DodgeCaravan19953.8L V6/dodge/caravan/1995/3-8l-v6/
AS platform

1995 Dodge Caravan — 3.8L V6

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 Caravan 3.8L V6.

Body VANEngine 3.8L V6

The 1995 Dodge Caravan 3.8L V6 represents a quintessential minivan of its era, built on the AS platform and powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine that calls for 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 API oil at service intervals. Positioned within a model family that stretched across nearly three decades from 1990 to 2017, this generation accumulated 573 owner complaints over its lifespan, with Power Train issues emerging as the primary concern and four total recalls affecting the model. The 1995 model year falls just before the complaint peak of 1996, which saw 1,647 incidents—the highest in the model's history—suggesting this generation sits near the apex of reliability concerns before a steady decline in reported issues through subsequent years. By 2017, complaints had dropped to just one, indicating substantial refinement of the platform over its nearly three-decade production run and demonstrating that while early examples like this 1995 carried notable reliability baggage, the platform matured considerably over time.

Model year200720062005200320022001200019991995

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24 CANADA · 580 CANADA CCA battery, OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, spark plug, front wiper blades, serpentine belt and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24 CANADA · 580 CANADA CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205-70R15; Short WB: P195-75R14OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ; P195-75R14 tire: 5.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05281090AB
Engine air filter04306113 discontinued · alt 04213583AB
Fuel filter04682923 discontinued
Spark plugSP0RN14MC5 discontinued · alt 68304174AA
Front wiper blades04673043 discontinued
Serpentine belt04798390 discontinued · alt 04612461
Thermostat04573560AE discontinued · alt 04494470

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length178.3 in
Overall width72 in
Overall height64.2 in
Wheelbase112.2 in
Curb weight3325 lb
Track (front / rear)59.8 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 20.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel BoltsAT: 55 ft-lbs, MT: 70 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug20.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs9 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts85-115 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill PlugPTU: 6.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain PlugPTU: NS ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerChampion
Spark Plug Gap0.048-0.053 in
Spark Plug Torque20 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeND 8 oil
Standard BCI Group Number24 CANADA
Standard BCI Cranking Performance580 CANADA cca
Optional BCI Group Number51 - U.S.
Optional BCI Cranking Performance435 - U.S. cca
Standard BCI Group Number34

Service checks

Pressure Test16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature195 °F
Engine Compression100 Minimum psi
Engine Oil Pressure30-80 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000 rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH 8.66 inch DRUM / WITH REAR DISC
Torque Caliper to Bracket25-35 ft-lbs / 15-18 ft-lbs / 30 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle130-190 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs / 160 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket25-35 ft-lbs / 15-18 ft-lbs / 17 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle130-190 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket30 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle160 ft-lbs

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
140 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9040 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat new bolts with the specified engine oil.

145.0 ft. lbs.45 ft. lbs
265.0 ft. lbs.65 ft. lbs
365.0 ft. lbs.65 ft. lbs
490 degrees CAUTION: Do not use a torque wrench for this step.90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Use new bolts. Lubricate bolts with clean engine oil. · M8 Bolts:

125.0 ft. lbs.; M11 Bolts:25 ft. lbs
145.0 ft. lbs.45 ft. lbs
265.0 ft. lbs.65 ft. lbs
365.0 ft. lbs.65 ft. lbs
490 degrees Do not use a torque wrench for this step.90 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9030 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 miWheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Steering System (inspect)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miTiming Belt (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1995 Dodge Caravan sits at a notable low point in the generation's federal complaint arc, with 573 complaints — down from 772 in 1994 and 1,140 in 1993 — and only four recalls, the fewest since 1990. Investigations also declined to six from eight the prior year, while technical service bulletins continued their steady climb to 65, suggesting ongoing dealer-level attention to emerging patterns. The top complaint categories centered on Power Train (82), Engine & Engine Cooling (62), Air Bags (58), and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (49), with 67 crash-related and eight fire-related complaints recorded. This improvement proves short-lived: 1996 sees a dramatic spike to 1,647 complaints and 16 recalls, marking the generation's worst year by a wide margin. The data doesn't specify root causes for the 1995 dip or the 1996 surge, but the contrast is stark. For a buyer, 1995 represents the calmest federal-record year of the early-to-mid 1990s run, making it a comparatively strong vintage to target — provided the specific vehicle has addressed the known Power Train, cooling, air bag, and brake campaigns.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
65
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
6
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
573
Owner complaints
67 involved a crash · 8 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 573 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train82
Engine & Engine Cooling62
Air Bags58
Service Brakes, Hydraulic49
Structure39
Electrical System30
Visibility27
Steering26

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

03E045000EquipmentReported 26/09/2003

AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 17, 2002, AND JANUARY 20, 2003, SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES LISTED ABOVE. THE FILTER MAY EXPERIENCE MALFUNCTION OF THE QUICK CONNECTOR EITHER BLOCKING… Remedy: AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS FOR 1995-2000 SHORT WHEELBASE CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY, PLYMOUTH VOYAGER AND DODGE CARAVAN MINIVANS PART NO. 18232 AND DATE CODE 0237, 0249, OR…

99V113000Air BagsReported 06/05/1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THE WIRING THAT INITIATES THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD ELECTRICALLY SHORT CIRCUIT TO GROUND. A SHORT CIRCUIT TO GROUND THAT EXISTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION KEY… Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERFORM AN ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. ANY SHORT CIRCUITS IDENTIFIED IN EITHER THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INITIATOR WIRE CIRCUIT WILL BE REPAIRED.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

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VIN
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Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1995 Caravan 3.8L V6 take?

4.5 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1995 Caravan have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.