2001 Dodge Caravan Problems, Recalls & Reliability

341 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2001 Dodge Caravan, alongside 10 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 16/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 64,861 miles.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2001 Dodge Caravan has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

341Complaints
16/100Trouble index
10Recalls
55,000Typical trouble mileage

Better year

Where 2001 sits among all Caravan years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Electrical 65 complaints (19%) · typically ~64,861 miles
“While driving the headlights flickered. Both headlights went off completely while the dealer technician was test driving. The dealer cannot remedy the problem.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Caravan
Airbags 43 complaints (13%) · typically ~56,000 miles
“The consumer was making a left turn, and a semi trailer hit the consumer. The vehicle rolled over and none of the front of side air bags deployed. Ts scc”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Caravan
Steering 33 complaints (10%) · typically ~40,000 miles
“Paint is bubbling and peeling off. Power window on drivers side works whenever it wants to. Steering has a bad whine and makes bed noises.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Caravan
Suspension 32 complaints (9%) · typically ~45,000 miles
“The vehicle began pulling to the right, the dealer performed a front end alignent but now the vehicle pulls in both directions. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Caravan
Other 26 complaints (8%) · typically ~68,500 miles
“I was rolling my driver's side window up (electric window), it got half way up and it shattered all over me. I was literally picking glass out of my legs from this window”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Caravan
Visibility & wipers 20 complaints (6%) · typically ~67,000 miles

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 176 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 55,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 30,000 and 87,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (10)

EQUIPMENT 10E034000 2010

CURT MFG IS RECALLING CERTAIN CLASS 3 RECEIVER HITCHES, P/N 13347, SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON 1997-2007 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VANS, 1996-2007 DODGE CARAVANS, AND 1996-2004 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER VANS. WHEN THE HITCH IS LOADED TO THE MAXIMUM…

Fix: CURT MFG WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND WILL REPLACE THE HITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MFG AT 1-715-831-8713.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 08E048000 2008

EAGLE EYES IS RECALLING 11,534 HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. CS090-B001L AND CS090-B001R, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE LOWER BEAM PHOTOMETRY REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR…

Fix: EAGLE EYES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT EAGLE EYES AT 1-800-568-1098.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 08E039000 2008

MAXZONE IS RECALLING 2,520 HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, DEPO BRAND, P/NOS. 3341103L-AS AND 334-1103R-AS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR 2001-2007 DODGE CARAVAN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR…

Fix: MAXZONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAXZONE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: 1-888-286-1188 (WA,…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 06E022000 2006

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST,…

Fix: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT…

EQUIPMENT 04V531000 2004

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, CONDENSATION FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AIR CONDITIONING DUCTS MAY DROP THROUGH VENT HOLES IN THE TOP OF THE RADIO AND RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT SUBSEQUENTLY SENDS DIRECT CURRENT TO THE REAR SPEAKERS.

Fix: DEALERS WILL ADD A SPECIAL TAPE TO THE TOP OF THE RADIO TO PREVENT THE POTENTIAL OF WATER INTRUSION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 03E053000 2003

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, MODELS WIX FILTER PART NUMBERS 33576, 33577, 33734; NAPA FILTER PART NUMBERS 3576, 3577, 3734; AND CARQUEST FILTER PART NUMBERS 86576, 86577, 86734 USED ON 1996-2000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY, DODGE CARAVAN,…

Fix: WIX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. NOTE: THIS DOES NOT INVOLVE ANY PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP. NOR ANY DAILMERCHRYSLER DEALERS.…

EQUIPMENT 03E045000 2003

AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 17, 2002, AND JANUARY 20, 2003, SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES LISTED ABOVE. THE FILTER MAY EXPERIENCE MALFUNCTION OF THE QUICK CONNECTOR EITHER BLOCKING FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE OR CAUSING A…

Fix: AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS FOR 1995-2000 SHORT WHEELBASE CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY, PLYMOUTH VOYAGER AND DODGE CARAVAN MINIVANS PART NO. 18232 AND DATE CODE 0237, 0249, OR 0252.…

STRUCTURE 03V094000 2003

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT…

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO…

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 01I003000 2001

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2001 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER, CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY, AND DODGE CARAVAN/GRAND CARAVAN MINI VANS THAT ARE NOT…

Fix: DEALER WILL REPLACE BOTH SLIDING DOOR KEY CYLINDER-TO-BELL CRANK LINKS ON THE SLIDING DOORS FREE OF CHARGE (PARTS AND LABOR). DAIMLERCHRYSLER HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE…

SUSPENSION 01V152000 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT BOLT COULD FRACTURE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLTS AND NUTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 30, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE…

Federal defect investigations

HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION EA05009 opened 2005, closed 2006
HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION PE05004 opened 2005, closed 2005

Technical service bulletins

134 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2001 Dodge Caravan. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2001 Caravan TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2001peak 57 in 20042025

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2001 Dodge Caravan reliable?

The 2001 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 2001 Dodge Caravan problems?

The top reported problems for the 2001 Dodge Caravan are electrical (65 complaints), airbags (43), and steering (33).

At what mileage do 2001 Dodge Caravan problems show up?

Owners most often report 2001 Dodge Caravan problems around 55,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 30,000 and 87,000 miles.

Does the 2001 Dodge Caravan have recalls?

10 recall campaigns apply to the 2001 Dodge Caravan. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2000 Caravan All Caravan years 2002 Caravan →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

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.