The Dodge Caravan is a special-purpose vehicle built from 1984 to 2008 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in Canada — 54.4% of those on record. Between 1984 and 2007 it grew 26 cm longer and gained 280 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6, Electric. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Caravan is
The Dodge Caravan is a special-purpose vehicle that Dodge built from 1984 to 2008 — 25 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 1996. It has been offered with 4-cyl, V6, Electric power. Its closest siblings in the Dodge range: Ramcharger, Ram Van.
Where the Caravan is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 7,348 Caravans on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 2B4, 2D4, 2D8, 284 | 1984-2010 | |
| the United States | 1B4, 1D4, 1D8, 1P4 | 1985-2008 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Dodge VIN decide which of these 2 lines your Caravan belongs to. What every character in a Caravan VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Dodge Caravan adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Caravan generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Caravan's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Caravan that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984-1995 | 447 cm | 285 cm | 1320 kg | - | - |
| 1996-2007 | 473 cm | 288 cm | 1600 kg | +26 cm | +280 kg |
Between 1984 and 2007 the Caravan gained 26 cm in length (+5.8%) and 280 kg in weight (+21.2%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Caravan that is 280 kg against 26 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Dodge Caravan tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Caravan owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Dodge Caravan have? Power & range
The Dodge Caravan is offered with 3 powertrains — 3.3L 6-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl, Electric. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 3 for the Dodge Caravan, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.3L · 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | FWD | Regular |
| 4-cyl | 2.4L · 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | FWD | Regular |
| Electric | Electric motor | Single-speed | 2WD | Electricity |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Caravan by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Dodge Caravan. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Caravan | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 208 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 11,285 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,160/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 501 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Dodge Caravan?
The Caravan is a special-purpose vehicle, built from 1984 to 2008 across 2 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6, Electric.
Where is the Dodge Caravan made?
Across 7,348 cars in our records the split is: Canada (54.4%), the United States (45.6%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Caravan have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 1996. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Caravan grew 26 cm longer and gained 280 kg.
What is the Dodge Caravan warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Caravan reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Caravan?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Dodge
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Charger | 1983–2026 | 133 | 98 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Dodge Ram | 1994–2012 | 188 | 17 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Challenger | 1981–2026 | 77 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Dodge Durango | 1995–2026 | 160 | 21 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Dodge Viper | 1992–2017 | 45 | 16 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Journey | 2009–2023 | 53 | 22 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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