1998 Dodge Grand Caravan SE from North America - Comments

We have had to replace the tensioner 2 times since we've owned it, and it was replaced once before we bought it.

The whole car lost power once when I was turning into a driveway. The dealership couldn't explain it.

Driver seat is wearing, bare spots.

Air Conditioning is poor.

Heating takes a long time to warm inside of car.

This vehicle is roomy for a family of 5.

It's good on gas mileage.

It handles well on the roads.

It's convenient with 2 sliding side doors.

It should have had a recalled issued on the tensioner...it's a recurring problem in several Dodge minivans in those model years.

I know other families who've owned one and were satisfied and others who were completely dissatisfied.

I'm surprised at some of the problems that have been written about this vehicle, since I haven't had many problems at all. I bought my '98 Grand Caravan SE in 2000 with a little under 60K miles. It is now approaching 145K (my communte to work is 90 miles round trip, 10 trips a month), so I put lots of mileage on in a short time. I have not had problems with the serpentine belt, nor am I dissatisfied with with the heat or air conditioning. Here in Colorado it gets quite cold in the winter, and very hot in the summer. I find that I have to turn the heat down in all, but sub zero temps in the winter, and also have to turn the a/c down in all, but 3-digit temps in the summer.

However having said that, I am disappointed at the difficulty in changing the spark plugs (I like to do my own maintenance). It is virtually impossible for a "shade tree" mechanic to change the 3 rear plugs, since it requires a lift and a pretty flexible person. My shop charges a pretty penny for plug changes since they don't like doing it either. Oil changes are a breeze, and so far the vehicle runs like a champ, even with the mileage mine has. This could be due to most of it's mileage (since I've owned it, at least) being highway mileage. It easily cruises the interstate at or above the posted limit (75mph) with little problems. I'm looking to replace it within the next year, and am strongly considering another one.