1993 Dodge Caravan review from North America

Honestly it seems everything.

Transmission, all parts. Leaking, limping, sensors, grinding, bumping, cruching. Expensive to fix every time. I had it go out on me twice, for different reasons so it was not under warranty. Both at 151-152 K miles. Each time at $1100.

All these fixes I did myself in the heat of Texas summers glaring off the driveway.

Speed sensor 151k $40.

EATX relay sesnosr 152k $40.

Knock Sensor 152k $40.

Oxygen Sensor 151k $40.

Coil Pack 157k $80.

Brake pads 152k $20.

Calipers $40.

Solenoid pack 152k $190.

ECM computer 157K $200.

A/C always has leaked.

Water pump 156k $28.

Temp sensor 153k $20.

Alternator 156k $139 (Very hard fix that took off my fingernail, you had to loosen the muffler pipe and bring the alternator out from under then darn thing)

Belt tensioner 156k $53.

Battery 156k (happens) $59.

Battery terminals 156k $5.

Serpentine belt 156k $20.

Heater core hose $15 VERY HARD FIX I needed the hands the size of a 5 year old.

Spark Plugs $15 (BACK ones hard to fix.. Just horrible)

PCM computer flash 153k $90.

Thermostat 152k $5 (30 minute fix)

This van was a nightmare from the beginning.

We did buy it used, and it seemed to run great when I test drove it. I am very mechanically skilled, and knew that of course any used car would need reapairs (especially at 150k miles) but boy was I in for a surprise.

I have done everything to this van. In no way could I type every single repair I have done to it because I would be sitting here for the rest of the day. There were problems from power windows, door locks, crazy sensors, electrical problems, steering colum problems, and all type of things I don't have the time to get into detail about.

The parts for this van were expensive. Nothing in comparison to my chevy caprice.

My wife and I bought this van while she was pregnant with our second child. We had the dream of having something that we could rely on just to get around the local small town we lived in. This van caused horrendous problems to us.

We do not have a lot of money. That's why I always chose to fix it. The parts were outrageous, and the fixes were very hard since the engine actually sits sideways.

The transmission is nutorious for being a flop. Even the 2005 models have problems, and Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge (same van called "Caravan or Voyager or Town and Country").

These vans "suck" so bad, that there is even a website help forum http://www.allpar.com/forums/ that has a minivan section with over 8,000 posts on it. These things are breaking down everywhere, and a message forum like that is just proof.

After all of my numerous fixes (I haven't listed even 1/8th of them) the van is in my driveway unable to start.

The trouble with these minivans is that they are money pits, and create a sense of not knowing what to do about them. Because after you spend $190 on a selonoid pack, fix the brakes, and numerous sensors, everything else starts breaking. But then you sit here knowing you already have so much money in it, and don't want to get rid of it because you don't want to lose your money. So you decide to go ahead and fix the next thing that is broken - and it never stops breaking.

We homeschool, don't have money, and Chrysler has damaged our family severely.

My advice for everybody who sees this is: Never for ANY reason buy one of these pieces of junk. Even if it is new, you will see in numerous places where they have failed on people. I'm a reasonable guy, not much of a critic, and do not complain much - But this thing was so horrible, that I had to say something.

I know more about Chrysler vans now, that I could be hired as a mechanic at a dealer. I know what a Clutch Volume index from a TCM computer is. (part of the transmission read of clutch indexes). Normal home mechanics, are not supposed to know about junk like that. I just wanted to do spark plugs, occasional reasonable mechanical repairs - etc.

It's just too much. Men your wives will sit stranded, and so will you if you are with them in these vans. I've known people stranded in 2005 models even. No reliability at all.

Please everybody do yourself a favor and run like if these vans were the red death disease. In 5 years, I've driven it 7,000 miles. That's it. Half of this was in limp mode stuck in 2nd gear.

Next week, I'm finally going to watch the tow truck take it away to the junkyard. I wouldn't be surprised, though I'm a nice guy, if naturally my middle finger will stand point up to it as it leaves my driveway.