Is the 2000 Dodge Caravan a bad year?
469 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 86, 8.6× a quiet Caravan year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 46k–80k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2000 Caravan owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 64,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 86 (18%) | 46k–80k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 65 (14%) | 54k–115k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 41 (9%) | 55k–126k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 68 (14%) | 65k–129k miles · ahead | — |
| Brakes | 53 (11%) | 27k–86k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical system | 34 (7%) | 48k–119k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Equipment | 25 (5%) | 52k–78k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 6 (1%) | 37k–106k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 43 (9%) | 82k–130k miles · ahead | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Body structure | 30 (6%) | 79k–155k miles · ahead | — |
| Seat belts | 23 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 18 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 16 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 16 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 64,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 469 complaints: 64 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 43 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Apr 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While the was in park, a child was able to shift the vehicle out of park without one's foot on the brake. Please provide more information.
With 79,000 miles the transmission went into safe mode and locked in 2nd gear. Repair shop hooked vehicle up to diagnostics and vehicle will need a transmission rebuild.
Moving with the military from mo to nv. Van is 35 months old but 10000 miles outside warranty (46k). Check trans fluid every day prior to driving.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 64,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2000 Dodge Caravan: 13
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. If the area in question fractures or breaks, this could cause an unstable driving condition, possibly resulting in a crash.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Certain 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… In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant(S) may be seriously injured by shattered glass.
Certain airtex fuel pump modules, p/nos. E7089M, E7094M, E7113M, and E7129M, manufactured between june 1 and september 24, 2006. These fuel pump modules were sold as aftermarket for use in certain daimlerchrysler vehicles listed above. Fuel restriction could result in loss of power and/or engine stall, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps are not equipped with amber side reflectors which fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Certain 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. Loss of brake fluid can lead to a decrease in brake line pressure and an increase in stopping distance, which can result in a vehicle crash.
On certain minivans, the driver's air bag may become disabled due to a failure of the clockspring, which is located in the hub of the steering wheel. This condition will manifest itself through illumination of the air bag warning lamp, and could eventually result in a driver's air bag open circuit, if the part is not replaced in a reasonable amount of time.
On certain minivans and 4X2 pickup trucks, the vehicle certification label may have gross axle weight ratings (Gawr) that exceed the maximum tire load capacity as defined in federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars." Improperly loading your vehicle can cause tire failure and result in a crash.
Certain aftermarket replacement fuel filters, models wix filter part numbers 33576, 33577, 33734; napa filter part numbers 3576, 3577, 3734; and carquest filter part numbers 86576, 86577, 86734 used on 1996-2000 daimlerchrysler town & country, Dodge caravan, and Plymouth voyager vehicles… A possible fire can occur in the presence of an ignition source.
Aftermarket replacement fuel filters manufactured between september 17, 2002, and january 20, 2003, sold under the brand names listed above. The filter may experience malfunction of the quick connector either blocking fuel flow to the engine or causing a fuel leak. If this condition occurred while the vehicle is in motion, the engine could stall. Also, in the presence of an ignition source, the fuel leak could result in a vehicle fire.
Certain pickup truck, van, and Mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components… This overheating condition can cause the running board to melt or cause a fire.
Vehicle description: Mini vans built with 3.3L and 3.8L engines have fuel rails with nitrole rubber o-ring seals that can degrade over time. Fuel leakage from the underhood fuel injection fuel rail could result, increasing the likelihood of a vehicle fire. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Dodge: 11
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2000 Dodge Caravan. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Service Four Piece Oil Pan Gasket All Cummins Equipped Vehicles ONLY The replacement oil pan gasket can be a four piece gasket rather than a single piece gasket
Radiator If vehicle comes in for transmission fluid leaking from trans-oil cooler fittings on the radiator…
KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number
Child Seat Tether Anchor Installation
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Driver air bag clockspring failure
Air bag clockspring
Dc minivan fuel injector rail leak
Neighbouring years
2001 Caravan: 257 complaints, keep it.
Every Dodge Caravan year
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Other Dodge models: Dodge Avenger · Dodge Caliber · Dodge Challenger · Dodge Charger · Dodge Dakota · Dodge Dart · Dodge Durango · Dodge Grand Caravan · Dodge Intrepid · Dodge Journey · Dodge Magnum · Dodge Neon · Dodge Nitro · Dodge Ram · Dodge Ram Quad Cab · Dodge Sprinter 2500 · Dodge Stratus. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2000 Dodge Caravan a bad year?
469 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 86, 8.6× a quiet Caravan year. At 64,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 46k–80k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Dodge Caravan?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (86), engine (65), steering (41), air bags (68), brakes (53). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 46k–80k miles.
How many recalls does the 2000 Dodge Caravan have?
13 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 10E034000), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E025000), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E012000), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 07E104000) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.