Used 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan Consumer Reviews
Good if you have children
This car has been proven to be a reliable van and comfortable for long trips. We have 4 children and travel on short trips in Texas and longer cross country trips about once a year. This vehicle has always been great but at 140000 miles I feel that we need to purchase a newer car if we plan to take a long cross country trip now. The 6 cylinder is adaquate but an 8 cylinder can haul more. The van doesn't have a lot of room left for baggage after after the kids are all in their seats.
Has been Great
Have had van for 5 years and 107000 miles, to only things that I have done is reg maint. One battery and 2 sets of brakes, 2nd set at 100000 miles. I can fit the whole house in to this van when I go on vacation and still have room for the fam. and still get good MPG, around 20. I did'nt buy it for its looks or performance. I bought it for the basic use of a van.
Like it, but...
For the most part I've been very happy with this vehicle, I like the basic design it has a lot of room compared with other minivans, comfy, and handles well. Few mechanical problems except the belt tensioner went out once and the mirror folding detents all sprung. A/C condenser and evaporator coil need replacement now after 70K miles. Odd electrical intermittent bits including: fuel guage, ABS light, front door key lock, delay wipers. Too many!
Another bad tranny...
Stupid me I ignored the warnings about the history of bad transmissions in Crysler minivans. I figured surely they would have fixed this problem by the time I had bought my 98 Grand Caravan. Fat chance. I'm currently looking to dump this vehicle with only 68K miles...shopping for a Honda. Never a Crysler product again.
My best minivan
I buy this minivan 4 years ago, I do a lot of things in there; I use it like a cargo van-I put in there 12 people and 15 backpaks-, for traveling, a few off road sessions, it's so roomy, I love all that space. Yes I had some problems, but it was my fault, so I don't think that it was a bad car.