- The problem
- Curt mfg is recalling certain class 3 receiver hitches, p/n 13347, sold as aftermarket equipment for use on 1997-2007 chrysler town and country vans, 1996-2007 dodge caravans, and 1996-2004 plymouth voyager vans. 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.
- The risk
- If the area in question fractures or breaks, this could cause an unstable driving condition, possibly resulting in a crash.
- The fix
- Curt mfg will notify owners of record and will replace the hitch free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during august 2010. Owners may contact curt mfg at 1-715-831-8713.
Vehicle safety record
2005 Dodge Caravan Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 537 complaints about the 2005 Dodge Caravan with NHTSA, most often about the body, doors & structure (213) and the electrical system (123). Those complaints describe 19 crashes and 19 injuries. It is covered by 9 recalls, the latest in August 2010 for the equipment. For comparison, the 2004 has 65 and the 2006 has 173.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Caravan year, for its age
#30 most complained-about 2005 vehicle
- Complaints
- 537
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes
- 19
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 19
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2005 Dodge Caravan problems
Share of all 537 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2005 Dodge Caravan recalls 9
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 dodge caravan, grand caravan and chrysler town & country vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, nebraska, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, north dakota, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, tennessee, utah, vermont, virginia, west virginia, wisconsin, alaska and the district of columbia. The front crash sensors may crack under certain environmental conditions and allow water to enter into the sensor. This can cause the sensor to become inoperative and illuminate the airbag warning light. These sensors were added to enhance the performance of the airbag system in certain frontal crashes.
- The risk
- If the front crash sensors become inoperative, the driver is immediately alerted by illumination of the airbag warning light and the vehicle should be promptly serviced. Until the vehicle is repaired, the airbags may not provide the enhanced protection in the event of a crash.
- The fix
- Chrysler will replace the front airbag sensors with a new design. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety improvement campaign will begin during june 2010. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
- The problem
- Eagle eyes is recalling 11,534 headlamp assemblies, p/nos. Cs090-b001l and cs090-b001r, sold for use as replacement equipment for the above listed passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the lower beam photometry requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Eagle eyes will notify owners and offer replacement headlamps free of charge. The recall began on september 30, 2008. Owners may contact eagle eyes at 1-800-568-1098.
- The problem
- Maxzone is recalling 2,520 headlight assemblies, depo brand, p/nos. 3341103L-as and 334-1103r-as sold for use as aftermarket equipment for 2001-2007 dodge caravan passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Maxzone will notify owners and offer reimbursement for any noncompliant headlights. The recall began on june 16, 2008. Owners may contact maxzone at the following locations: 1-888-286-1188 (wa, or, ca, id, nv, az, mt, wy, ut, co, ks, nm, ok, tx, ar, la, ak, hi) 1-877-253-8930 (me, nh, vt, ma, ct, ri, ny, nj, pa, md, de, wv, va) 1-800-859-4755 (nc, sc, ga, fl, tn, al, ms) 1-866-783-6858 (nd, sd, ne, mn, ia, mo, wi, il, mi, in, oh, ky).
- The problem
- 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 safety standard no. 205, "Glazing materials."
- The risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant(s) may be seriously injured by shattered glass.
- The fix
- Safelite will notify its retail customers and replace the glass free of charge. Retail customers can contact safelite toll free at 1-888-843-2906. Safelite will notify its wholesale customers and reimburse wholesale customers for current inventory and at a specified rate for replacing their customer's glass. Wholesale customers can contact safelite's wholesale division, service autoglass toll free at 1-888-246-6298. The recall began on january 15, 2008.
- The problem
- Certain minivans are being recalled that were originally sold in or currently registered in the 27 states plus the district of columbia that use greater amounts of salt for winter road deicing. The up-front (uf) air bag sensors that contain brass bushings installed in these vehicles may corrode and crack allowing water to enter the sensor. These sensors provide enhanced air bag performance in certain types of frontal crashes.
- The risk
- In one of these crashes, with one or both of the vehicle's uf sensors inoperative, the occupants will not benefit from the enhanced air bag protection that these sensors would provide.
- The fix
- For vehicles registered in the recall states, dealers will replace the original uf air bag sensors with ones with greater corrosion resistance. Vehicles registered in other states will obtain a lifetime free replacement of any uf sensor that fails. The campaign began on july 2, 2007. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
- The problem
- 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. Only products that were manufactured from july 27, 2005 through january 17, 2006 (date codes 0529 through 0602) are subject to this recall. When subject to very cold temperatures, an internal seal in the master cylinder could lose flexibility and may cause brake fluid to leak.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- Affinia (brake parts, inc.) Will replace the subject brake hydraulic master cylinders free of charge. The recall began on march 20, 2006. Owners can contact affina group customer service at 1-800-323-0354.
- The problem
- On certain vans and sport utility vehicles, the front windshield wiper motor armature shaft may break.
- The risk
- During certain operating conditions, loss of front windshield wiping capability could occur, and the driver's vision could be obscured which could result in a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield wiper motor free of charge. The recall began on june 19, 2006, to dodge durango owners. Minivan owners will be notified during july 2006. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
- The problem
- After performing the ncap test, it was discovered that on certain minivans equipped without the available "stow 'n go" seating option, the right front seat belt retractor assembly may have been improperly assembled.
- The risk
- As a result, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant during certain crash conditions, which can increase the risk of injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect the retractor assemblies and any seat belt assembly that does not have the stake will be replaced. Owner notification began on february 23, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
What owners say
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537 complaints about the 2005 Dodge Caravan
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 22.
Air bag Light stays On, even with seat belt attached, so this means air bag is not working, not sure driver side, or passenger. went to Dodge dealer, they would NOT fix it!!
The door locks do not work for the sliding doors or the passenger side of the vehicle. We tried to fix this issue by checking the door lock fuse out to make sure it was okay, and it was. The driver's side is the only one that locks. The passenger door lock will not push down and lock when pressed down manually. I feel this is a safety issue and I have seen that others online are having problems with their door locks not working or getting stuck and not unlocking. I don't understand why there is no recall on this...
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issue with the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. This is a serious safe issue on any vehicle. My sliding doors have to be manually locked and as I said, the passenger side won't lock, so it's dangerous for me to have passengers. My local Dodge dealership offered to diagnose it, but it's $125.00 for them to just find out what's causing this if they could even do that. Clearly it is an issue of some kind since one door locks. Can you please look into this? Again, I know others have had door lock issues with the Dodge Caravan. Why hasn't this been fixed and recalled already? This is very frustrating. Also, I don't remember the exact date I purchased my vehicle in June, so I've given it my best guess. Thank you for your time in reviewing this. Resolution that fixes this for myself and everyone else who is dealing with this, would be much appreciated.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge grand caravan. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated. The vehicle's failure began to occur within approximately 2 minutes of starting the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer (mountain valley motors, inc. 7535 Appalachian hwy, blue ridge, ga 30513; (706) 516-1053) who informed them that the check valve failed and needed to be replaced, therefore, the entire tank needed to be replaced due to where the...
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valve was located. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case number. The manufacturer informed the contact that their vehicle was no longer covered under warranty. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge caravan. The contact stated that a smog test detected a fuel leak from the fuel tank. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that there was a strong fuel odor outside of the vehicle prior to the smog test being performed. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was contacted or informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 148,936.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge caravan. While driving 30 mph, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop. Also, the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact also mentioned that there was a strong odor of fuel inside the vehicle. As a result, the contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained bruising around her chest that required medical attention. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the...
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contact was informed that there was a leak from the radiator and they replaced the hood. The contact also mentioned that her employer owned a fleet of vehicles that experienced the same failures. The manufacturer and dealer were not made aware of the failures. The vin was not available. The failure mileage was 22,000.
Remote randomly will not lock/ unlock doors. Pull the battery cable and remote works. Chrysler sent out tsb 08-040-04 on subject. They have a glitch in original software and seems unfair that consumer must pay to have it fixed. Sliding doors do not have keys to lock so one must crawl through the driver / passenger seat to lock manually. As an older adult this is a safety hazard. It should be recalled.
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 dodge caravan. While driving 40 mph, the steering wheel seized and caused the contact to crash into a guardrail. There were no injuries. The airs bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed by an independent towing company to a salvage lot where it was deemed destroyed. Blevins seaway motors (98 center st, massena, ny 13662, (315) 764-0283) was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was 136,000.
When pumping gasoline into the tank, within a few seconds the gasoline backlows and turns off the pump. In order to get 5 gallons into the tank it may take 20 stops, wait & starts which may take 5 minutes. The charcoal vapor trap is working fine since the hose to it from the gasoline tank was disconnected to test the vapor canister. Mechanic does not have a clue how to resolve this problem. This is an ongoing problem for over a month and a half.
Had a recall on the airbag sensor and had it fixed 3 or 4 years ago. On 12-2-2018 the warning light came on, doing the same problem. I have not as yet found if the sensor was fixed with another bad one. This needs looked into. To see if others have this reacurring safty problem. Comes on 10 minutes into drive,goes off after sitting 2 minutes with switch off
Tire cracking and tread separation on tourmax gft sold by eldorado. Its not in your list. Poor wear characteristics. I took my car in to an alignment shop because it was pulling toward the center of the road. I was informed that a near new tire had stress cracks and tread separation and the alignment and inflation pressure was ok.Two more of the same tires on the same car were wearing unusually fast with no alignment issues. I feel these tires have the potential to be unsafe. The tourmax gft from eldorado has not instilled safety confidence.
2005 Dodge caravan mini van. Consumer writes in regards to multiple issues with vehicle. *Ld *js
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge caravan. The contact stated that the key failed to turn over in the ignition and the vehicle was unable to start. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer or independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vin was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 101,000.
When filling with gas the engine turns off while driving, this happened on a left turn with vehicles approaching, cars had to stop and help push van out of street. Luckily it did not cause an accident, had two young children in vehicle , very fortunate for the quick response of other drivers. Fuel reading wrong first time car shut off while driving showing 1/ 4 tank of gas. Now shuts off showing more than 3/4 tank of gas this happen on the highway, lost all power steering as well. Again I had two young children in car. Seat belt not working properly. Headlight very dim at night not good few for night time driving. This vehicle is becoming more unsafe to drive.
My van stalls everytime I fill up the tank. I do not tap off the tank I fill it till the handle clicks once and thats it. I have done a ton of research and found that its the fuel vapor separator. Then only way to fix said problem which is totally common on all chysler vans the way I am reading it is that I have to replace the entire fuel tank. It stalls after filling up and when I start to drive.
While driving, vehicle completely loses power. Before coming to a stop, power returns. This has happened during city driving, at a variety of speeds.
Myself and two others just recently got into a car accident and my airbags didnt go off . Thank god that we had our seatbelts on. A car cut a bus off on hwy44 wwst in inverness fl, we all had to hit our brakes and ending up hitting another car at 30-40 mph. When made inpack with the other car the airbags did not go off leading to injuries and had to go to the hospital.
Turn signal switch problem of the 2005 dodge grand caravan turn signals are not working correctly - vin # [[redacted]] when you signal to turn right, the left turn signals comes on. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Jb *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge caravan. While driving 20 mph, the air bag indicator illuminated without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 72,000.
Top of the fuel pump is made of plastic and was found cracked in two places. Internet search yielded many other examples with photos showing cracks in exactly the same place. Result of these cracks is a fuel leak as well as strong gas fumes in and around the vehicle resulting in an obvious fire hazard. Leaks at all time that the vehicle is running as well as for some time after the vehicle is stopped and parked.
Strong gas smell while driving and at stop. Lights turn on and off at will.
FUEL LEAK CAUSED BY CRACKS IN FUEL PUMP FITTINGS
During a left side impact collision with a semi truck the left seatbelt of the middle row seat failed to lock. It caused my backseat passenger to be thrown from side to side in the van because of the seatbelt releasing too much slack upon collision. She sustained multiple injuries and was unable to walk for 6 weeks.
Purchased used 2005 dodge caravan with 100000 miles and it was leaking fuel around the fuel pump, took it to merlins to have it checked out resulting in replacement of fuel pump modeule due to the fact it was cracked and had to be replaced.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge caravan. The contact stated that the rear passenger side sliding door could not open or close correctly. There was also rust on the side panel that prevented the door from closing. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,453. Updated 08/02/16*lj
Airbag warning light lit. Looked up on nhtsa website, chrysler issued a"safety improvement campaign" copy enclosed. I took my van to the dealer to have it fixed plus a new key and a recall notice for a fuel/stalling problem. I was informed that the airbag problem was not covered because of the vin number. The van was purchased in mass. And I purchased it in rhode island. I donot think I should have to pay 216.61 Dollars to have this fixed. Thank you *tr
Dodge Caravan: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 118 | 2 | B |
| 2008 | 302 | 2 | C |
| 2007 | 82 | 4 | A |
| 2006 | 173 | 6 | C |
| 2005 | 537 | 9 | F |
| 2004 | 65 | 8 | A |
| 2003 | 195 | 9 | C |
| 2002 | 256 | 10 | C |
| 2001 | 257 | 10 | C |
2005 Dodge Caravan vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Dodge Caravan | 537 | 9 | F | |
| 2005 Dodge Durango | 1,567 | 9 | F | Compare |
| 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 | 1,214 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan | 995 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 2005 Dodge Magnum | 638 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 2005 Dodge Dakota | 470 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 | 422 | 9 | F | Compare |
| 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 | 196 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 2005 Dodge Neon | 96 | 4 | B | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2005 Dodge Caravan
Does the 2005 Dodge Caravan have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2005 Dodge Caravan: equipment (August 2010); sensor / control module-inactive (January 2010); headlights (August 2008); headlights (June 2008) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Dodge Caravan?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the body, doors & structure (213), electrical system (123), lights (90).
How many complaints has the 2005 Dodge Caravan had?
537 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on August 17, 2004 and the latest on January 9, 2023. Of these, 19 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 19 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2005 Dodge Caravan a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 23 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Dodge Caravan year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Dodge Caravan years have the most complaints?
1996 (1,402), 1993 (962), 1992 (929). See every Dodge Caravan year compared.
What should I do if my 2005 Dodge Caravan has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data