have?
245 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 13 involved a crash, 11 involved a fire, and 9 reported injuries. 1 deaths were reported.
Does the 2002 Dodge Caravan have any recalls?
Yes — 10 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 08E048000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2002 Dodge Caravan's reported problems?
0 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
