2008 Dodge Caravan recalls and problems

The 2008 Dodge Caravan has 2 recalls and 302 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is electrical system.

Pictured: a 2007 model; the 2008 may differ in details. Photo: 2007 Dodge Caravan by Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How the 2008 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 18 Caravan model years — 3rd most.

2recalls

302complaints

8crashes

6fires

10injuries

65,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

2 recalls

Suspension

Apr 23, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V164000 · 834 vehicles

Problem: The Braun corporation is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 Chrysler town & country and Dodge caravan mobility conversions which were altered by Braun between January 21, 2009 and March 19, 2010. During conversion, the chassis was raised and the floor was lowered to accommodate wheelchair accessibility features. In raising the chassis, the rear spring hats come into closer proximity to the rear tires. In rough or aggressive driving situations the tires May intermittently contact the rear spring hats.

Original NHTSA wording

THE BRAUN CORPORATION IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND DODGE CARAVAN MOBILITY CONVERSIONS WHICH WERE ALTERED BY BRAUN BETWEEN JANUARY 21, 2009 AND MARCH 19, 2010. DURING CONVERSION, THE CHASSIS WAS RAISED AND THE FLOOR WAS LOWERED TO ACCOMMODATE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES. IN RAISING THE CHASSIS, THE REAR SPRING HATS COME INTO CLOSER PROXIMITY TO THE REAR TIRES. IN ROUGH OR AGGRESSIVE DRIVING SITUATIONS THE TIRES MAY INTERMITTENTLY CONTACT THE REAR SPRING HATS.

Risk: Contact between the tire spring hat May wear a hole in the tire over time. This May result in loss of vehicle control in the event of tire pressure loss increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

CONTACT BETWEEN THE TIRE SPRING HAT MAY WEAR A HOLE IN THE TIRE OVER TIME. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL IN THE EVENT OF TIRE PRESSURE LOSS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Braun will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on June 4, 2010. Owners May contact Braun toll-free at 1-800-488-0359.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Fuel System

Apr 13, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V148000 · 843 vehicles

Problem: The Braun corporation is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 Chrysler town & country and Dodge caravan commercial entervans which were altered by Braun between January 21, 2009 and March 19, 2010. During conversion, the chassis was raised and the floor was lowered to accommodate wheelchair accessibility features. In raising the chassis, the fuel fill pipe comes into closer proximity to the left rear tire. In rough or aggressive driving situations, the tire May intermittently contact the fuel fill pipe.

Original NHTSA wording

THE BRAUN CORPORATION IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND DODGE CARAVAN COMMERCIAL ENTERVANS WHICH WERE ALTERED BY BRAUN BETWEEN JANUARY 21, 2009 AND MARCH 19, 2010. DURING CONVERSION, THE CHASSIS WAS RAISED AND THE FLOOR WAS LOWERED TO ACCOMMODATE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES. IN RAISING THE CHASSIS, THE FUEL FILL PIPE COMES INTO CLOSER PROXIMITY TO THE LEFT REAR TIRE. IN ROUGH OR AGGRESSIVE DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE TIRE MAY INTERMITTENTLY CONTACT THE FUEL FILL PIPE.

Risk: Contact between the tire and fuel fill pipe May wear a hole in one or the other components over time. This May result in loss of vehicle control in the event of tire pressure loss, or a vehicle fire in the event the fuel pipe is compromised.

Original NHTSA wording

CONTACT BETWEEN THE TIRE AND FUEL FILL PIPE MAY WEAR A HOLE IN ONE OR THE OTHER COMPONENTS OVER TIME. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL IN THE EVENT OF TIRE PRESSURE LOSS, OR A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE EVENT THE FUEL PIPE IS COMPROMISED.

Remedy & notes

Braun will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on June 4, 2010. Owners May contact Braun toll-free at 1-800-488-0359.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine29

Tires13

Unknown or other12

Power Train11

Structure8

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

Totally Integrated Power Module Failure

DP14004 · opened Sep 25, 2014 · closed Jul 24, 2015

Summary

In a letter dated August 21, 2014, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged failures associated with the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) installed in Chrysler SUV?s, trucks, and vans beginning in the 2007 model year. The petitioner alleges that TIPM defects may result in engine stall, airbag non-deployment, failure of fuel pump shutoff resulting in unintended acceleration, fire, and other symptoms. On September 25, 2014, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened DP14-004 to evaluate the petition for a grant or deny decision. ODI analyzed complaint data provided by CAS as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers. In total, there were 296 complaints submitted by the petitioner in the original petition and five supplements, including 271 complaints related to the subject vehicles equipped with TIPM-7. Approximately 3 percent of CAS complaints are related to vehicles equipped with TIPM-6 and ODI?s review of these complaints did not identify any safety defect trends. ODI conducted a detailed review of complaints narratives submitted by CAS and consumers including careful analysis of vehicle repair histories, warranty claims obtained from the manufacturer and any available Customer Assistance Inquiry reports (CAIR). Analysis of the field data indicated that MY2011-2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles exhibited significantly higher compla…

2008 vs. other Dodge Caravan years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2008. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2008 Dodge Caravan have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the 2008 Dodge Caravan, the latest from Apr 23, 2010 (suspension). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Dodge Caravan?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention electrical system (162), service brakes (62), air bags (42). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.