Used 2005 Dodge Caravan Minivan Consumer Reviews
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My Review
MrKnowItAll, 09/11/2004
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
It has been the most fascinating driving experience I have ever had. It is a very luxurious vehicle. My family and I are pleased to have such a great automobile.
So Far I Like It
timsmit123, 09/29/2004
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Just bought a black Caravan SXT and it is my first van. It actually handles and drives much better than I was expecting. With all of the power windows, locks, mirrors, cruise and tilt included in the base SXT, they leave little to be desired.
2005 Dodge Caravan for sale near you
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Drivers door panel
Maryland Jack, 10/16/2004
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Traded1991 Dodge Caravan for 2005. Everything great but they changed the door panel trim on the drivers side so that the panel holding the window buttons protrudes about 2-3" into where your leg should be resting.This panel has a rather sharp angle to it. Drive about 2 to 5 miles and you will find that your leg gets sore. Very poor design as there was no reason to change. Friends tried pillows, pads etc. Nothing seems to hold or work.
GREAT BUY
JIMMY, 12/20/2004
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
THE DODGE IS THE BEST BUY FOR YOUR MONEY,WE JUST GOT RID OF OUR 2002 HONDA ODDY,AND NEVER AGAIN WILL WE BUY HONDA.THIS VAN IS THE BEST BUY FOR YOUR MONEY.
3rd Chrysler Minivan in 3 years
Steve, 12/24/2004
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I am addicted to these vans. You just can't beat the value of these things. They are $10,000 less than Toyota and Honda. I cant see spending all that additional money for the cache of driving a Honda or Toyota.
caravan se
irvinbf, 01/04/2005
2005 Dodge Caravan SE 4dr Minivan (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Best Van for the $ fun to drive and has lots of room. Good mpg even with my 2.4 even has lots of power for a 2.4
Fingers Crossed
DMG, 01/04/2005
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We just puschase a Dodge Caravan STX so far had a small problem with the overhead storage area but dealer handled. Have had alot of road noise was back a dealer today they informed me this was not road noise but a rear wheel bearing. Part ordered today. I'm six foot tall and can't seem to find a comfortable position but wife has only let me drive it 4 or 5 times. Wondering if we should have kept our 2000 Intrepid. I Think everything will workout? only time will tell.
Mistake to buy Dodge
Amanda, 01/15/2005
2005 Dodge Caravan SE 4dr Minivan (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Traded '04 Accord EX in for '05 Caravan. Biggest mistake of my life. The Caravan has been in the service department five times for severe steering wheel shaking over 55 mph. They did balancing 2 times, alignment, and replaced one of the tires. Not covered under Lemon Law, because it is still 'road worthy' according to Dodge. Once you go import, don't look back!
Best in the Market
Al, 01/15/2005
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The most quiet, comfortable of the minivans, excellent brakes and power, and best of all, stow and go seating. it is the best
Great Car
kathleen monahan, 02/19/2005
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is a perfect car for people who have trouble getting in and out of cars. One can slide in and out. The seats are extremely comfortable and the ride enjoyable.
It's really a 3.8 V-6
Ken, 03/08/2005
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
So far, I am very happy with my Dodge GC. It is very quiet, very nice stereo and love the convience and flexibility of the Stow'n Go seats.With one middle seat stowed, I have plenty of room to stow a lot of stuff in the bin that the other seat is not stowed. Plus it makes it very easy to get kids in and out of the back seats and leaves room for the dog to lay down. The front seats fit like a glove and I like the eight way power driver's seat plus the lockable storage bin under passenger's seat. I also like the above console, with outside temp.,compass and mpg used. I haven't had one bit of trouble with it yet.
The good and the bad
Scott, 07/18/2005
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had positive and negative experiences. The van has run well, with good acceleration and a smooth comfortable ride. The handling is very good. The Stow N Go seats are a great option. Electronic doors and liftgate work well. A/C is powerful and easy to regulate. On the negative side, my fuel economy is poor. At best I've averaged 18 mpg per tankful, and lately it's dipped down below 17mpg, even though a good part of my driving is highway. I'm also disappointed with the interior craftsmanship. Pieces of plastic have broken off the Stow N Go seats even though I haven't folded them away very much. Factory stereo is just fair. Various taillight bulbs have needed replacement already.
Bad news SXT
Mike, 07/30/2005
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The air bag light and warning bell came on and stayed on. It was fixed. That lasted 3 days and it went out again. The dealer replaced a wiring harness that was bad. The rear tailgate could only be opened with the key, so the dealer replaced the power lock unit. The passenger side window wouldn't go down, teh dealer replaced regulator to the power window. If I have this many problems with a new car,what happens when the warranty is up? This vehicle with 4 adults and a 2 yr old on a trip of over 500 miles got at one point 27 mpg and averaged about 22 mpg on the trip. That was in the mountains of KY, TN and NC. The DVD unit is a good babysitter. Sirius satellite radio is good too. Rides good, but I'm afraid of reliablity.
A Great Deal For the Money
Robert, 08/06/2005
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I test drove a new 1997 Caravan, was unimpressed for $23K, and bought a used 1994. This time I drove a much nicer, fancier 2005 Caravan and for $20K took it home. Thank you employee pricing! No stow and go on my short model, but no big deal. The six speaker package puts out some excellent sound. Seats are comfortable, yet don't weigh much. Superb handling, solid acceleration, great brakes (unlike my Quest). I'll reserve mileage judgement until it's broken in. I wasn't looking for a DVD but to put a cherry on the top of this deal it had one. But then came the single downer, although the manual doesn't say so, the "basic" DVD system has no headphone capability! Be sure you can live with this.
A great car for the money
TracyC273, 08/20/2005
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I just got my van and it is great. It drives so well. I did have a 96 windstar and this tops the cake. The only thing is the gas mileage is not so great. And I did not like the fact that I was told by the dealer that I could not program my key to open the other slider /lift gate. But overall it is a great minivan. Mine came with the DVD which my kids love and the radio is good w/ 6 speakers
Dodge SWB Caravan
teckelwood, 08/02/2006
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My '05 SXT(SWB) Caravan is responsive, easy to park and handle, and very comfy. Quiet inside, and a pleasure for me (6'2") and my wife (5'4") to drive. We are in our mid seventies, and are fond of Dodge minivans. Quad seats are a pleasure to move around and sit in. This is a great car for our older bodies with comfort and performance in mind.
Best Minivan
Ron, 09/24/2006
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My second Dodge minivan. Rides and drives better than any car. Very good gas mileage for the size vehicle. The front seats are very comfortable, especially on long trips. Easy to park. No problems with either van I owned. For the price, you can not beat it. I recommend this minivan to any that wants a comfortable and safe vehicle.
Great Van, Quite Smooth and Reliable
tiger850, 10/07/2006
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We have had no problems with our 2005 SXT. It gets great mileage, 25- 26MPG on hwy. Love the power driver seat, and all the features for a van we paid only $19250 for! Rest of seats are good since it is not the stow and go lousy seating. Radio treble and bass controls don't do much. It could use a better radio/speakers. Van looks great too. Best feature, zero problems so far. Great value, enjoy the van very much.
Just a nice vehicle
Bud in Fla, 10/18/2006
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had this vehicle for about 7 months now. It is just a very practical, easy to drive vehicle. It is great to haul a lot of people, and the stow and go seating is amazing. We bought the vehicle because we only have one vehicle now that we have retired, and this one can haul a bunch of stuff and then convert and we can drive 6 or 7 people to dinner. Love the nav system. The only complaint I have is the front cup holders. They could have done a much better job on those. I would love for it to get a little better gas mileage, but the big six does perform well. Looked at the Honda and Kia and bought this one much cheaper. Would love for them to add roll down windows for the 2nd row passengers
Problems with front end
Chuck in IOWA, 11/14/2006
2005 Dodge Caravan SE 4dr Minivan (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Was enjoying our van, when after less then 30,000 miles had to have bushings in front axle area replaced. Now, 25,000 miles later need to have them replaced again. Service dept. said company was using a different material on the bushings and wasn't a high enough quality. I have a brother with a Grand Caravan and he's experiencing the same issue. Always have had trouble with Dodge/Chrysler front ends, including a Stratus we had in 1995. Probably won't buy anymore Dodge/Chrysler products.
I like it
Edvanp, 11/29/2006
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Went from a Pontiac Montana into the SXT minivan. Love the stow/go seating. The engine is smooth with good performance over the Montana. The back bench is uncomfortable for long rides, or so my kids tell me. Good storage room. We have had it in for a couple of electronic glitches that have been covered under warranty. My main worry is the tranny as this seems to be the knock on these vehicles, but there hasn't been anything wrong with it yet. The radio/speakers could be better. We avg 22 mpg in mixed driving, 26 on the highway. Overall, we are happy with it to date (2 years & 33k miles).
High miles.
JD, 02/07/2007
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is my 5th Caravan. I drive 50,000 miles a year. Just passed 107,000 miles. Had no problems untill 75,000 miles, then several small problems with egr valve and vaccum pump. At 105,000 miles the transmission valve unit went bad, that and the 100,000 mile maintenance items + brakes, rotors, sway bars and tires cost me $3,000. The 3.3 liter engine is holding up well. tires lasted 105,000 miles without being aligned, or balanced.
Mom mobile
kayadento, 04/03/2007
2005 Dodge Caravan SE 4dr Minivan (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Very dependable and reliable. No problems ever. Not so cool to drive though. It is a mom mobile. My kids are getting older and think it is a loser cruiser. It is a great automobile for older couples and people with young kids.
I'm in love with this van.
jimpeggy2, 09/21/2007
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Of all the cars/trucks I have owned in my life, this van is by far my favorite. My kids are over the moon for it. It is comfortable beyond belief. Reliable. Easy to drive and park. Your really feel safe while driving this vehicle. The mileage is fair, but it is a large engine and a heavy machine, so it makes sense that the mileage is what it is. Don't let that sway you. The stow and go seats are a dream and a piece of cake to use. The driver controls are a wonderful and easy to use as well. Drive it in good health and enjoy.
I wouldn't buy another
Russell, 11/07/2007
2005 Dodge Caravan SXT 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT seemed to be a nicer car then our '97 Rally and we really liked the stow-n- go seats. However, that's where it ends. We have to put front brakes on it every 12,000 mi. we got 29,000 mi. on the '97 and I got 72,000 miles out of the front brakes on my 2001 Suburban. Electrical sensors are still a major problem, we have had several failures. The transmission control card went, the side electric doors have been repaired several times and still don't work well. We can't get the brake dust off the front aluminum wheels so they always look like crap. It needed a tune up after only 34,000 mi.. In short, this car is high maintenance! I wouldn't buy another!
A few issues
t.glacy, 12/01/2007
2005 Dodge Caravan SE 4dr Minivan (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Caravan has 46,000 miles so far. I have already had to replace one sensor (covered by warranty at 30,000). Just took car in for inspection and was told rack & pinion was leaking and repair will be approx $1,000! I am also having issues with check engine light again. Service dept. said it was a different sensor than the last one and needs to be replaced (upstream 02 sensor). Was also told breaks will need replacing soon. Overall I am OK with this vehicle, but getting hit with such high cost repairs so early on is not impressing me to buy another in the future.
Would not recommend
Ruth, 01/28/2010
2005 Dodge Caravan CV 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 5 people found this review helpful
I really needed a vehicle and preferred a van due to all the running around I had to do. However, buyer beware. Was not aware that Dodge still built 2.2L size engines. MY MISTAKE. What a piece of crap. Brakes have had to be replaced 3 times. The drums rotated, the shocks are bad (off the lot) the transmission modulator evidently doesn't last more than 28,000 miles and on our second one. Airbags didn't deploy when we hit a deer and had almost 6,000 dollars damage - otherwise we would have been able to total it. Heater doesn't work all the time. The dealer even sold me a bogus warranty. Again women... be aware when buying your own vehicle for the first time. Take someone who knows. Avoid DODGE
Highway mileage joke
squareorbit, 04/26/2006
2005 Dodge Caravan SE 4dr Minivan (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
We bought our Caravan because our '95 Caravan had 190,000 miles and had a transmission problem. Our 2005 Caravan is supposed to be able to get up to 27 miles per gallon on the highway. The only way you can get milage like that is to be going down a steep mountain. We get 17 to 18 miles per gallon. We will not be buying another Chrysler product.