Overview & Reviews

Some vehicles lead their segments; others even revolutionize them. The Dodge Caravan, however, invented an entirely new one: the minivan. Offering an especially useful amount of room in a surprisingly easy-to-drive package, the Caravan quickly became the new synonym for family transportation and spawned competitors from all sides.

The Dodge Caravan has traditionally stayed a step ahead of the herd. It was first to market with the sliding door, then the first with two. It pioneered the integration of safety features like airbags. And for many years, it was also regarded as being the most versatile and pleasant-driving minivan. Given all this, it should come as no surprise that the Caravan, along with its longer relative, the Grand Caravan, became the top-selling minivan year after year.

However, today's minivan scene is much different from the one of the 1980s or '90s. Though other American automakers have essentially given up trying to make competitive minivans, Japanese and Korean automakers have raised the bar considerably in the past few years. As a result, the Caravan fell behind in terms of power, driving refinement, interior design and safety content.

With the introduction of an all-new minivan for the 2008 model year, Dodge officially discontinued the short-wheelbase Caravan, offering only the extended-wheelbase Grand Caravan model.

Most Recent Dodge Caravan

The most recent Dodge Caravan (2001 to 2007) represented the vehicle's fourth generation. Whereas most "minivans" (including its "Grand" brother) extend to the 200-inch mark, this Dodge measured a slightly tidier 189 inches from bow to stern. Combined with a likewise shorter 113-inch wheelbase, the Caravan was among the easiest vans to maneuver and park.

It was also one of the most affordable. The base Caravan SE was the value leader, featuring a 150-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a four-speed automatic transmission. The SE had bench seats in the second and third rows, air-conditioning and a CD stereo, but was otherwise sparsely equipped.

The more desirable Caravan SXT (known as Caravan Sport until '04) came with a 180-hp 3.3-liter V6, a four-speed automatic transmission, an optional power-sliding passenger door, dual-zone air-conditioning, second-row bucket seats, full power accessories, a tilt steering wheel, cruise control and keyless entry. After 2003, the Caravan also came in a V6-powered Cargo Van version targeted for business use.

As long as the underpowered four-cylinder is avoided, the last Dodge Caravan is quite capable. While lacking the famous "Stow 'n Go" seats of its "Grand" sibling, this Caravan has adequate room for seven adults (and plenty of room for five) or 129 cubic feet of cargo with all rear seats removed. Just note that this conversion takes patience and strength, as the rear bench seats are quite heavy.

It's on the road where this Caravan falls short. We once found it to be the most fun-to-drive minivan, citing its precise steering and substantial feel. However, the latest competition makes its pushrod V6 engine and four-speed automatic transmission seem outclassed for both performance and fuel economy. In addition, compared to newer competitors, the Caravan's ride is on the wallowy side and its brakes are a bit weak.

We also took issue with its cheap interior finish, and the fact that an important safety feature like side curtain airbags was an option. Stability control was unavailable altogether. Finally, its reliability record has been spotty, as with all past Caravans.

There was only one substantial change made to this final generation Dodge Caravan after its debut for 2001. In 2005, Dodge eliminated its optional front seat side airbags in favor of optional curtain airbags protecting all three rows. That was an important upgrade, but considering the Caravan wasn't tops in its class to begin with, it's still hard to recommend it except as a budget buy. Those consumers who do decide to buy a used Caravan would be wise to expand their search to include the nearly identical Chrysler-badged versions -- the short-wheelbase base model Town & Country (2004-'07) and the Voyager (2001-'03).

Past Dodge Caravan Models

Newer Dodge Caravans trace their basic design to the third-generation model, which was produced from 1996-2000. (Note that for this generation as well as all previous ones, a near-identical version called the Plymouth Voyager was also sold.) Compared to the most recent model, this Caravan was an inch or two smaller in most dimensions, and the engine roster was much different.

Back then, the 3.3-liter V6 only made 158 hp. The 2.4-liter engine still made 150 but was paired to a lowly three-speed automatic transmission. This generation of Caravan also had access to the Grand Caravan's top-of-the-line 180-hp, 3.8-liter V6. Plus, there was a fourth engine: a Mitsubishi-built 3.0-liter V6 with 150 hp.

Initially, the Caravan's trim lines consisted of base, SE, LE and ES models, though Dodge subsequently moved to position the regular-length Caravan as a budget minivan, resulting in the discontinuation of the top-of-the-line ES for '98. The midrange LE lasted until 2000. The base model came with only the four-cylinder and 3.0-liter V6 at first, then added the choice of the 3.3-liter V6 in 1997, only to lose it again after '99. The SE started with the same three choices, but dropped the four-cylinder after '97 and the 3.0-liter V6 after '98. The upscale LE and ES stuck with the bigger 3.3- and 3.8-liter V6s.

Consumers looking at used Dodge Caravans would be wise to zero in on SE and LE models, as both came with essentials like antilock brakes, cruise control, a tilt steering wheel and 15-inch wheels. The LE also provided standard air-conditioning and power windows and locks. (A/C was also standard on '99 and '00 SE models.) The high-line ES added 16-inch alloy wheels and a driver-side sliding door (an item that later became standard on lower-line models). Depending on the trim level, major options included second-row captain's chairs, an upgraded Infinity CD stereo and a self-leveling rear suspension. However, the most important thing for used Caravan shoppers to look at is the engine under the hood: Either the 3.3-liter or 3.8-liter V6 is a must for adequate performance.

The late-'90s Caravan was regarded as the state-of-the-art minivan, setting the standard for spaciousness, comfort and convenience while offering a carlike driving feel. It was first in the class with dual sliding doors, and we found its interior flexible and easy to configure despite the always-heavy removable rear seats. A redesigned version of the Honda Odyssey edged out the Caravan by the end of its run, but it was always competitive.

Our only real hesitation, aside from its never-great reliability, concerns safety, as this van's crash test scores were mediocre all around. Note also that like most minivans of this era, the Caravan had only two airbags. Making partial amends is the availability of traction control starting in 1997 and the switch to depowered airbags in 1998.

The second-generation Dodge Caravan was produced from 1991-'95. Derived from the infamous Chrysler K-platform of the 80s, the Caravan's trim lines were base, SE, LE and ES. Three engines were offered: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 100 hp (paired to a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic), a 3.0-liter V6 with 142 hp (three- or four-speed automatic) or a 3.3-liter V6 with 162 hp (four-speed automatic). All-wheel drive was newly available for this Caravan, as were antilock brakes.

Seating was still comfortable in all rows and the rears were still removable. Note that only the front seats had head restraints. The Caravan's most major update came in 1994 when a second airbag, better side-impact protection and more dashboard revisions were added; all-wheel drive was dropped. For 1995, Caravan lost the stickshift as well.

While we definitely recommend sticking to newer Caravans for better engineering, safety and convenience, this was the only generation in which Dodge offered all-wheel drive on the regular-length Caravan. Just be sure to exercise caution when shopping for models of the early '90s; the four-speed automatic found in most was known for its extremely high failure rate.

User Reviews:

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  Dodge Caravan - 1999 Dodge Caravan
  By rhed - March 15 - 4:01 pm

  Bought brand new. Rides nice, is very comfortable and is great for lots of passengers and is great for hauling things after removing seats. Lots of room. 3.3L V6 is very responsive and gets van going quickly despite the extra weight the van has. Only repair needed was a wheel alignment but it was covered by warranty. As long as I rotate tires evey 6000 the alignment has stayed true.

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  Hunk of Junk! - 1998 Dodge Caravan
  By Fed-Up-Family - March 12 - 7:47 pm

  We have sunk so much money into this van. It has been the most unreliable vehicle we have ever owned. It handles OK, but is very loud (outside noise and under the hood). It squeaks and squeals so much that we dont know when something is really wrong with it. The removable seats are too heavy, and didnt even include headrests for the backseats. We have had to replace the transmission, rear main seal, and now the air conditioner has just gone up. We are fed up with this hunk of junk!

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  Decent, but unreliable - 2002 Dodge Caravan
  By Familyman - March 6 - 1:25 pm

  We purchased this car to provide room for our growing family. It was a good price and offered decent features. However, in one year, the car was in the shop three different times to fix problems with sensors and the transmission. It is unreliable and beware the time when your warranty runs out. Im afraid we will have to dig into our pockets too much before it is paid off. My suggestion, find a minivan that has proven reliability.

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  A Good Simple Family Car - 1999 Dodge Caravan
  By kjmarchione - March 3 - 9:11 pm

  When we purchased our Caravan, we were looking for an inexpensive, roomy vehicle to hold our kids and their friends. We purchased this vehicle new for about the same price of a compact car made by other companies. It was a stripped down model, with a four cylinder and we had no unrealistic expectations of performance or luxury. We were pleasantly surprised by the cars performance and actually felt quite nimble, probably because of the lesser weight.

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  My best vehicle ever - 2002 Dodge Caravan
  By Bill - February 24 - 12:20 pm

  If you dont take care of your Dodge eC Caravan you may not have the luck Ive had, but for the money I spent this is my best car in 52 years of driving. I bought the van new on December 31, 2001, for $16,600 (if I remember correctly). The Dodge new-car discount/rebate of about $600 did not apply, but in almost 16 years with it Ive probably saved $2000 in gasoline at 28-32 highway-miles per gallon over what I would have spent on a 6-cylinder model. I use it only for vacation and business trips, sleeping in the back of the van with the seats removed, and Ive probably also saved close to $20,000 on motels. I regret not having cruise control, but in the eastern U.S. cruise is not as efficient as it used to be because there is so much traffic. Until ethanol became ubiquitous in gasoline I was consistently getting 31 to 32 mpg, but with ethanol that drops to 28 most of the time (a 16-percent drop in fuel efficiency for a 10-percent infusion of corn liquor--not the most environmentally sound decision, and decidedly counter-productive in the quest for energy independence). On the rare occasions when Ive run through a tank of gas in local traffic the mileage has been about 23 to 24 mpg. Ive followed the maintenance manual religiously, changing the oil every 4000 miles until I switched to synthetic, and now I let it go 6000, but Ive had no emergency repairs to make. Because I let it sit through the winter I had a problem with mice hibernating in the ventilation system, but thats no fault of the car. The only other trouble I ever had was getting the steering wheel to unlock when I parked on a precipitous hill, but with a little manhandling I was able to get it to release enough to pull into drive and go on my way. I have no rust issues because I never drive it in the winter, save for one 600-mile trek through a freak October snowstorm. Despite having only summer tires (albeit brand-new ones) I plugged right along with my front-wheel drive through that heavy, wet snowfall while trailer trucks and SUVs were off the road on both sides. Speaking of tires, Im only on my second set, and as of today (September 13, 2017) the van has 126,000 miles on it. Next week it goes in to get the timing belt replaced: I wasnt sure until calling my mechanic today that it had a timing belt instead of a timing chain, and I dont think the manual mentioned that; at least the maintenance schedule didnt say anything about it. Ive babied the van from Day One, and no children have been allowed to trash it, or abuse the doors, so perhaps your experience may vary, but as for me I regret that there is no new eC model available to replace this one when (and if) it dies.

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  can do better - 1998 Dodge Caravan
  By frankmendez - February 23 - 2:51 am

  I put 8000 miles on car and had several problems. I reccomend this car for any one who has children. the problems I have encountered have been minimum. Occasionally, I have put the car in park and taken the key out of the ignition but the car wouldnt shut itself off. Should I take it to the dearler

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  Dont make the same mistake! - 1991 Dodge Caravan
  By johnnymac - February 4 - 5:51 pm

  Stay away from these vehicles. 2 known issues - after around 80,000 miles a problem with the valve guides develops requiring the engine to be rebuilt. Next time youre at a stop light near a Chrysler vehicle, watch for a puff of smoke as the vehicle takes off. The paint will come off in sheets on some vehicles due to the use of an inferior primer called Uniprime that breaks down from UV rays. If you pay attention, youll see a lot of Chrysler white vans with paint peeling in spots.