1990 DODGE CARAVAN — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
341
Owner Complaints
6
Recalls
1
Service Bulletin
1
Investigation
Overview of the 1990 DODGE CARAVAN
The 1990 DODGE CARAVAN has received a total of 341 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 6 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SUSPENSION, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Power Trainautomatic Transmission (65 complaints), Latcheslockslinkageshatchbackliftgatelock (40 complaints), and Structurebodyhatchbackliftgate (17 complaints).
Recalls for the 1990 DODGE CARAVAN
NHTSA has recorded 6 recalls for the 1990 DODGE CARAVAN, potentially affecting up to 1,713,848 vehicles.
Recall 08E033000 — SUSPENSION
| 6,903 vehicles affected
Defect: FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
Consequence: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
View full details →Recall 95I001007 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
| 360,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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 LATCH ASSEMBLY OF THE AFFECTED MINIVANS. IN A COLLISION, THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH ASSEMBLY COULD OPEN.
Consequence: IF THE LIFTGATE LATCH OPENS, OCCUPANTS CAN BE EJECTED RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: CHRYSLER DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LIFTGATE LATCH WITH A NEW STRONGER LATCH ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE. CHRYSLER BEGAN NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES IN JUNE 1996.
View full details →Recall 95I001003 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
| 72,845 vehicles affected
Defect: 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 LATCH ASSEMBLY OF THE AFFECTED MINIVANS. IN A COLLISION, THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH ASSEMBLY COULD OPEN.
Consequence: IF THE LIFTGATE LATCH OPENS, OCCUPANTS CAN BE EJECTED RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: CHRYSLER DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LIFTGATE LATCH WITH A STRONGER LATCH ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE. CHRYSLER BEGAN NOTIFYING OWNERS DURING OCTOBER 1995.
View full details →Recall 91V053000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
| 640,000 vehicles affected
Defect: INBOARD FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY STRAPS CAN SUFFER FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE STRAP NEAR ITS ANCHOR POSITION.
Consequence: FATIGUE FAILURE OF SAFETY BELTS IN A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT CONDITION RESULTS IN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: REPLACE FATIGUED STRAPS OR RETROFIT STRAPS WITH A REINFORCEMENT PLATE AND REMOVAL OF AN ANTIROTATION TAB TO PREVENT FATIGUE FAILURE.
View full details →Recall 90V145000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE
| 100 vehicles affected
Defect: INCORRECT SCREWS MAY HAVE BEEN USED IN INSTALLING THE LOAD SENSING BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE TO ITS BRACKET CAUSING THE CLAMPING LOAD TO BE LESS THAN INTENDED.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN INCONSISTENT FRONT TO REAR BRAKEBALANCE WITH POTENTIAL FOR REAR BRAKE SKID UNDER HEAVY BRAKING CONDITIONS.
Remedy: REPLACE PROPORTIONING VALVE TO BRACKET SCREWS WITH PROPER LENGTH SCREWS.
View full details →Recall 89V237000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
| 634,000 vehicles affected
Defect: THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
Consequence: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1990 DODGE CARAVAN
341 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1990 DODGE CARAVAN. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO STOP INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE FAILURES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE PUMP AT THE COST OF OVER $400. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 90V145000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE), BUT WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR BEING VERBALLY ABUSIVE TO THE REPRESENTATIVE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,124.
I STARTED NOTICING A SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE 1 WEEK BEFORE THE FAILURE. IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN IT WAS COLD AND ONLY WHEN TURNING LEFT. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE A BAD U-JOINT. ON THE MORNING OF 2-16-07 8:15 AM I WAS TURNING LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. IT CHEWED UP ONE OF THE BEARINGS (WHICH A MECHANIC LATER TOLD ME WAS NOTORIOUS FOR GOING OUT) AND DROPPED THEM ALL OVER THE ROAD. I WAS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH NO WAY TO GO ANYWHERE, BLOCKING TRAFFIC. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I WAS ALSO UNABLE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHICH HAD AN INCLINE TO IT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE DRIVETRAIN AND PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK HAD NO EFFECT. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE INTO SOMEONE'S DRIVEWAY AND LEAVE IT THERE WITH A ROCK IN FRONT OF THE WHEEL. I DID HAVE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON BUT I WAS NOT GOING TO TOTALLY TRUST IT TO KEEP THE VAN STATIONARY. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN PUT INTO THE VAN. IT IS A 1990 WITH ONLY 87000 ORIGINAL MILES. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND ONLY PUT 2000-3000 MILES A YEAR ON THIS VAN. THE SECOND TRANSMISSION HAS LESS THAN 25000 MILES ON IT. *NM
DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM PULLED OVER AND STOPPED SAW WHAT LOOKED LIKE STEAM COMING FROM THE MOTOR. IT WAS DAYLIGHT OUT DID NOT NOTICE THAT HEADLIGHTS DIDN'T WORK JUST THE RUNNING LIGHTS TILL A FEW HOURS LATER. AFTER HAVING HEATER ON HEADLIGHTS WILL COME ON BUT SMELL WHAT SEEMS LIKE WIRES BURNING AND THE SPEAKER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE MAKES A CACKLING NOISE. OTHERWISE YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE HIGHBEAM SWITCH TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS ON.*AK
DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM PULLED OVER AND STOPPED SAW WHAT LOOKED LIKE STEAM COMING FROM THE MOTOR. IT WAS DAYLIGHT OUT DID NOT NOTICE THAT HEADLIGHTS DIDN'T WORK JUST THE RUNNING LIGHTS TILL A FEW HOURS LATER. AFTER HAVING HEATER ON HEADLIGHTS WILL COME ON BUT SMELL WHAT SEEMS LIKE WIRES BURNING AND THE SPEAKER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE MAKES A CACKLING NOISE. OTHERWISE YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE HIGHBEAM SWITCH TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS ON.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD SMELL LIKE GAS.*AK
Safety Rating for the 1990 DODGE CARAVAN
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1990 DODGE CARAVAN in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1990 DODGE CARAVAN
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 1990 DODGE CARAVAN. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
180795A — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HARSH TRANSAXLE SHIFTS. *T2W
NHTSA Investigations for the 1990 DODGE CARAVAN
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 1990 DODGE CARAVAN.
Other Model Years of the DODGE CARAVAN
- 1985 DODGE CARAVAN — 85 complaints
- 1986 DODGE CARAVAN — 55 complaints
- 1987 DODGE CARAVAN — 83 complaints
- 1988 DODGE CARAVAN — 135 complaints
- 1989 DODGE CARAVAN — 236 complaints
- 1990 DODGE CARAVAN (current)
- 1991 DODGE CARAVAN — 773 complaints
- 1992 DODGE CARAVAN — 1,126 complaints
- 1993 DODGE CARAVAN — 1,229 complaints
- 1994 DODGE CARAVAN — 836 complaints
- 1995 DODGE CARAVAN — 656 complaints
Other DODGE Models
- DODGE DURANGO — 19,139 total complaints
- DODGE GRAND CARAVAN — 18,729 total complaints
- DODGE RAM 1500 — 15,420 total complaints
- DODGE DAKOTA — 9,227 total complaints
- DODGE CHARGER — 8,114 total complaints
- DODGE RAM 2500 — 8,092 total complaints
- DODGE INTREPID — 8,078 total complaints
- DODGE JOURNEY — 7,849 total complaints