1989 Dodge Caravan reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1989 Dodge Caravan — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 236
- on record
- Top problem area
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
- 44 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 13 reported crashes · 20 injuries · 2 deaths · 13 fires
What owners report fails — 1989 Dodge Caravan
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 44
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK 25
- STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR 15
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 15
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE 11
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1989 Dodge Caravan
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1989 Dodge Caravan units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1989 Dodge Caravan reliable?
NHTSA has 236 consumer complaints on record for the 1989 Dodge Caravan. The most-reported problem area is power train:automatic transmission (44 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1989 Dodge Caravan units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Dodge Caravan?
Owners most often report problems with: power train:automatic transmission (44), latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock (25), structure:body:door (15), engine and engine cooling:engine (15). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 1989 Dodge Caravan?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.