1987 Dodge Caravan problems & reliability
69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1987 Dodge Caravan. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
6 complaints report injuries (12 injured, 2 deaths reported).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Latches/locks/linkages → | 15 | 22% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling → | 10 | 14% |
| Structure → | 10 | 14% |
| Power Train | 7 | 10% |
| Seats | 7 | 10% |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 9% |
| Electrical System | 4 | 6% |
| Equipment | 4 | 6% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 4% |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“In 1997 I purchased two kelly springfield tires. On june 14, 2002 the tread on one of them peeled off. The dealer replaced it (with some additional cost). On june 23, 2003 the tread on the other tire peeled off. I replaced it at a location some 300 miles from home but was not able to keep the bad tire. I believe there…”
Tires · filed Jul 2, 2003
“Tire carrier rusted, causing spare tire to fall off under the van, and bounce all over the highway. Dealership and the manufacturer were contacted about the problem, but were unwilling to repair problem. *ak *ml”
Equipment · filed Jun 27, 2000
“I have replaced this engine twice and now I am on the third time .I do not have the money to keep replace engine in cars or vans. It is my impression that the dodge company stands by their products of excellent . But guess I was wrong , I will tell all my friend not to buy dodge cars and vans. If you can help me…”
Engine and Engine Cooling · filed May 19, 2000
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- LIFTGATE LATCHES
Engineering Analysis EA94005 · opened Jan 31, 1994 · closed Oct 25, 1995
- TRANS PARK SYSTEM FAILURE
Engineering Analysis EA91010 · opened Dec 10, 1990 · closed Dec 31, 1991
- SPARE TIRE CARRIER FAILS
Engineering Analysis EA90030 · opened May 31, 1990 · closed Sep 24, 1990
- REAR SEAT STRUCTURE FAILS
Preliminary Evaluation PE90079 · opened May 7, 1990 · closed Oct 2, 1990
- UNDERDASH FIRES
Engineering Analysis EA90011 · opened Feb 23, 1990 · closed Feb 28, 1991
- SPARE TIRE CARRIER FAILURE
Preliminary Evaluation PE90030 · opened Jan 9, 1990 · closed May 31, 1990
- UNDERDASH FIRES
Preliminary Evaluation PE89170 · opened Sep 26, 1989 · closed Feb 23, 1990
- BROKEN DRIVERS SEAT
Preliminary Evaluation PE88095 · opened Aug 22, 1988 · closed Feb 15, 1989
Technical service bulletins
1 manufacturer communication (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1987 Dodge Caravan.
Vehicles with 3.0l engines - intake valve deposits - driveway die out, rough idle, lack of power, sags or hesitation. *tw
180597 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 14, 1997
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1987 Dodge Caravan in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1987 Dodge Caravan?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.