1994 Dodge Caravan Problems, Recalls & Reliability
836 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1994 Dodge Caravan, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 8 defect investigations. It scores 52/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports.
Below average
Where 1994 sits among all Caravan years
What owners report
“Purchase car brand new van keeps cutting off and the transmission shift gear problem. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Caravan
“While in accident, driver and passenger side air bags didn't deploy during impact. Please describe. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Caravan
“Sliding door was closed on a child's hand and was very difficult to get it open. 8ak”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Caravan
“Oil contamination in engine, causing vehicle to overheat and coolant levels to go down.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Caravan
“Abs; brake system is not working properly, back brakes are freezing up causing front brakes to wear, replace front brakes twice. Please describe details. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Caravan
“I have talked to hundreds of people with the same problem on the same make and model vehicle.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Caravan
Recalls (5)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH 2-SPOKE LUXURY WHEELS MANUFACTURED JULY 1992 THROUGH JUNE 1993; OR EQUIPPED WITH 4-SPOKE SPORT WHEELS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1992 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1993. THE STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE STAMPING CAN CRACK AND…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING WHEEL FOR CRACKS AND ANY WHEELS WITH CRACKS WILL BE REPLACED. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL HAVE A REINFORCEMENT PLATE INSTALLED TO PREVENT STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION IN…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. 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…
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…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THE WIRING THAT INITIATES THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD ELECTRICALLY SHORT CIRCUIT TO GROUND. A SHORT CIRCUIT TO GROUND THAT EXISTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE "ON" OR "START" POSITION CAN…
Fix: DEALERS WILL PERFORM AN ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. ANY SHORT CIRCUITS IDENTIFIED IN EITHER THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INITIATOR WIRE CIRCUIT WILL BE REPAIRED.
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 WILL REPLACE THE LIFTGATE LATCH WITH A NEW STRONGER LATCH ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE. CHRYSLER BEGAN NOTIFYING OWNERS DURING DECEMBER 1995.
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 NEW STRONGER LATCH ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE. CHRYSLER BEGAN NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 1995.
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
CFAS SENT A FOLLOW-UP LETTER ON DECEMBER 12, 1996, TO CHANGE THE INTENT OF THE PETITION TO AIRBAG AGGRESSIVITY AND DEPLOYMENT VARIABILITY.NHTSA RECEIVED THE LETTER ON 12/12/96; ACCORDINGLY, THE PETITION DUE DAY WAS CHANGED TO APRIL 12, 1997.CFAS PETITIONED THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION TO…
Led to recall campaign 00V305000.
Led to recall campaign 99V113000.
Technical service bulletins
56 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on transmission & drivetrain and engine — are on file for the 1994 Dodge Caravan. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1994 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 1994 Dodge Caravan reliable?
The 1994 Dodge Caravan drew 836 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 52/100, scored against the model's worst year (1996).
What are the most common 1994 Dodge Caravan problems?
The top reported problems for the 1994 Dodge Caravan are transmission & drivetrain (118 complaints), airbags (105), and body & structure (83).
Does the 1994 Dodge Caravan have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 1994 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.