1990 Dodge Caravan Problems, Recalls & Reliability
341 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1990 Dodge Caravan, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 6 defect investigations. It scores 16/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1990 Dodge Caravan has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 1990 sits among all Caravan years
What owners report
“Transmission; the transmission had to be replaced van at 84,000 miles purchase van used. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1990 Caravan
“Rear hatch/liftgate opens while driving after being hit on rear rightside. Please describe details. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1990 Caravan
“Rear hatch latch light came on and rear door hard to latch close, replace latch to no avail. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1990 Caravan
“Rear main crankshaft bearing/timing chain cover gaskets and seals and gaskets replaced due to oil leakage.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1990 Caravan
Recalls (6)
FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353.…
Fix: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER MINIVANS WITH REMOTE RELEASE. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL. THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERMINATION THAT A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS WITH THE MINIVAN LATCHES. CHRYSLER IS CONDUCTING A SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE LIFTGATE…
Fix: CHRYSLER DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LIFTGATE LATCH WITH A NEW STRONGER LATCH ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE. CHRYSLER BEGAN NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES IN JUNE 1996.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER MINIVANS WITHOUT REMOTE RELEASE. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL. THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERMINATION THAT A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS WITH THE MINIVAN LATCHES. CHRYSLER IS CONDUCTING A SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE LIFTGATE…
Fix: CHRYSLER DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LIFTGATE LATCH WITH A STRONGER LATCH ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE. CHRYSLER BEGAN NOTIFYING OWNERS DURING OCTOBER 1995.
INBOARD FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY STRAPS CAN SUFFER FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE STRAP NEAR ITS ANCHOR POSITION.
Fix: REPLACE FATIGUED STRAPS OR RETROFIT STRAPS WITH A REINFORCEMENT PLATE AND REMOVAL OF AN ANTIROTATION TAB TO PREVENT FATIGUE FAILURE.
INCORRECT SCREWS MAY HAVE BEEN USED IN INSTALLING THE LOAD SENSING BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE TO ITS BRACKET CAUSING THE CLAMPING LOAD TO BE LESS THAN INTENDED.
Fix: REPLACE PROPORTIONING VALVE TO BRACKET SCREWS WITH PROPER LENGTH SCREWS.
THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
Fix: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 91V053000.
Technical service bulletins
29 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on transmission & drivetrain and electrical — are on file for the 1990 Dodge Caravan. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1990 Caravan TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1990 Dodge Caravan reliable?
The 1990 Dodge Caravan drew 341 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 16/100, scored against the model's worst year (1996).
What are the most common 1990 Dodge Caravan problems?
The top reported problems for the 1990 Dodge Caravan are transmission & drivetrain (79 complaints), body & structure (59), and latches & locks (49).
Does the 1990 Dodge Caravan have recalls?
6 recall campaigns apply to the 1990 Dodge Caravan. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.