1985 Dodge Caravan
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1985 Dodge Caravan is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1 on record.
1985 Dodge Caravan at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
1985 Dodge Caravan recalls 6
FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
Fix: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER MINIVANS WITHOUT REMOTE RELEASE. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL. THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERMINATION THAT A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS WITH THE MINIVAN LATCHES. CHRYSLER IS CONDUCTING A SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE LIFTGATE LATCH ASSEMBLY OF THE AFFECTED MINIVANS. IN A COLLISION, THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH ASSEMBLY COULD OPEN.
Fix: CHRYSLER DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LIFTGATE LATCH WITH A NEW STRONGER LATCH ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE. CHRYSLER BEGAN NOTIFYING OWNERS DURING NOVEMBER 1995.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER MINIVANS WITH REMOTE RELEASE. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL. THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERMINATION THAT A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS WITH THE MINIVAN LATCHES. CHRYSLER IS CONDUCTING A SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE LIFTGATE LATCH ASSEMBLY OF THE AFFECTED MINIVANS. IN A COLLISION, THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH ASSEMBLY COULD OPEN.
Fix: CHRYSLER DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LIFTGATE LATCH WITH A NEW STRONGER LATCH ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE. CHRYSLER BEGAN NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES DURING JULY 1996.
VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL SUNSCREEN REAR GLASS WHICH HAS LESS THAN 70 PERCENT LUMINOUS TRANSMITTANCE AND DOES NOT HAVE A PASSENGER SIDE OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 111, REAR VIEW MIRRORS. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE DRIVERS OF THESE VANS DO NOT HAVE THE MINIMUM FIELD OF VISION REQUIRED BY FMVSS 111. WITHOUT THIS MINIMUM FIELD OF VISION THE DRIVER CANNOT MANEUVER HIS VEHICLE SAFELY A…
Fix: INSTALL PASSENGER SIDE OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR.
ROADWAY STONES MAY BECOME LODGED IN THE HEIGHT SENSING BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE. THIS MAY CAUSE THE PROPORTIONING VALVE TO FAIL. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: PROPORTIONING VALVE MALFUNCTION RESULTS IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING HARD BRAKING WITH A LIGHT LOAD AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: CLEAR PROPORTIONING VALVE OF STONES AND INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER TO PREVENT STONES FROM ENTERING.
THE METAL FUEL SUPPLY TUBE MAY CRACK AT THE FUEL PUMP END DUE TO VIBRATION. THE CRACK MAY RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE. (THE FUEL SUPPLY TUBE CONNECTS THE FUEL PUMP TO THE FUEL FILTER.)
Fix: A FUEL TUBE RETAINING CLIP ASSEMBLY WILL BE INSTALLED ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES, FREE OF CHARGE. THIS WILL RESTRICT TUBE VIBRATION AND PREVENT CRACKS.
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
1985 Dodge Caravan common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 82 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
1985 Dodge Caravan MPG & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 10 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1985 Dodge Caravan costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Dimensions & weight
Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1985 Dodge Caravan. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Investigations & service bulletins
NHTSA defect investigations 8
LIFTGATE LATCHES Closed
LIFTGATE LATCHES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE FAILED IN LOW AND MODERATE SPEED IMPACTS RESULTING IN OCCUPANT EJECTIONS, INJURIES, AND FATALITIES. THERE ARE TWO FAILURE MODES ASSOCIATED WITH LATCH FAILURE: FORK BOLT-DETENT LEVER BYPASS, AND INERTIAL UNLATCHING. NHTSA ANALYSES OF CHRYSLER AND PEER MINIVANS TOOK THE FORM OF STATIC AND DYNAMIC CRASH TESTING, ENGINEERING EVALUATIONS, COMPLAINT AND FIELD ANALYSES, AND REAL…
NHTSA #EA94005 · Structure · opened Jan 1994 · closed Oct 1995TRANS PARK SYSTEM FAILURE Closed
NHTSA #EA91010 · Power Train · opened Dec 1990 · closed Dec 1991FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURE Closed
NHTSA #PE90112 · opened Aug 1990 · closed Jan 1991SPARE TIRE CARRIER FAILS Closed
NHTSA #EA90030 · Equipment · opened May 1990 · closed Sep 1990UNDERDASH FIRES Closed
NHTSA #EA90011 · Exterior Lighting · opened Feb 1990 · closed Feb 1991SPARE TIRE CARRIER FAILURE Closed
NHTSA #PE90030 · Equipment · opened Jan 1990 · closed May 1990UNDERDASH FIRES Closed
NHTSA #PE89170 · Engine And Engine Cooling · opened Sep 1989 · closed Feb 1990BROKEN DRIVERS SEAT Closed
NHTSA #PE88095 · Seats · opened Aug 1988 · closed Feb 1989An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the CARAVAN. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
Canadian recalls 4
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1985 Dodge Caravan. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
Emissions
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. PLUGGED CHOKE VACUUM DELAY VALVE. NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.2 LITRE CARBURETED ENGINES.
Transport Canada #1987001 · Jan 1987Label
Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 111 - rearview mirrors.
Transport Canada #1985141 · Dec 1985Brakes
On certain vehicles, stones could become lodged in the height sensing brake proportioning valve. Inhibited valve function, due to stone intrusion, may result in increased stopping distances during severe braking with light loads.
Transport Canada #1985054 · May 1985Not Entered
THE FUEL SUPPLY TUBE FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE FUEL FILTER COULD EXPERIENCE FATIGUE CRACKING AT THE FUEL PUMP END AS THE RESULT OF RESONANT VIBRATION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. THIS COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE AND PRESENT THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE.
Transport Canada #1984154 · Nov 1984Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
About the Dodge Caravan
The Dodge Caravan is a series of minivans manufactured by Chrysler from the 1984 through 2020 model years. The Dodge version of the Chrysler minivans was marketed as both a passenger van and a cargo van. For 1987, the model line was joined by the long-wheelbase Dodge Grand Caravan. Produced in five generations across 36 model years, the Dodge Caravan is the second longest-lived Dodge nameplate. Initially marketed as the Dodge counterpart of the Plymouth Voyager, the Caravan was later slotted between the Voyager and the Chrysler Town & Country. Following the demise of Plymouth, the model line became the lowest-price Chrysler minivan, ultimately slotted below the Chrysler Pacifica.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.