1998 Dodge Caravan Base review from North America

My head gasket blew at 62,000 miles. This is a very expensive repair, almost every shop including the Dodge Dealership try to sell you on doing a complete head job and timing belt replacement when they replace the head gasket. It's almost avoidable they will tell you your heads are warped whether or not they are.

The minivan idles roughly, was told by the dealers service dept that all 4 Cly Caravans do this. Van lacks power, going up hills we have to turn the A/C off to make it up and over even the smallest grade.

This van is cheap if you buy used like we did, we paid $6,500 in 2001 for a 1998 base model. The minute we drove it off of the lot it has been a nightmare. Brake problems, head gasket replacement ($1,200), bad suspension. I just love feeling every pebble in the road when we drive, every bump is felt. Has great air conditioning, too bad when you turn it on your gas mileage will drop 35% (in our case).

The windows on the front doors work their way down 1/2 inch while driving so we get plenty of wind noise and have to keep rolling them up, we were told they cannot be fixed. Dodge Caravan = a nightmare for you!