1986 Dodge Caravan
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Have the VIN?
Vehicles › Dodge › Caravan › 1986
These records cover every 1986 Dodge Caravan. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
4 recalls name the 1986 Dodge Caravan. Newest first.
Federal mogul IS recalling 6,903 aftermarket ball joint assemblies shipped between november 9, 2007 and march 26, 2008, which may have been packaged with incorrect nuts. the part numbers packaged with incorrect nuts are: k7147, k7329, k8683, and 104353. these parts were made for use on the various vehicles listed above.
Risk and remedy
Risk
The nuts included in the packaging for these ball joint assemblies are missing the intended prevailing torque (self-locking) feature. if the incorrect nut was to become loose, the joining members may loosen leading to a separation of the ball joint. this may result in loss of vehicle control, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Federal mogul will notify owners and replace the parts free of charge. the recall began on may 22, 2008. owners can contact federal mogul at 877-489-6659.
Vehicle description: light duty passenger minivans without remote release. this IS not a safety recall. there has been no determination that a safety defect exists with the minivan latches. chrysler IS conducting a service campaign to replace the liftgate latch assembly of the affected minivans. in a collision, the rear liftgate latch assembly could…
Risk and remedy
Risk
If the liftgate latch opens, occupants can be ejected resulting in significantly increased risk of injury or death.
Remedy
Chrysler dealers will replace the liftgate latch with a new stronger latch assembly without charge. chrysler began notifying owners during november 1995.
Vehicle description: light duty passenger minivans with remote release. this IS not a safety recall. there has been no determination that a safety defect exists with the minivan latches. chrysler IS conducting a service campaign to replace the liftgate latch assembly of the affected minivans. in a collision, the rear liftgate latch assembly could open.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If the liftgate latch opens, occupants can be ejected resulting in significantly increased risk of injury or death.
Remedy
Chrysler dealers will replace the liftgate latch with a new stronger latch assembly without charge. chrysler began notifying owners of these vehicles during july 1996.
First rear seats were installed with an incorrect left side seat riser which causes failure to comply with the seat and seat belt loading requirements of fmvss 207, seating systems. consequence of defect: if an accident occurred, the seats…
Owner complaints
49 complaints6 involved a crash2 involved a fire7 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Tires › Tread/belt
PE00 020; consumer was traveling about 55mph on highway and heard a noise, he was able to control vehicle, and pull over to shoulder, he noticed that left rear tire tread had separated. *ak the correct tire size IS firestone dayton thorobred steel p235/75 R15 m/s.*jb
- Structure › Body › Trunk lid
While trunk lid was opened without any indication trunk lid dropped, causing injury to consumer. Pleased provide further information.*ak
- Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap · Tires
Vehicle proceeding down freeway-left rear tire disintagrated. when tire blew-the tire components completly tore off the fuel filler inlet hose, at the fuel tank, causing entire contents of fuel tank to pour onto roadway. This IS a sixteen passenger church van. fuel did not ignite. if it would…
Vehicle proceeding down freeway-left rear tire disintagrated. when tire blew-the tire components completly tore off the fuel filler inlet hose, at the fuel tank, causing entire contents of fuel tank to pour onto roadway. This IS a sixteen passenger church van. fuel did not ignite. if it would have, it would have been a fatal situation- person filling this form our IS j.p. Sarver- chief of police- hastings police dept. (616) 945-5744, who IS also an accident scene reconstructionists. *ak
- Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery · Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Corrosion within the engine at the firewall, causing ground straps to separate, and resulting in fuel spraying onto the engine compartment. also, gas was coming from the fuel filter. Consumer has contacted the dealer. please provide any further details. *ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components
Rear fishtales when brakes are moderately applied.loss of control of vehicle IS imminent in wet weather.
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly
Plastic can't be used for radiators!
- Suspension › Rear
Transaxle failure caused vehicle to lockup twice.
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (egr valve)
Egr valve keeps melting in the exhaust system. Repairs were made and problem still occurred. Dealer was contacted, and stated it could be fuel laying in the system, problem cannot be duplicated. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
Serpentine belt failed.
- Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
The prop rod for the hood came loose and fell on the owner's head. Mechanic syas may have been faulty. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
Engine diesels and radiator burst.
- Structure › Body › Tailgate
Difficulty getting repairs done, recall #6404.
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
While driving vehicle suddenly stalled, then white smoke came from under hood, heard explosion, then black smoke poured from engine, flames engulfed vehicle totally, no injuries. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Seat belt retractor inoperative.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle stalled, causing accident. (ohio state police report)
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Poor seat and shoulder belt performance, the latch on the driver's side would not release, the consumer had to cut the seat belt in order to get out. *ak
- Seats
While driving down the road the drivers seat broke in half and the driver fell back and ended up in the rear seat. Please describe. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Rear compartment/trunk
Electrical system fire caused by the rubbing of the emergency braking into the wiring harness. tt
- Structure › Body › Hatchback/liftgate › Support device/strut
Rear hydraulic lifts do not work in cold weather. tt *jb
- Latches/locks/linkages › Hatchback/liftgate › Lock
Clips that attach rear door latch are coming off doors. tt
- Vehicle speed control
Vehicle suddenly accelerated, causing accident. *aw
- Latches/locks/linkages › Hatchback/liftgate › Lock
Rear hatch latch failed, causing rear hatch to open, resulting in an excessive amount of personal effects being tossed out onto road. *ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Vehicle was parked in gear, parked on flat surface rolled and down enbankment and hit a tree, impact 6:00 position. tt
- Seat belts › Rear/other
Rear middle lap belt failed, causing injury during accident, attorney for client. *aw
- Structure › Body › Hatchback/liftgate › Hinge and attachments
The rear lift gate hydralic hinges do not work and will not hold up the back; have been replaced 3 times. *ak
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Liftgate latches
Liftgate latches in the subject vehicles have failed in low and moderate speed impacts resulting in occupant ejections, injuries, and fatalities.there are two failure modes associated with latch failure: fork bolt-detent lever bypass, and inertial unlatching.nhtsa analyses of chrysler and peer minivans took the form…
Liftgate latches in the subject vehicles have failed in low and moderate speed impacts resulting in occupant ejections, injuries, and fatalities.there are two failure modes associated with latch failure: fork bolt-detent lever bypass, and inertial unlatching.nhtsa analyses of chrysler and peer minivans took the form of static and dynamic crash testing, engineering evaluations, complaint and field analyses, and real world data analyses.a technical report discussing these analyses can be found in the engineering analysis technical report in the public viewing file.chrysler has advised nhtsa that it will conduct a campaign to replace the latches on all the subject vehicles.the chrysler campaign will consist of notification letters to all owners; free replacement of all latches with stronger, safer latches regardless of the age of the minivans; national advertising to promote customer awareness of the campaign; quarterly reports regarding campaign completion rates; as well as additional measures to ensure a high completion rate, above and beyond the actions that normally would be taken in a formal safety recall.these include follow up written and telephonic notifications to owners who do not bring their vehicles in for corrective action.nhtsa firmly believes that the crash performance of the latches on these minivans raises serious safety concerns, and that the campaign addresses these concerns.the chrysler corrective action will increase the strength of the liftgate latches and decrease the potential for inertial unlatching, thereby reducing the risk of crash-related openings of the liftgate and possible occupant ejection through the liftgate opening.owners of chrysler minivans will get a stronger, safer latch free of charge at the earliest possible time, without the need for further technical investigation and complex and time-consuming litigation with an uncertain outcome.based on the above, odi IS closing this investigation.
- Trans park system failure
There is no summary currently available
- Spare tire carrier fails
There is no summary currently available
- Rear seat structure fails
===
- Underdash fires
There is no summary currently available
- Spare tire carrier failure
There is no summary currently available
- Underdash fires
There is no summary currently available
- Broken drivers seat
There is no summary currently available
Every Dodge Caravan model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.