Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Dodge Caravan
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Dodge Caravan has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns and 245 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #10E034000 AFTERMARKET RECEIVER HITCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E048000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E039000 FMVSS 108/LIGHT REFLECTION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E022000 BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDER NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V531000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/RADIO SHORT CIRCUIT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V386000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03E053000 WIX FILTERATION/FUEL FILTER LEAKS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03E045000 INTERCONTINENTAL AUTO PARTS/FUEL FILTER LEAKS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V094000 SOUTHERN COMFORT/RUNNING BOARDS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V310000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/FMVSS 225/OWNER MANUAL INFO NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 59 complaints
- Steering 36 complaints
- Electrical System 33 complaints
- Power Train 27 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 19 complaints
- Equipment 17 complaints
Of the 245 complaints on file, 13 report a crash and 11 a fire; across all 245 complaints, owners report 9 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Dodge Caravan has a below-average rating due to numerous aftermarket equipment recalls impacting safety and reliability. Additionally, frequent airbag and steering complaints suggest systemic issues, while potential electrical and powertrain problems increase ownership costs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| airbags | 70,000–100,000 miles | $400–$800 | very common |
| power steering hose | 60,000–90,000 miles | $250–$600 | common |
| electrical system | 50,000–80,000 miles | $300–$700 | common |
| transmission | 90,000–120,000 miles | $1,200–$3,500 | occasional |
| brake system | 60,000–90,000 miles | $200–$400 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 7,500 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Coolant replacement every 3 years
- Spark plug replacement every 30,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering wheel shaking
- Unresponsive airbag indicator
- Power steering fluid leaks
- Unusual transmission noises
- Flickering dashboard lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Dodge Caravan at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.