2005 Dodge Caravan Problems, Recalls & Reliability
691 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2005 Dodge Caravan, alongside 9 recall campaigns and 7 defect investigations. It scores 30/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 79,000 miles.
Typical
Where 2005 sits among all Caravan years
What owners report
“I have had a miss fire from the engine since i bought it. Taken it back to the dealer for service and had the pcm reprogramed, trans serviced and still the problem persists. Now the check engine light is on again and the trouble code are saying bad plug-wire or coil pack. Last time it went in they…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Caravan
“Had a recall on the airbag sensor and had it fixed 3 or 4 years ago. On 12-2-2018 the warning light came on, doing the same problem. I have not as yet found if the sensor was fixed with another bad one. This needs looked into. To see if others have this reacurring safty problem. Comes on 10 minutes…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Caravan
“Gasoline leak from fuel pump seal on top of gas tank or fuel line to fuel pump connection. Gas could be smelled from side and back of vehicle. It could easily cause fire. A recall seems to safe lives.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Caravan
“2002 dodge caravan, steering problems, noises, ratlling, shaking. Tried to fix 4 times. Finally we traded it in for 2005. Same problems started under 10,000. In shop now 2nd attempt to fix. Also van looses all power and steering while driving. It has happened 5 times.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Caravan
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 557 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 65,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 42,916 and 92,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (9)
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.
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 DODGE CARAVAN, GRAND CARAVAN AND CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS,…
Fix: CHRYSLER WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AIRBAG SENSORS WITH A NEW DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN WILL BEGIN DURING JUNE 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT…
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.
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,…
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF…
Fix: SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND…
CERTAIN MINIVANS ARE BEING RECALLED THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE 27 STATES PLUS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA THAT USE GREATER AMOUNTS OF SALT FOR WINTER ROAD DEICING. THE UP-FRONT (UF) AIR BAG SENSORS THAT CONTAIN BRASS BUSHINGS…
Fix: FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE RECALL STATES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL UF AIR BAG SENSORS WITH ONES WITH GREATER CORROSION RESISTANCE. VEHICLES REGISTERED IN OTHER STATES WILL OBTAIN A…
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…
ON CERTAIN VANS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ARMATURE SHAFT MAY BREAK.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2006, TO DODGE DURANGO OWNERS. MINIVAN OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS…
AFTER PERFORMING THE NCAP TEST, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITHOUT THE AVAILABLE "STOW 'N GO" SEATING OPTION, THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES AND ANY SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE STAKE WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 10V008000.
Led to recall campaign 07V192000.
Technical service bulletins
83 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2005 Dodge Caravan. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2005 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 2005 Dodge Caravan reliable?
The 2005 Dodge Caravan drew 691 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 30/100, scored against the model's worst year (1996).
What are the most common 2005 Dodge Caravan problems?
The top reported problems for the 2005 Dodge Caravan are electrical (217 complaints), latches & locks (203), and airbags (49).
At what mileage do 2005 Dodge Caravan problems show up?
Owners most often report 2005 Dodge Caravan problems around 65,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 42,916 and 92,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Dodge Caravan have recalls?
9 recall campaigns apply to the 2005 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.