Dodge Caravan 4th generation (2000–2007)
Generation-specific owner insights from 97+ substantive owner discussions, with US complaint and recall records.
Photo: Bull-Doser / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
2,094
US owner complaints (NHTSA), 2000–2007
69
recall campaigns
electrical system
most-complained area
What owners say about this generation
Our take, from owner reports
Owners describe this generation as cheap, spacious, and practical basic transportation that can rack up high miles with maintenance, but they repeatedly warn about rust, transmission weakness, and age-related failures.
12 problems reported (2 very frequent, 3 recurrent, 7 isolated) · high confidence
Problems owners report
- Very frequentRust, especially in the Midwest and salt-belt regions
- Very frequentTransmission weakness or failure
- RecurrentAge-related deterioration of gaskets, belts, hoses, and plastics on low-mileage or long-parked vans
+ 9 more issuesShow fewer
- RecurrentUnderpowered 2.4L four-cylinder, described as dangerously slow
- RecurrentCoolant leaks
- IsolatedPower steering leaks
- IsolatedMaster cylinder failure
- IsolatedBlower motor and resistor failure
- IsolatedHead gasket failure under heavy load
- IsolatedStalling or lurching after filling the gas tank to the brim
- IsolatedRandom honking, possibly from a weak battery or alarm short
- IsolatedDiscontinued parts requiring junkyard sourcing
The version owners recommend
Insufficient owner data available to declare a consensus. The strongest partial signal favors the 3.3L V6 over the 2.4L four-cylinder, with owners calling the V6 "pretty reliable" and the four-cylinder "way too small" and dangerously slow. No single model year within 2000-2007 emerges as clearly best.
Competitors to consider
Owners compare it most often with the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Ford Escape, Mazda5 and Chrysler Town & Country.
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Overall sentiment
Owners describe this generation as cheap, spacious, and practical basic transportation that can rack up high miles with maintenance, but they repeatedly warn about rust, transmission weakness, and age-related failures. Praise centers on low purchase prices, cargo and passenger space, and the 3.3L V6's willingness to haul heavy loads. Criticism focuses on rust (especially in the Midwest and salt-belt regions), fragile transmissions, and the underpowered 2.4L four-cylinder. Sentiment is mixed but leans toward "good budget van if you inspect it carefully," with the strongest enthusiasm coming from owners who bought very cheap examples and the strongest warnings coming from those who bought rusty ones.
Positioning vs competitors
Owners generally treat the Odyssey and Sienna as more reliable but more expensive, and several note that the Odyssey of this era had its own transmission problems, which narrows the gap. Against the Ford Escape, opinions split: some would rather put money into an Escape than buy a Caravan, while others see the Caravan as the better value for space. The Caravan is consistently positioned as the cheaper, less refined, but more affordable choice, with owners saying it is "hard to go wrong" for basic seven-seat transport at a low price. Later Caravan generations are treated as newer and better simply by being newer, not by being fundamentally more reliable.
Recommended configurations
Owners favor the V6 over the 2.4L four-cylinder for this generation, describing the V6 as adequate for the van's weight and the four-cylinder as underpowered. No specific trim or model-year recommendation reaches consensus. Buyers are advised to prioritize rust-free examples over low mileage, and to have any candidate inspected by a mechanic before purchase.
General recommendations
This generation suits buyers who need cheap, roomy, basic seven-seat transport and are willing to maintain it. Owners repeatedly advise a pre-purchase inspection, checking for rust underneath (especially in snowy or salt-belt areas), and being wary of unusually low mileage on old vans because sitting causes aged gaskets, belts, hoses, and plastics. Very cheap ($1,000-$1,500) examples are described as acceptable risks if you accept that repairs will come; rusty examples are widely advised to be avoided or scrapped. No specific model year within the generation is recommended or avoided by consensus.
Remarks
Owners note that the 3.3L V6 handles heavily overloaded vans well, and that some examples exceed 300,000 miles with maintenance. Several warn that low mileage on a 2000-2007 van can be a red flag rather than a benefit. Roof rack weight limits are cited at 185 lbs with a rack and under 165 lbs without. Analysis based on approximately 97 substantive owner discussions about this generation.
Complaints and recalls by model year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 82 | 4 | fuel/propulsion system |
| 2006 | 173 | 6 | electrical system |
| 2005 | 537 | 9 | latches/locks/linkages |
| 2004 | 65 | 8 | fuel/propulsion system |
| 2003 | 195 | 9 | steering |
| 2002 | 256 | 10 | air bags |
| 2001 | 260 | 10 | air bags |
| 2000 | 526 | 13 | power train |
Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Higher-selling years naturally accumulate more complaints.
Recall notices for this generation
2007 · exterior lighting:headlightscampaign 08E048000
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 VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
2007 · visibility:glass, side/rearcampaign 07E104000
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 TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."
2007 · equipmentcampaign 10E034000
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 RATING, THE HITCH MAY FRACTURE OR BREAK AT THE BEND LOCATION WHERE THE MAIN BODY OF THE HITCH MEETS THE HITCH MUFFLER STRAP.
2007 · exterior lighting:headlightscampaign 08E039000
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 VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
2006 · exterior lighting:headlightscampaign 08E048000
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 VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
2006 · visibility:glass, side/rearcampaign 07E104000
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 TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."
2006 · equipmentcampaign 10E034000
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 RATING, THE HITCH MAY FRACTURE OR BREAK AT THE BEND LOCATION WHERE THE MAIN BODY OF THE HITCH MEETS THE HITCH MUFFLER STRAP.
2006 · exterior lighting:headlightscampaign 08E039000
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 VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
2006 · air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactivecampaign 10V008000
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, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, ALASKA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND ALLOW WATER TO ENTER INTO THE SENSOR. THIS CAN CAUSE THE SENSOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND ILLUMINATE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. THESE SENSORS WERE ADDED TO ENHANCE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN CERTAIN FRONTAL CRASHES.
2006 · visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motorcampaign 06V067000
ON CERTAIN VANS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ARMATURE SHAFT MAY BREAK.
2005 · exterior lighting:headlightscampaign 08E048000
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 VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
2005 · visibility:glass, side/rearcampaign 07E104000
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 TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."
19 more recalls not shown. Check nhtsa.gov with your VIN for the full history.
Owner insights summarize real ownership discussions for this generation only. Complaint and recall data is public NHTSA (US) information. Always verify recalls against your VIN at nhtsa.gov.