1992 Dodge Caravan Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,126 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1992 Dodge Caravan, alongside 11 recall campaigns and 14 defect investigations. It scores 54/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 145,520 miles.
Below average
Where 1992 sits among all Caravan years
What owners report
“Anti lock brake light stayed on at all times brakes locked up at 60,000 miles. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1992 Caravan
“The seat belt on the front passenger side does not come out of the retractor all the time. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1992 Caravan
“Automatic transmission failure, total failure of automatic transmission, transmission would not engage into any gear. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1992 Caravan
“Consumer was leave a parking lot the sliding door came off, was driving on highway the sliding door came open. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1992 Caravan
“Consumer wife was driving and there was no power steering went out due to the belt coming off. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1992 Caravan
“Vehicle parked rearview glass shattered. Also rear side glass shattered. Please explain in more detail. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1992 Caravan
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 32 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 145,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 112,000 and 161,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (11)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS. THE LEFT HAND WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT DRIVE ARM WAS NOT MECHANICALLY STAKED TO THE PIVOT SHAFT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT HAND SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT ASSEMBLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI-VANS. THE CENTER REAR SEAT, RIGHT OUTBOARD SIDE, SAFETY BELT ANCHOR HOOK CAN BECOME UNATTACHED FROM THE BODY ANCHOR POSITION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ANCHOR HOOK RETAINING CLIP WITH A REVISED PROFILE CLIP AND A COVER PLATE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI-VANS. COVERS ON THE SOLID STALK MOUNTED SEAT BELT BUCKLES CAN BECOME DISLODGED CAUSING THE RELEASE BUTTON TO STICK INSIDE THE COVER. THE BUCKLE WOULD THEN BE ONLY PARTIALLY LATCHED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A COVER RETAINING CLIP TO THE STALK MOUNTED BUCKLE COVER TO PREVENT DISLOCATION OF THE BUCKLE COVER.
THE BOLTS USED TO ATTACH THE STRUT TO THE BODY AND THE REAR LIFTGATE CAN ACCUMULATE FATIGUE DAMAGE IF THREE FACTORS COMBINE. IF THE BOLT IS LOOSE, THE GAS STRUT IS OVER-PRESSURIZED, AND THE FREQUENCY OF OPENING AND CLOSING CYCLES IS HIGHER THAN FOR THE…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR LOOSE FASTENERS, IF THE FASTENERS ARE LOOSE, THE STRUT (AND INTEGRAL BOLTS) WILL BE REPLACED. IF THE BOLT SHOWS EVIDENCE OF TORQUE, THE BOLT WILL BE REMOVED, LARGER WASHERS…
THE STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE STAMPING CAN CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ARMATURE CRACKS IN THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT AREA. ANY STEERING WHEELS SHOWING CRACKS WILL BE REPLACED. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL HAVE A REINFORCEMENT…
THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON SEAL WEAR CAUSING PUMP-MOTOR DETERIORATION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL TEST THE VEHICLE'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES IF NECESSARY. ALSO THE WARRANTY ON ALL ABS COMPONENTS WILL BE EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES (EXCEPT FOR THE…
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 MARCH 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…
Fix: CHRYSLER DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LIFTGATE LATCH WITH A NEW STRONGER LATCH ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE. CHRYSLER BEGAN NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES IN OCTOBER 1995.
FUEL TANK FLANGES WERE NOT BENT AS REQUIRED TO ALLOW THE SPECIFIED CLEARANCE FOR THE FUEL TANK MOUNTING STRAPS AND FUEL LINES AT THE TANK.
Fix: REPAIR THE FLANGE BY BENDING TO THE CORRECT ANGLE; REPLACE DAMAGED FUEL LINES AND MOUNTING STRAPS.
THE ZINC PLATING OPERATION PERFORMED ON THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLING BOLT CAUSED HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT AND BREAKAGE OF THE BOLT.
Fix: REPLACE THE ZINC PLATED BOLT WITH A PHOSPHATE PLATED BOLT.
THE BRAKE PEDAL PAD ATTACHMENT TO THE PEDAL ARM MAY NOT HAVE ADEQUATE STRENGTH DUE TO MISLOCATION OF WELDS, AND COULD BREAK.
Fix: REPLACE INADEQUATE BRAKE PEDALS WITH PROPERLY MANUFACTURED PEDALS.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 99V189000.
Led to recall campaign 97V149000.
Led to recall campaign 97V079000.
Led to recall campaign 97V079000.
Led to recall campaign 96V229000.
Led to recall campaign 96V099000.
Technical service bulletins
46 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on transmission & drivetrain and airbags — are on file for the 1992 Dodge Caravan. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1992 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 1992 Dodge Caravan reliable?
The 1992 Dodge Caravan drew 1,126 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 54/100, scored against the model's worst year (1996).
What are the most common 1992 Dodge Caravan problems?
The top reported problems for the 1992 Dodge Caravan are brakes & stability (301 complaints), seat belts (181), and transmission & drivetrain (118).
At what mileage do 1992 Dodge Caravan problems show up?
Owners most often report 1992 Dodge Caravan problems around 145,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 112,000 and 161,000 miles.
Does the 1992 Dodge Caravan have recalls?
11 recall campaigns apply to the 1992 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.