Faults:

Metal coolant lines for rear heater rusted and coolant leaked out at 60000 miles.

Tie rod end replaced at 61000.

Rear axle shaft, wheel bearing/hub assembly, rear shocks replaced at 100000.

Belt tensioner failed at 101000.

General Comments:

This van all in all has been a very good vehicle.

The only reason I would not buy another Dodge is not because of this vehicle, it for another Dodge I have had, and will post in appropriate category.

Faults:

Transmission rebuilt at 80,000 & 140,000.

Head gaskets replaced at 119,000. New plugs, wires, etc. at same time. Went ahead and did a valve job also while it was apart.

Electric door locks have been screwed up for the last 35,000 miles.

AC/Heat only blows out on the floor or defrost vents. Replaced a vacuum check valve and fixed that problem for six months before it started doing it again.

Paint is starting to peel off the hood.

Usual brake maintenance.

Oxygen sensor replaced at 160,000. Really helped it run better.

General Comments:

Budget for a new transmission every 60,000 miles.

You can easily check the computer codes, which will save you from taking it to a dealer.

Faults:

My evaporator coil went out one year after I purchased the vehicle.

Tie rods went bad at 95000 miles.

The transmission has been replaced 3 times at 128000, 130000, and most recently at 142000 miles.

General Comments:

Overall the vehicle is solid.

I love the way it handles and rides.

Not one problem from the engine.

I would own another if it weren't for that pesky transmission problem.

Faults:

Since I've inherited the van from my parents it's ran very well.

The factory tape deck/radio died last year.

Last summer the air conditioning needed to be recharged.

The motor for the rear windshield wiper no longer works.

None of these problems were/are serious, though.

Prior to this van coming under my command there *were* a few problems that bear mentioning.

The transmission went out at 72,000 miles.

At about 55,000 miles there was a problem with the switch that activated the interior dome light switch-- the light would flicker on and off and the "door ajar" bell would ding, even when the car was moving and all doors were closed.

General Comments:

This van is the most comfortable vehicle I've owned-- during highway driving the controls and armrests are all located in just the right places at the right times.

Handling is a little lightly sprung-- you can't take corners too fast or it feels like you'll tip over-- it won't, but it feels like you might.

Gas mileage averages out to about 20 miles per gallon, which is pretty good for a vehicle of it's size and seating capacity.

With the seats out, I've moved to and from college with amazing ease-- and there's room to sleep back there as well.

On the whole, this van is a reasonably practical, economical, non-pretentious ride, with plenty of room for all my friends and their cargo, and is inexpensive to own and maintain.

Faults:

Light switch for interior lights needed adjustment.

Air conditioning quit working, ran a 2 part sealer through it, a/c oil and recharged w/134 (freon) and its working fine.

Oxygen sensor needed replaced.

Side Door Hinge Broke Off.

Lower storage compartment door in Dash, (under ashtray), needed replaced.

Steel coolant lines to rear heater rusted open causing loss of coolant.

Constant Velocity boot split open at 125000 miles, inner driver side, I elected to replace axle because of mileage.

Hood paint looks like it may begin to flake off if not regularly waxed.

General Comments:

I purchased this van used after viewing it on line. I traveled to Virginia from Maryland to test drive and purchased that day.

I installed a hitch to tow a utility trailer. The 3.8 engine does extremely well with towing, and I have not had any problems with the transmission. I did retrofit a rear sway bar off a Caravan Sport model to aid in handling, which helped a great deal.

I replaced all filters and use synthetic oil. I changed the Intake Manifold and Valve Cover gaskets while I had the Intake Manifold off to change the Spark Plugs and Spark Plug wires.

I replaced the rear heater core steel coolant lines with Heavy Duty rubber hoses protected by a guard, the dealer wanted $120.00 for the steel lines which would rust out again.

I consider the Oxygen sensor a normal replacement after 75000.

The side sliding door hinge was improved on later models.

The van regularly carries a big family and towed all the materials needed for finishing a basement on the trailer. I didn't care much for the handling until the addition of a rear sway bar, which the Caravan sports have. The van runs very smooth, has ample power, and plenty of features for convenience and comfort.

The transaxle has never given me any trouble. They have their quirks about up shifting and down shifting, but nothing I would consider extreme or out of the ordinary. I will say that my transaxle may have been replaced as it has been painted with aluminum paint. I'm not sure if this is factory or done by a re builder.