2002 Dodge Caravan — 2.4L L4

The 2002 Dodge Caravan sits near the tail end of a clear downward trend in consumer complaints that began after a peak in 1996 (1,647 complaints). By 2002, complaints had fallen to 256—down substantially from the 574 in 1999 and nearly matching the record-low 195 seen in 2003. However, recall activity remained steady at 10 campaigns, and notably, federal investigations actually increased to 5 in 2002 (up from 2 in 2001 and 1 in 2003), suggesting persistent safety concerns that may not be fully captured in raw complaint volumes. The top complaint categories—air bags (46), steering (31), and electrical system (19)—indicate potential safety-critical issues, with 16 crash-related complaints and 11 fire-related complaints recorded for this model year. Compared to both earlier and later years in the generation, 2002 represents a transitional point where complaints had abated but underlying reliability issues requiring manufacturer attention persisted. This makes the 2002 a marginal choice; it benefits from the downward complaint trend but carries elevated investigation activity and specific safety-related complaint areas that warrant thorough pre-purchase inspection.