AC compressor blown.
Engine mounts cracked.
Check engine light - fuel evaporstor system leaks.
Air bag light on randomly.
My wife and I would have preferred a Honda, but a used Honda Odyssey was more expensive than a new Caravan, and it's easier to trust the previous owner if there never was one. But, you get what you pay for.
A $1,000 bill because the AC compressor blew, ruining all the components in the system makes me reflect on the purchase. Thankfully we heard it making a noise and were able to turn it off before it caused other problems - it's one belt that drives all the disconnected parts - water pump, alternator, AC compressor, and power steering pump. I then pulled the AC clutch fuse to use the window defrost.
A myriad of other small annoying problems are there, but considering I saved about $10,000 purchasing this over a Honda means I still have about $9,000 to go in major repairs to catch up to a Honda, assuming the Honda never needs repairs. Of course, there's the unexpected cost for repairs, and how much are you willing to pay for peace of mind? So, if you purchase one of these, make sure you are budgeting money monthly so the large repairs don't bite you; consider it a small addendum to your monthly payments.
I own the same van. The AC compressor has gone three times, and finally I found out why. The compressor in the dual and triple climate control caravans powers all the AC systems in the vehicle instead of each having their own compressor. Most times the vehicle is driven without turning on the AC systems other than the front one... this creates an imbalance in the system and kills the compressor very quickly. The fix... make sure to turn the AC on to equal levels for all climate controlled sections, or drive with the windows down.
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