1998 Dodge Caravan airbags problems

99 complaints (16% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 85,450. 23 crashes reported.

owner complaints: 99
of this car's complaints: 16%
typical mileage: 85,450
crashes: 23
recalls: 2

Which part fails

Frontal
32
Frontal: sensor/control module
7
Side/window
1
On-off switch assembly
1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k

25k-50k

50k-75k

75k-100k

100k-125k

125k-150k

150k-175k

175k-200k

200k+

Dodge Caravan airbags problems in other years

Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Dodge Caravan airbags

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Airbag light 48 No deployment 15

Related recalls

Air bagsReported October 6, 2004 · 955,344 vehicles affected

What is wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly on all covered vehicles with 70,000 miles or less. For those vehicles with more than 70,000 miles, daimlerchrysler will offer an extended lifetime warranty under which it will replace the clockspring at no charge if it fails. Daimlerchrysler will also reimburse owners who have paid to have the clockspring replaced on their vehicles. The recall began on october 12, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.

Recall number 04V480000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontalReported November 7, 2002 · 1,500,521 vehicles affected

What is wrong: On certain mini vans, the clockspring assembly may have been wound incorrectly during the vehicle assembly process.
Risk: 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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly on all vehicles with 70,000 miles or less. An extended lifetime warranty will also be placed on this component for all affected vehicles, regardless of mileage. Daimlerchrysler will also reimburse owners who have paid to have the clockspring replaced on their vehicles. Owner notification began november 18, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.

Recall number 02V293000 · Recall details

Related investigations

Driver air bag clockspring failureOpened June 4, 2004, closed May 25, 2005

The driver air bag clockspring can develop an open-circuit condition resulting in nonfunctional driver-side frontal air bag, horn, cruise control (if equipped), and/or steering wheel radio control (if equipped).in its october 5, 2004 letter to the federal safety agency, daimlerchrysler stated that it will conduct a safety recall and replace the clockspring assembly on all my 1998.5-2000 daimlerchrysler minivans, built between march 1998 and august 2000, with 70,000 miles or less.it will also provide a lifetime warranty for this component on my 1998.5-2000 minivans, regardless of mileage.the details of the corrective action are described in daimlerchrysler's letter (see recall no. 04v‑480).the agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that no safety-related defect exists with respect to those vehicles covered only by the lifetime warranty.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.see page 2 for additional information.

EA04013

Driver air bag clockspring failureOpened January 28, 2004, closed June 4, 2004

Complaints report air bag warning light illuminates, and this may be accompanied with a non-functioning horn and/or cruise control (if equipped).this is indicative of an open-circuit clockspring failure (results in non-functioning driver's air bag), similar to the failure condition that was the subject of daimlerchrysler's recall of model year 1996-1998.5 minivans (recall no. 02v‑293).this recall query has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea04-013).

RQ04001

What 1998 Dodge Caravan owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Apr 13, 2019 · Airbags, Electrical · WV

Airbag light on no turn signals and no reverse lights due to failed airbag clockspring

Filed Dec 10, 2018 · Airbags · 135,000 miles · OH · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 1998 dodge caravan. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into a second vehicle. The front end was severely damaged. The driver's side air bag did not deploy. The passenger side air bag deployed although no passenger was present in the vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The driver sustained a head laceration above the right eye, a concussion, a bruised heart and lung, left knee laceration, and chest bruises from the seat belts. Also, both wrists and elbows were injured. A police report was filed. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 135,000.

Filed Dec 3, 2017 · Airbags · 104,580 miles · NY

The indicator lamp air bag is on continuously. I drive a vehicle all the time, and my trip 50% highway and 50% city.

Filed Jan 21, 2015 · Airbags · 55,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge caravan. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the driver and passenger side air bags deployed independently. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.

Filed Sep 22, 2011 · Airbags, Electrical · IL

Horn stopped working. Horn fuse is good. Air bag warning light came on and has stayed on.

Filed Jun 14, 2009 · Airbags · FL

I purchased a used 1998 dodge caravan van at westside dodge 1672 cassat ave jacksonville fl 32210 and was told by the salesman that the airbag light was suppose to stay lit and the A/C lights were supposed to be blinking. When I found the owners manual the day after I purchased the van I read that the`airbag light is suppose to go off in 8 seconds after the car is started and I also read that when the A/C lights are flashing the A/C needs to be serviced. I advised the salesman and was told to bring the van back to the dealership when I did they tried to charge me $119.00 to check the airbag and $49.95 to check the airconditioning. I refused to sign any consent and tried to speak with the used car sales manager and was told "we only sell junk cars to the public as a courtesy", and than he hung up on me. I also found another complaint from another customer of this dealership who bought a new car and had the same exact air bag problem and to this date it has not been resolved. Please help me get this resolved, I am driving a vehicle that is unsafe to drive and has no air conditioning.

Filed Mar 15, 2007 · Airbags · 113,000 miles · AL

Clock spring went out with 113,000 on vehicle. Was replaced by dealer at no charge in about an hours time.

Filed Oct 31, 2006 · Airbags · 133,000 miles · PA

Dt*: the contact stated a the federal safety agency recall letter #02v293000, pertaining to the airbag:frontal, was received after having the part repaired. The manufacturer was notified about reimbursement for parts and labor. The manufacturer only agreed to reimburse for parts not labor. The contact would like to be reimbursed for all as promised in the recall letter received. Updated 11/30/06.

Filed Oct 12, 2005 · Airbags, Seat belts · IL · crash · 2 injuries

Dt: the contact owns a 1998 dodge caravan. The vehicle was involved in a frontal accident at 55 MPH. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy, and the seat belt did not restrain. The contact's husband was driving the vehicle and he hit the steering wheel, and his coworker was the passenger, and he went into the windshield. Both occupants where wearing their seat belts and where properly restrained. The air bag warning light was on before recall repairs had been done in july 2005, and horn would not work. After the recall repairs were completed the light did not come back on. There was pre-impact braking to both occupants. This caused injuries to both occupants. The dealership and the manufacturer have been contacted, and they told her they would send her file off to special investigations, and she may hear from back from them, and she may not. This accident occurred on october 11, 2005. T a police report was taken. The accident caused property damage to the vehicle.

Filed Aug 8, 2005 · Airbags · GA · crash · 1 injury

Dt: contact stated on 3-20-05 another van veered into contact's vehicle lane and hit it and ran it into a cement pole. Vehicle was totaled. Upon impact, driver's side air bag did not deploy, but passenger's side air bag deployed. There was one injury. Contact not yet talked to dealer or manufacturer. Contact received a recall letter on 8-8-05 regarding the clock spring in the air bag. She did not think the air bag light illuminated on the dashboard before the accident. Contact owned the car for 14 days prior to the accident.

Questions about the 1998 Dodge Caravan airbags

Does the 1998 Dodge Caravan have airbags problems?

Owners have filed 99 complaints about the airbags of the 1998 Dodge Caravan, 16% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 1998 Dodge Caravan airbags problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 85,450 miles.

Was there a recall on the 1998 Dodge Caravan airbags?

Yes, 2 recalls: 04V480000, 02V293000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Dodge Caravan have bad airbags?

The Dodge Caravan model years with the most airbags complaints are 1996 (251 complaints), 1997 (152 complaints) and 1999 (119 complaints).