FaultScore

1988 Dodge Caravan body problems

20 of the 135 complaints about the 1988 Dodge Caravan are about the body and structure — 15% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 122,000 miles.

F

20

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Support Device/Strut 5 25.0%
Hatchback/Liftgate 5 25.0%
Door 4 20.0%
Hinge AND Attachments 2 10.0%
Hinge AND Attachments 2 10.0%
Frame AND Members 1 5.0%
Tailgate 1 5.0%

Body & Structure across every Dodge Caravan year

1985 14 1.8%
1986 14 1.8%
1987 10 1.3%
1988 20 2.6%
1989 43 5.6%
1990 59 7.7%
1991 87 11.4%
1992 85 11.1%
1993 89 11.6%
1994 83 10.8%
1995 45 5.9%
1996 64 8.4%
1997 22 2.9%
1998 27 3.5%
1999 28 3.7%
2000 34 4.4%
2001 14 1.8%
2002 12 1.6%
2005 15 2.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 122,000 miles Seattle, WA

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT BROKE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE MOTOR MOUNT BUT A YEAR LATER THE PROBLEM RECURRED BUT THIS TIME WHEN THE MOTOR MOUNT BROKE IT ALSO DAMAGED THE OIL PAN. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10080198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

National City, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

FRONT DOORS ARE SEPARATING FROM HINGES. THIS IS CAUSING DOORS TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. DOORS WILL EITHER LOCK OR UNLOCK UPON BEING CLOSED. OWNER KNEW OF PROBLEM PRIOR TO PURCHASING. MECHANIC INDICATED VEHICLE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #896087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

MT Holly, NJ

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

SIDE SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF THE HINGES. TT

NHTSA complaint #976953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Evanston, 00

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

LIFTGATE HAS FAILED, LIFTGATE WILL OPEN BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING. TT

NHTSA complaint #964519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fromburg, MT

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

REAR HATCH/LIFTGATE FELL ON OWNER DUE TO DEFECTIVE SPRING DOOR HINGES. TT

NHTSA complaint #963501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Miles City, MT

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

REAR DOOR HINGE DOES NOT HOLD TAILGATE UP, RESULTING IN INJURIES TO PERSON OPENING DOOR. TT

NHTSA complaint #963410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lagrange, WY

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOESN'T SHUT TIGHT WHEN IT IS TIGHTEN IT COME BACK LOOSE. TT

NHTSA complaint #963456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pittison, PA

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

LIGHT KEEP COMING ON, HARD TOO CLOSE, NOW TAIL GATE WILL NOT CLOSE AT ALL. TT

NHTSA complaint #963295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North FT MYE, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

REAR LIFTGATE OPENED TWICE WHILE DRIVING; HIT BUMP WHILE BACKING UP/ OPENED WHILE DRIVING WET SURFACE, VEHICLE SKIDDED. TT

NHTSA complaint #963292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Massapequa, NY 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

HYDRAULIC LIFT COLLAPSED CUTTING TOP OF OWNERS HEAD. TT

NHTSA complaint #963267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Klamath Fall, OR

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

DUE TO POOR DESIGN MATERIAL USED, THE HYDRAULIC LIFTS COLLAPSED IN COLD WEATHER, ALSO HAS RESULTED IN HEAD INJURY. T

NHTSA complaint #963224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Concord, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

SIDE DOOR RELEASES WHILE DRIVING. TT

NHTSA complaint #963452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vienna, VA

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

HINGES THAT HOLD REAR DOOR UP FAILED THREE TIME, REPLACE ROD THREE TIME. TT

NHTSA complaint #963169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lowell, MA

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

REAR HYDRAULIC CYLINDER LIFT STRUTS INOPERATIVE, WON'T STAY UP, WILL DESEND WITHOUT WARNING UNEXPECTEDLY. TT

NHTSA complaint #962997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Angeles, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

LIFTGATE HAS POOR SUPPORT DUE TO STRUTS FAILING. DOOR HAS STRUCK OWNER AGAINST HEAD. TT

NHTSA complaint #963189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, VA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FELL OFF HINGES WHILE DRIVING. TT

NHTSA complaint #962953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dayton, TN Crash 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE

VAN ROLLED OVER, FRONT PASSENGER FLEW OUT OF REAR DOOR. TT

NHTSA complaint #962875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bottill, WA

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

WHILE DRIVING REAR HATCH HAS COME OPEN ALLOWING PROPERTY TO FALL OUT. TT

NHTSA complaint #962012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST Paul, MN Crash 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE WENT OFF HIGHWAY FLIP REAR HATCH GATE CAME OPEN PASSENGER FLIP OUT EA94-005 ACTIVE. TT

NHTSA complaint #961806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST. Charles, MO

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THIS VEHICLE WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE W/DOOR REMAINING SHUT. TT

NHTSA complaint #961296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1988 Dodge Caravan problems

← Full 1988 Dodge Caravan report