RecallMyCar

1989 Dodge Caravan Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 1989 Dodge Caravan, and owners have filed 191 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
191
owner complaints to NHTSA
12 / 11
complaints citing a crash / fire
17–21
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 1989 Dodge Caravan

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Buckle assembly (seat belts)

    NHTSA 91V053000 Reported 640,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    Inboard front seat belt buckle assembly straps can suffer fatigue failure of the strap near its anchor position.

    Remedy: Replace fatigued straps or retrofit straps with a reinforcement plate and removal of an antirotation tab to prevent fatigue failure.

  2. Engine (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 89V237000 Reported 634,000 vehicles potentially affected CHRYSLER CORPORATION

    The engine valve cover gasket may dislocate and allow an engine oil leak at the gasket.

    Remedy: Replace gasket cover with revised cover, and rtv sealant will be applied in place of a gasket.

191 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1989 Dodge Caravan have filed 191 complaints with NHTSA; 12 describe a crash and 11 describe a fire. Reports cite 19 injuries and 2 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 185,542 miles. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 104 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“There has developed an unusual and unsafe condition in the front passenger door lock mechanism that on a regular basis causes the door to lock by itself whereby it is unable to be unlocked by any mean”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 4, 2007 · Latches/locks/linkages

“Consumer received NHTSA recall 89v237000. Consumer took vehicle to dealer, as well as made several appointments to get his car serviced. However, to this day his car has still not been serviced.*ak”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 6, 2004 · Engine and engine cooling

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1989 Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan/Ram Van (Caravan/Grand Caravan/Ram Van 2WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined17–21 mpg
City / Highway16–18 / 20–26
FuelPremium, Regular
EPA classSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.5/3 L
TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd; Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Dodge Caravan model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Dodge Caravan model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1984 Dodge Caravan318
1985 Dodge Caravan349
1986 Dodge Caravan149
1987 Dodge Caravan069
1988 Dodge Caravan2103
1989 Dodge Caravan2191
1990 Dodge Caravan3278
1991 Dodge Caravan9617
1992 Dodge Caravan9913
1993 Dodge Caravan8949
1994 Dodge Caravan3644
1995 Dodge Caravan1489
1996 Dodge Caravan91,403
1997 Dodge Caravan7714
1998 Dodge Caravan5629
1999 Dodge Caravan5555
2000 Dodge Caravan4470
2001 Dodge Caravan3257
2002 Dodge Caravan4245
2003 Dodge Caravan3195
2004 Dodge Caravan165
2005 Dodge Caravan4537
2006 Dodge Caravan2173
2007 Dodge Caravan081
2008 Dodge Caravan2302
2009 Dodge Caravan2118
2010 Dodge Caravan2172
2011 Dodge Caravan078
2012 Dodge Caravan087
2013 Dodge Caravan030
2014 Dodge Caravan020
2015 Dodge Caravan023
2016 Dodge Caravan02
2017 Dodge Caravan11

Checking a specific 1989 Dodge Caravan

How do I know if my 1989 Dodge Caravan has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1989 Dodge Caravan; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Dodge dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 89V237000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Dodge models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.