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#BS-1988-DODCAR-D2BA

1988 Dodge Caravan

Based on reports from 135 owners and 5 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints

135

Crashes

Fires

Recalls

TSBs

🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 135 complaints, 5 crashes, 6 fires, and 5 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lockHIGH

21 owners reported latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock issues — failures commonly reported around 122K miles.

!Inspect the Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasolineMED

Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure

+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock (21 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock21 (16%)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline6 (4%)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine6 (4%)

Exterior Lighting:headlights6 (4%)

Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate5 (4%)

Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut5 (4%)

Electrical System:ignition5 (4%)

Structure:body:door4 (3%)

1988 Dodge Caravan: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock Issues

Latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock complaints account for 16% of all reports filed for the 1988 Dodge Caravan, with 21 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 122,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 122K-mile mark.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 1988 Dodge Caravan, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 1988 Dodge Caravan, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Exterior Lighting:headlights Issues

Exterior Lighting:headlights complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 1988 Dodge Caravan, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to exterior lighting:headlights-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1988 Dodge Caravan. Recent trend: stable.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (5 recalls)

08E033000May 2008

SUSPENSION

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.

88V010000Apr 1988

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL TANKS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING TANK MANUFACTURE.

88V107000Sep 1988

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL TANKS MAY BE CONSTRUCTED OF IMPROPER MATERIAL.

95I001004Nov 1995

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK

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 OPEN.

95I001008Jul 1996

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Dodge Caravan is the 2002 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 135 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 5 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Dodge Caravan Model Years

2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984

View all Dodge Caravan years →

1988 Dodge Caravan: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1988 Dodge Caravan?

The most commonly reported issue with the 1988 Dodge Caravan is related to the latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock, with 21 complaints filed with NHTSA.

Is the 1988 Dodge Caravan reliable?

The 1988 Dodge Caravan has 135 complaints, 5 crash reports, and 6 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.

How much does it cost to fix 1988 Dodge Caravan problems?

Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.

Does the 1988 Dodge Caravan have any recalls?

Yes, the 1988 Dodge Caravan has 5 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

What mileage do Dodge Caravan problems start?

Based on 1 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 122,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 120–150K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.

What’s in the full report?

10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.

How is this different from free NHTSA data?

NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.

How is this different from Carfax?

Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.

What if the report isn’t useful?

100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.