Car kind of sputtered and then continually running good. As if it all of a sudden was short on gas. Happened a couple of times before the engine died. This happened twice. Once in wisc., luckily only a few blocks from a dodge dealership. They replaced the fuel pump. Again in arkansas, had the fuel pump replaced by an independent on a sunday. Still had problems. Would run a few block and die. About 4-5 times. Waited until monday when dodge dealership opened, took it to them. They said a wire running to the fuel pump ran over the transmission, would rub against it rubbing it bare and short out the fuel pump. This event happened out in the boondocks about 15-20 miles. Cell phone died, fortunately a state patrol/ sheriffs car happened by and was able to get us a tow truck. This was on a saturday late day. Was towed into the nearest town where was able to get a fuel pump from a jobber on sunday, had an independents mechanic install it, but still car would not run right. On monday had the dodge dealership look at it. They said it was the wire leading to the fuel pump, which was rubbed bare and shorting out. They said a service bulletin had been issued to cut the wire, shortened it, splice it back together and tape it up away from the transmission so I doesn't occur again. This should be a vehicle recall I believe. In the far south it is an inconvenience, a nuisance in the frigid northland it is a life and death situation if you are caught out in the open at 20 below zero with a 20 MPH wind blowing and the car suddenly dies. Fortunately this happened while I was on a vacation in the south and not in my native northland. And I do sill have the fuel pump I replaced while I was in arkansas. It would be nice if information site as this were made more public knowledge. The first time it happened was about 5-6 years ago the second time it happened was about 3-27-04 I didn't report this to any agency because I had no idea where to report it.
The worst 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Transmission26
- Fuel system11
- Body5
- Brakes5
- Engine4
- Seat belts4
- Visibility2
- Acceleration1
- Lights1
- Suspension1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Defect investigations
Liftgate latches
Liftgate latches in the subject vehicles have failed in low and moderate speed impacts resulting in occupant ejections, injuries, and fatalities.there are two failure modes associated with latch failure: fork bolt-detent lever bypass, and inertial unlatching.the federal safety agency analyses of chrysler and peer minivans took the form of static and dynamic crash testing, engineering evaluations, complaint and field analyses, and real world data analyses.a technical report discussing these analyses can be found in the engineering analysis technical report in the public viewing file.chrysler has advised the federal safety agency that it will conduct a campaign to replace the latches on all the subject vehicles.the chrysler campaign will consist of notification letters to all owners; free replacement of all latches with stronger, safer latches regardless of the age of the minivans; national advertising to promote customer awareness of the campaign; quarterly reports regarding campaign completion rates; as well as additional measures to ensure a high completion rate, above and beyond the actions that normally would be taken in a formal safety recall.these include follow up written and telephonic notifications to owners who do not bring their vehicles in for corrective action.the federal safety agency firmly believes that the crash performance of the latches on these minivans raises serious safety concerns, and that the campaign addresses these concerns.the chrysler corrective action will increase the strength of the liftgate latches and decrease the potential for inertial unlatching, thereby reducing the risk of crash-related openings of the liftgate and possible occupant ejection through the liftgate opening.owners of chrysler minivans will get a stronger, safer latch free of charge at the earliest possible time, without the need for further technical investigation and complex and time-consuming litigation with an uncertain outcome.based on the above, odi is closing this investigation.
EA94005
Trans park system failure
There is no summary currently available
EA91010
What 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Transmission dropped all but 2nd and 1st gear was told at transmission shop it is know to do that...
Fuel rail failed while driving the van. I started to smell raw gasoline in the closed cabin, I was about to pass my mechanics shop, so I pulled in to see where the smell was coming from. My mechanic and I were both surprised to see the fuel rail had failed in two places, at the same time!!!, causing the raw gasoline to be sprayed all over the hot engine, (3.3l). I am surprised at how many complaints there already are here on this data base about this very same problem. I was told that there was a recall, and repair parts available, but there was not!!! The new fuel rail is $302.00 plus tax, plus my mechanic needs 1.9 hours of shop time to install it, (at $75.00/hr) plus tax, plus a upper plenum gasket set, ($30.00). That brings the total to over $500.00, heaven forbid if my van had actually caught on fire, and I lost everyone and everything that I had in our family van! I have always had great maintenance done and have all of the records. This was not a problem with abuse or anything like that. It is just a manufacturing defect, period. I have bought another much newer dodge grand caravan, and just found out that it has 6 recalls on it !!!!!!! I am going to sell both as soon as possible, and get me another manufacturers van, or truck.
The fuel injection leaked fuel in two positions.
This vehicle has had a problem transmission since it was driven away from the dealership. The "lurching" motion made by the transmission was reported to the dealer immediately and repeatedly. The dealer insisted that the transmission was normal and refused to repair it. In october 1991 the transmission failed while we were in tennessee and witnessed by the dodge dealership in sieverville, tn. Upon return to florida. The dodge dealer in coral springs replaced the transmission. (or so we were told) the 2nd transmission worked for 5 years and had to be replaced in september of 1996. That transmission was a problem immediately but the dealer refused to repair it. While in wash. Dc in july 1997, the car would not downshift. The engine kept racing and only stoped when I turned off the car. The dodge dealer in wdc said that by turning off the engine we cleared the computer and they could find nothing wrong with the car. The third transmission was eventually replaced and now I have had to have two repairs on the fourth transmission. Currently the vehicle lurches and jerks suggesting that there are more transmission problems. I feel that the transmission is dangerous and could cause someone to lose control of their car. Dt
Threaded composite block failed on car jack while jacking up right front portion of mini van while operator was servicing right front tire. Defect caused complete and immediate failure of jack and car falling to garage floor.
Fuel rail was leaking. Mech said this was extremely dangerous-could have caused fire.vehicle too old for recent recall, which covers vehicles from 1995-2000, but has the same problem.paid $630.76 on 1/13/01 for new fuel rail and o-rings. Mech said today (3/30/02) that my car had same problem that he had recently fixed on recalled vehicle.
Consumer was driving along and right side back pushed out window and shattered it. Also, air conditioning was running at time. Dealers had no response to how it could have happened.
Mini van needs fifth transmission. Original transmission replaced on 10/25/91.
A604 transmission failed within 3000 miles after purchase. Completely rebuilt in oct., 1997. Mileage at failure, approx. 82,000. Prior history unknown. Transmission again failed at a little over 122,000 miles. Again, completely overhauled. Spoke with manager of transmission shop, who informed me of countless failures of this transmission type, and that although it was good for his business, he knew of major design flaws within the a604, and its successor, a606. In fact, he had three other vehicles, with mileages ranging from 32,000 to 65,000, all with the same failures. This vehicle has also had the half-axles replaced, three times on the passenger side, twice on the drivers side, and seem to be related to the transmission problems. After researching this transmission on the internet, it is readily apparent that chrysler/dodge has a fundamental, known latent defect in the design of this transmission. I have spent more on the transmission overhauls ($3000) and the half-axles ($1000) than I paid for the van. Respectfully request that the federal safety agency agressively pursue the issue of this expensive, recurring transmission and drivetrain design flaws and their catastrophic failures with the manufacturer. Individual consumer complaints with dealers and the chrysler corp. Are frustrating and pointless. They will not admit that they have a serious, multi-year problem, and individuals bear the brunt of this costly mistake on their part. Please note: chrysler's overhaul kit for this transmission does nothing to resolve the fundamental design flaw; it only prolongs the issue! Chrysler corp., and its dealers' attitude toward its customers with regard to this issue is blatantly unfair, crass, and as of this date, full of lies and denials of the issue.
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Other model years
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Questions about the 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan
Is the 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan reliable?
Owners have filed 54 complaints about the 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan, fewer than a typical Grand Caravan model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan?
Transmission and drivetrain, with 26 complaints. Next is fuel system (11).
How many recalls does the 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan have?
No recalls on record.
What year does the Dodge Grand Caravan have bad transmission?
The Dodge Grand Caravan model years with the most transmission complaints are 2016 (221 complaints), 1996 (208 complaints) and 2000 (95 complaints).
VIN decoder
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