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2005 Dodge Caravan: common problems and reliability
· 4th generationOne of the worst Caravan years.
One of the Dodge Caravan years to avoid. All Caravan years
537 owner complaints, most about latches/locks/linkages. 9 recalls.
Should I buy a 2005 Caravan?The 2005 Dodge Caravan has 537 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 9 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are latches/locks/linkages and electrical system. Owners most often flag rust, especially in the midwest and salt-belt regions.
Safety record for the 2005 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2005 Dodge Caravan vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Caravan years only. How we score it
Is 2005 a good year for the Caravan?
Across the 21 Caravan model years we track, complaint volume runs from 1 (2017) to 1,647 (1996). With 537 complaints, the 2005 Caravan sits above the model's median of 173.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2005 Caravan
exterior lighting:headlights
Campaign 08E048000EAGLE 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."
visibility:glass, side/rear
Campaign 07E104000CERTAIN 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."
equipment
Campaign 10E034000CURT 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.
exterior lighting:headlights
Campaign 08E039000MAXZONE 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.
Show 5 more recalls
service brakes, hydraulic
Campaign 06E022000CERTAIN 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, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.
air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Campaign 10V008000CHRYSLER 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.
visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor
Campaign 06V067000ON CERTAIN VANS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ARMATURE SHAFT MAY BREAK.
air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Campaign 07V192000CERTAIN 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 INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES MAY CORRODE AND CRACK ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE SENSOR. THESE SENSORS PROVIDE ENHANCED AIR BAG PERFORMANCE IN CERTAIN TYPES OF FRONTAL CRASHES.
seat belts:front:retractor
Campaign 04V047000AFTER 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.
What owners report on the 4th generation Caravan
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.
- 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
- RecurrentUnderpowered 2.4L four-cylinder, described as dangerously slow
- RecurrentCoolant leaks
Owner insights for the 4th generation Caravan. Read the full 4th generation owner report.
Typical used price
Used Caravan listings typically run $2,999–$8,933 across 1997 to 2007 model years.
Other Caravan model years
Compare every Caravan year side by side to see how 2005 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Caravan against its rivals
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