Get the Best Priced Dodge Grand Caravan Parts

The Dodge Grand Caravan was arguably the first mini-van ever made. Since it made its debut in 1983, it has been the best seller among its competitors. Over the past three decades, over 11 million of these vehicles have been sold across the globe. This must be a source of pain to the Ford Motor Company, which was offered the idea in the 1970s and rejected it. One of the biggest selling points of the Dodge Grand Caravan: how many seats. The vehicle's interior can seat seven occupants comfortably, making it idea for large families. Altering the interior configuration is also easy to do. The Dodge Grand Caravan has also offered excellent fuel economy.

Unfortunately, early attempts to pair an economical four-cylinder engine with the Chrysler Corporation's Ultradrive four-speed automatic was less than successful. That particular transmission suffered from multiple issues, including a syndrome known as "gear hunt," resulting in premature wear of the internal clutches. These transmissions also required a special type of transmission fluid from the manufacturer. However, this was not made entirely clear to vehicle owners, who went ahead and used a more common transmission fluid, resulting in permanent damage. Eventually, most first-generation Dodge Grand Caravans qualified for replacements under the vehicle's warranty, and were retrofitted with new and improved transmissions.

The next generation of Dodge Grand Caravans came with a number of improved safety features, including integrated child safety seats, anti-lock brakes, and dual front airbags. By 1998, it became the first minivan to fully meet all U.S. vehicle safety standards. The third generation of of the Dodge Grand Caravan won a great deal of recognition from the industry. In 1996, the Dodge Grand Caravan was given the North American Car of the Year as well as Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year Award, and was included in Car & Driver's list of the Ten Best New Vehicles for two years running.

Subsequent generations of the Dodge Grand Caravan offered power doors and keyless entry. In 2003, Chrysler offered an optional DVD system for rear seat occupants in order to keep children entertained on long road trips. Beginning with the introduction of the 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan, consumers could get a six-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment (except for those with a Flex-Fuel engine). It continues to be a top-seller among those looking for a roomy vehicle that offers space, comfort and economy.

The Dodge Caravan fared less well in crash and safety tests for some model years. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it a "Marginal" rating in offset crash tests, while the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration gave higher marks for front seat passengers, but found a danger to rear seat passengers due to a fuel leak that can occur during a collision, posing a fire hazard.

2008 Dodge Grand Caravan parts and those for most other model years are available at sources such as Advance Auto Parts and Autozone. However, online sources such as PartsGeek.com also maintain an extensive line of new and used Dodge Caravan parts, which can save you money on maintenance and repairs.