Is the 2008 Dodge Caravan a bad year?
302 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Caravan years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2008 Dodge Caravan are in line with other Caravan years. Electrical system stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2008 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 80,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 162 (54%) | 56k–110k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 42 (14%) | 55k–110k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 29 (10%) | 59k–110k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Visibility and wipers | 17 (6%) | 58k–115k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 11 (4%) | 38k–86k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel system | 6 (2%) | 65k–106k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 62 (21%) | 17k–73k miles · mostly behind | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Tires | 14 (5%) | 28k–65k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 15 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (2%) | 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 80,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 302 complaints: 8 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 6 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Jun 2023.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While driving down on ramp at chamberlayne ave in richmond, va to major highway I64 cutoff completely, no power, no brakes no nothing!
Had just purchased the van days prior to the first sign of an issue... While driving the van, it cut off-loosing all power, on a busy highway, with my wife and children inside...
The engine in our 2008 Dodge Mini van will intermittently surge when at a stop with your foot on the brake or when in park.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 80,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2008 Dodge Caravan: 2
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. 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.
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. Contact between the tire and fuel fill pipe may wear a hole in one or the other components over time.
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: 33
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2008 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
Power Steering Return Line Some customers, in extreme cold weather climates (beyond -40 deg C), may report a leaking power steering return line
UConnect and Voice Recognition Inoperative
Sliding Door Trim Contacting Vehicle Rear Quarter This bulletin depending on production date…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
Neighbouring years
2007 Caravan: 81 complaints, keep it · 2009 Caravan: 118 complaints, keep it.
Every Dodge Caravan year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · All Caravan years side by side
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 2008 Dodge Caravan a bad year?
302 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Caravan years. At 80,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Dodge Caravan?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (162), air bags (42), engine (29), visibility and wipers (17), transmission and drivetrain (11).
How many recalls does the 2008 Dodge Caravan have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 10V-164), Fuel system (NHTSA 10V-148). 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.