1993 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems, Recalls & Reliability

391 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1993 Dodge Grand Caravan, alongside 9 recall campaigns and 8 defect investigations. It scores 21/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 145,330 miles.

391Complaints
21/100Trouble index
9Recalls
137,000Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 1993 sits among all Grand Caravan years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Brakes & stability 119 complaints (30%) · typically ~145,330 miles
“Abs system failure - dealer refuses to fix problem. There is a recall for this problem dated apr 19 1996 - nhtsa campaing # 96v09900 - over 320,000 vehicles affected.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1993 Grand Caravan
Transmission & drivetrain 52 complaints (13%)
“Transmission failed while climbing a hill - would not engage. Repair shop said transmission had to be replaced. Cost - $2020.00”— owner report to NHTSA, 1993 Grand Caravan
Seat belts 46 complaints (12%)
“The seat belt on the right side in the middle of the vehicle disengages from the metal hook on the floor, cauisng the seat belt to become inoperative. The spring clip has not broken. Please give any further details. Ak”— owner report to NHTSA, 1993 Grand Caravan
Body & structure 34 complaints (9%)
“Driver's side door opened due to failure of ther hinge and latch, repair work (welding failed) and door needed replacement.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1993 Grand Caravan
Engine 27 complaints (7%)
“Possible engine failure is causing the check engine light to flash while driving vehicle also dies while driving. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1993 Grand Caravan
Other 25 complaints (6%)
“Air conditioner won't work, have talked to many people with caravans with the same problem. Also, have seen a large number of vehicles with the paint chipping. The previous owner told us at the time that we purchased that there was supposed to be some type of recourse on the paint on the caravan. I…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1993 Grand Caravan

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 57 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 137,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 98,000 and 161,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (9)

STEERING 00V305000 2000

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…

STRUCTURE 99V213000 1999

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…

VISIBILITY 99V189000 1999

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.

AIR BAGS 99V113000 1999

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.

SEAT BELTS 97V149000 1997

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.

SEAT BELTS 97V148000 1997

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.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 96V099000 1996

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…

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 95I001005 1995

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.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 95I001001 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 →

REAR LIFTGATE SUPPORT RQ99004 opened April 19, 1999 · still open

Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

ON MAY 7, 1997, CHRYSLER FILED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO RECALL 436,000 1992 DODGE CARAVAN/GRAND CARAVAN, PLYMOUTH VOYAGER/GRAND VOYAGER AND CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VEHICLES TO REPAIR THE LIFTGATE SUPPORTS; SAFETY RECALL 97V-079.ODI HAD INVESTIGATION THE REAR LIFTGATE SUPPORT PROBLEM FOR…

Model years named: 1991, 1993

STEERING COLUMN SEPARATION DP03002 opened 2003, closed 2003
STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION RQ00011 opened 2000, closed 2002

Led to recall campaign 00V305000.

SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE FAILURES EA97005 opened 1997, closed 1997

Led to recall campaign 97V149000.

SAFETY BLT LATCH OPERATION PE96008 opened 1996, closed 1996
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILS EA94028 opened 1994, closed 1996

Led to recall campaign 96V099000.

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILS PE94024 opened 1994, closed 1994
LIFTGATE LATCHES EA94005 opened 1994, closed 1995

Technical service bulletins

1 manufacturer communication — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine — are on file for the 1993 Dodge Grand Caravan. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 1993 Grand Caravan TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

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

1996peak 85 in 19972024

Questions buyers ask

Is the 1993 Dodge Grand Caravan reliable?

The 1993 Dodge Grand Caravan drew 391 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 21/100, scored against the model's worst year (1996).

What are the most common 1993 Dodge Grand Caravan problems?

The top reported problems for the 1993 Dodge Grand Caravan are brakes & stability (119 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (52), and seat belts (46).

At what mileage do 1993 Dodge Grand Caravan problems show up?

Owners most often report 1993 Dodge Grand Caravan problems around 137,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 98,000 and 161,000 miles.

Does the 1993 Dodge Grand Caravan have recalls?

9 recall campaigns apply to the 1993 Dodge Grand Caravan. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 1992 Grand Caravan All Grand Caravan years 1994 Grand 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.