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2008 Dodge Grand Caravan Safety Review

November 5, 2008

SAFETY | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

easy maneuverability
Car and Driver

brims with safety features
Motor Trend

the family is protected
Motor Week

As good as they get
New York Newsday (via Cars.com)

The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan is nearly at the top of its class in terms of safety.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has tested the new Chrysler minivan, and it awarded the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan five stars for both frontal and side impacts, in addition to a rollover resistance rating of five stars.

Cars.com reports that in the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, anti-lock brakes and an electronic stability system are both included as standard equipment, as well as front, side, and curtain airbags. According to Motor Trend, the curtain airbags protect all three rows of passengers.

An integrated booster seat is offered in Swivel 'n Go versions, Cars.com reports. Also on the safety options list: “a sonar ParkSense audible system and the ParkView rearview camera,” they add. Autoblog tested a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan with the backup camera, and “using it was worse than trying to watch football on one of those 6-inch TVs sold at drug stores,” they wrote.

Conclusion

You'll be hard-pressed to find a safer vehicle than the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan.

SAFETY | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:easy maneuverabilityCar and Driverbrims with safety featuresMotor Trendthe family is protected Motor WeekAs good as they getNew York Newsday (via Cars.com) The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan is nearly at the top of its class in terms of safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has tested the new Chrysler minivan, and it awarded the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan five stars for both frontal and side impacts, in addition to a rollover resistance rating of five stars. Cars.com reports that in the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, anti-lock brakes and an electronic stability system are both included as standard equipment, as well as front, side, and curtain airbags. According to Motor Trend, the curtain airbags protect all three rows of passengers. An integrated booster seat is offered in Swivel 'n Go versions, Cars.com reports. Also on the safety options list: “a sonar ParkSense audible system and the ParkView rearview camera,” they add. Autoblog tested a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan with the backup camera, and “using it was worse than trying to watch football on one of those 6-inch TVs sold at drug stores,” they wrote. ConclusionYou'll be hard-pressed to find a safer vehicle than the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN STYLING | [7 out of 10] Cars.com: "an improvement over the prior-generation" Car and Driver: "boxy styling doesn't do anything for the mom-mobile reputation" ConsumerGuide: "redesigned with fresh styling" Motor Trend: "scores on styling" For being the ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

If you're not sure you need all the room found in the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, check out the Mazda5. It's sportier and more fun to drive than the Dodge. Should value be your biggest attractor, check out the Hyundai Entourage. It does not offer everything the Dodge does, but the Entourage may have enough for you.

Next Steps:

Check Insurance Rates

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for a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan near you

See the Dodge Grand Caravan in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

Comments (5 total)

  1. By Chris #1, Posted: 7/24/2009

    This is my 2nd dodge grand caravan, 1st was a 2001, nothing but issues with the struts, tie rod ends, had them changed 4 times (3 at my own expense).got a 2008 sxt because I was informed Dodge revamped their front end and won't have the issue with the struts or tie rod ends. Guess what...under 2 years, 27,000 miles and the tie rod ends and struts need to be replaced. Not only that but within that first winter the sliding doors refused to close, no one could even force them closed! Drivers window would not come back up, air conditioning doesn't work well on those hot humid days (yeah we don't need it then); no I have a transmission leak, Maybe the repair guy didn't tighten something. Oh and the best thing was that they manufactured thousands of the vans with the wrong power steering hose for the upper midwest states, yep, once it got below freezing the hoses tend to crack and your fluid leaks out and you can't move your van! Try being stranded in below zero weather with kids and freezing rain and then have the towing people say, it's going to be about 4 hours, its slippery out there can we get it tomorrow! But thats another issue. So I will never buy another Dodge product again, we have a Chevy pickup that has over 200,000 miles on it and only maintenance items were ever needed; and my husband can work on it w/o all that electronic crap. I say manufacturers go back to what used to work.

  2. By family van #2, Posted: 8/4/2009

    i bought a 2008 caravan for all of the great features. on the way home at 12 miles a sensor went bad. the van has a wind noise from the dash. at 13000 miles the front brakes are shot. it's no wonder why people are buying other brands beside chrysler.

  3. By Frank Ochs #3, Posted: 9/2/2009

    2008 Grand Caravan
    Front Brakes went at 15,000, rear brakes went at 26,000, when is Dodge going to do something? Anyone have any ideas?

  4. By Bruce in Chicago #4, Posted: 9/19/2009

    I have a 2008 Caravan and have put new front pads on at 14K and then front and rear pads at 25K. These brake pads must be undersized. The dealer service department has to know problems like this but this sort of info should be given to buyers; $300.00+ for a front brake job only at the dealer - $150.00 at a reputable Chicago shop. I guess I'm back doing my own brake jobs again.

  5. By Matt #5, Posted: 10/1/2009

    Own a 2008, had to replace front pads at 12,000 miles, and then again at 32,000. Wind whistles through the windshield, dealer said they couldn't find the problem. All you had to do was look at the visible molding that was warped-from the factory. Now I have a wire that was attached to "something" that fell off the undercarriage. Hope it wasn't important. Piece of crap Chrysler. Won't happen again.

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