VehicleVerdict

2002 Dodge Caravan engine problems

The 2002 Dodge Caravan has 23 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 7% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

23

Engine complaints

7%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Caravan engine complaints by model year261 complaints1984: 1 complaints1985: 9 complaints1986: 6 complaints1987: 13 complaints1988: 18 complaints1989: 34 complaints1990: 28 complaints1991: 49 complaints1992: 84 complaints1993: 107 complaints1994: 80 complaints1995: 78 complaints1996: 261 complaints1997: 145 complaints1998: 145 complaints1999: 116 complaints2000: 72 complaints2001: 18 complaints2002: 23 complaints2003: 19 complaints2004: 7 complaints2005: 17 complaints2006: 27 complaints2007: 17 complaints2008: 29 complaints2009: 20 complaints2010: 35 complaints2011: 14 complaints2012: 19 complaints2013: 2 complaints2014: 5 complaints2015: 3 complaints2016: 3 complaints2017: 4 complaints
Caravan engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE. HAD SLOWED DOWN ,AND SMOKE CAME FROM VENTS. PULLED OVER, AND EVERYONE GOT OUT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER POPPED OPEN THE HOOD AND FLAMES SHOT OUT. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · May 31, 2004 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2002 Dodge Caravan have?

NHTSA has 23 complaints about the 2002 Dodge Caravan engine — 7% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.