2005 Dodge Caravan

[RattFink]

Long story short, it's time for my family to upgrade to a mini van. My wife and I are expecting our third child in November. I'm a dodge freak, so when it comes to buying a new car, I always just default to a Dodge lol. Anyway, what years are the best/most reliable for Caravans? Theres a 2005 for sale at the Chrysler dealer nearby, 105,000 miles and they're wanting $7,000. Is that a good deal and is that a good year for the Caravan? I've never owned a van so I need feedback! Other options for us may include a Toyota or Honda, but I'd hate to get one of those and the prices on them seem very inflated.

[shadow88]

When my parents both wanted Caravans for ease of access We looked at 2007's. When I was at the dealership for 13 years, I noticed they actually got better as the model years went on, up to 2008.

With 105,000 miles, there's nothing that should be ruled out. A thorough inspection should be performed with any used car. My mother got hers for $9,000 3 years ago and nothing serious has gone wrong with it. A power lock, an egr valve, and one outer tie rod end in the last 30,000 miles.

[black86glhs]

My neighbor has had 2-3 of them(she used to work at the Twinsburg plant). She put over 165,000 miles on it and I can tell you she wasn't all that great at maintenance. Right now it needs brakes, water pump and a couple small things and it is running again. I think hers is a 2001. Much better than the past models.

[RoadWarrior222]

I'd say it's a reasonable amount to pay for that particular vehicle if it's always been serviced by that dealer and they're giving you some sorta warranty on it. If they just picked it up from auction and tarted it over, it's too much.

[Big_P]

We service a fleet of them at my shop, and we see the earlier ones (01-03) that have tranny problems sometimes. However, these are driven by teenagers who cart around mentally handicapped people. They are very hard on the vans but generally they seem to hold up just fine. I've replaced I-don't-even-remember-how-many EGR valves. Other than minor suspension/steering work (sway bar links, inner sway bar bushings, tie rods) which is entirely normal for any car, I'd dare say they hold up better than any Honda Odyssey/Toyota minivan.

[RoadWarrior222]

BTW in this market you can look around and find a fully pimped out Pacifica with a 6 speed and 4.0 for around that money... a $40,000+ new vehicle a couple of years back that I thought was "pointless" in the range, (Considering they had the magnum and the mini) and overpriced, but residual value dropped like a ton of bricks, so you can get a lot for your money with them now. 07s were the best year in those, methinks. Anyway, if I "had to" buy a vehicle of that era to replace my mini, before the '08 5th gen vans became affordable, I'd be looking at Pacificas.... aside from that if I wanted to go cheaper, I'd be trying for a 97 or 98ish with the 3.0 and A670....

---------- Post added at 06:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:26 AM ----------

Also, repeat after me, mileage is nothing, maintenance is everything.

Seriously, even buy ex fleet vehicles if it is proven they were maintained on severe service schedule. However, if it's said it's "all highway" examnine the front of the hood, and bumper if it's stone chipped to hell* avoid it, that one was driven by a tailgater who rode his brakes a lot, calipers will be done, engine and tranny had more strain than necessary.

(*check with the light across it too, if it looks speckled it might have been touched up very carefully)

[RoadWarrior222]

Yet another thing... used cars come in bunches at 3 and 5 year intervals from the current model year due to leases and financing programs and people just picking 3 or 5 years as their replacement interval.. so come late summer there's gonna be a flood of '08 caravans arrive in the market from that... the first ones out the gate will get "current" prices, but then a couple of months later they'll be selling cheaper due to there being more of them... however, '08 was a bad year for sales in general, so that might screw up that theory from working this year. Anyhow, just pointing out that later in the year, you may be seeing the next generation caravans at attractive prices and be kicking yourself... or not.

[thedon809]

Common things to look for in that year van. Leaking water pumps, sway bar links, leaking steering racks.

[RattFink]

I've thought about Pacificas too, they seem to be pretty reasonably priced. My biggest concern I suppose is transmission issues. When did Chrysler get the 4 speed right? Is it still the same old 41te in all this stuff? My 99 Stratus has never had trans issues at 186,000 miles and my 06 Stratus has also never had issues. I do change the fluid with ATF 4 every 30,000. Maybe I just hear too much negative stuff about Chrysler transmissions and it's got me worried. I feel like I don't know enough about the newer engine and trans as I've only owned the two Stratus and I work on Ford and GM only at work. Anyway, my wife really likes the 08 and up vans, but they are still pretty high priced. Also, I hear the previous generation van was more reliable. Like mentioned above, If a bunch of 08's flood the market it may be an option. The baby is due in mid November. We were originally planning to squeeze 3 car seats in the back of the Stratus, but I'm not sure how well that will work.

[RoadWarrior222]

It got a whole lot better around the turn of the century, but I'd still run it in for updates, and I'd prefer to buy an A604/41TE that had NEVER had a fluid change rather than one that had one documented with no proof that it was ATF +4... i.e. a mom and pop shop where it only went down as "4 quarts ATF" or something on the receipt.

[thedon809]

The transmission in the pacifica, is the same as one in a minivan. The 08 up minivans are pretty solid. Common issues are rear brakes wearing unevenly/warped rotors, clocksprings, heater hoses going to heater core sometimes leak, and there was a thing for a while where the transmission multiplier bearings were going bad but it's been awhile since I've seen one. If I had to choose between 08 or pre 08 as far as reliability, I would go 08 and up.

[ottawa rogue]

Hi everyone, it's been a while.
our family car is a 2005 grand caravan with 199,907 miles on it. it's got the 3.3/41TE drivetrain.
the only issue i've had with it is the blinking headlight/switch failure. it's kinda freaky when you're driving down a dark highway and the headlights turn themselves off. that and the engine has the typical lifter rattle that seems to be a 3.3 signature.
we bought it on 2007 with 26,000 on the clock. i figure that 174,000 or so aint too bad
and the stow n go seats are a big plus.

[Dodge Aries K]

My 2003 Caravan has 230,000 hard miles on it and just recently pulled cars back from Michigan, Florida, and Minnesota without any issues at all. 3.3L V6 under the hood. I got it from the 2nd owners with 210K on it and have beaten it senseless. Still has the original transmission and engine, both kick ---. Only thing I've had to do to it was change fluids, replace the original battery, and a set of brake pads. That's it.