Dodge Grand Caravan owners filed 2,225 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for model years 2015–2025 (see the Car Problem Index for all 60 models), and NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the same years. The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan drew the most complaints (1,000); across all years, owners complain most about electrical system (29% of complaints).
Key findings
- Worst model year: 2016, with 1,000 complaints, led by electrical system (314) and 6 recalls.
- Complaints vs recalls: Electrical system drew 648 complaints but one recall, so for most of these owners the repair falls to warranty or their own pocket, not a free recall fix.
- Spike years, compared with a typical model year: 2016 (3.6 times as many complaints).
- Earliest-failing area: electrical system complaints came at a median 58k mi.
- Fire and crash reports: 15 complaints mention a fire and 46 a crash, with 76 injuries and 1 death reported.
Dodge Grand Caravan complaints and recalls by model year
| Model year | Complaints | Top problem areas |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 4 recalls | 281 | Transmission / powertrain (77), Seats (57), Electrical system (38) median 70k mi · 7 crashes · 2 fires |
| 2016 6 recalls | 1,000 | Electrical system (314), Body structure (227), Transmission / powertrain (220) median 66k mi · 14 crashes · 7 fires |
| 2017 3 recalls | 414 | Electrical system (144), Body structure (95), Engine (58) median 63k mi · 6 crashes · 3 fires |
| 2018 4 recalls | 270 | Electrical system (92), Body structure (59), Engine (34) median 53k mi · 8 crashes |
| 2019 4 recalls | 240 | Electrical system (56), Transmission / powertrain (49), Engine (42) median 50k mi · 6 crashes · 3 fires |
| 2020 1 recall | 20 | Transmission / powertrain (8), Air bags (5), Electrical system (4) median 62k mi · 5 crashes |
One recall campaign often covers several model years, so the recall column adds up to 22, more than the 10 separate campaigns. Newer years have had less time to collect reports.
Most-reported Dodge Grand Caravan problems, and what they cost to fix
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Recalls | Median mileage | Estimate the repair |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 648 | 29% | 1 | 58k mi | Alternator / electrical repair cost |
| Body structure | 434 | 20% | 0 | 60k mi | — |
| Transmission / powertrain | 414 | 19% | 1 | 87k mi | Transmission repair cost |
| Engine | 256 | 12% | 0 | 76k mi | Engine overhaul cost |
| Seats | 135 | 6% | 2 | 65k mi | — |
| Air bags | 97 | 4% | 0 | 58k mi | — |
| Latches and locks | 79 | 4% | 1 | 70k mi | — |
| Fuel system | 65 | 3% | 1 | 69k mi | Fuel pump repair cost |
Top problem areas only; one complaint can count twice.
What Dodge Grand Caravan owners report
Owners’ own words; dollar figures are what they reported.
Electrical system
I bought this Dodge carvan 2017 it has 41700 miles after I start the van and move it about 20 feet it automatically locks the doors and the right side sliding door in the back makes a big noise this has been going on for a week now the back sliding door is stuck and cannot be moved , took it to dealer said it will cost $1100 . It I have an accident and my child is trying to get out and cant .
2017 model-year owner, NHTSA complaint 11316538
About 6 months ago, the rear passenger door began to stop responding to the key fob, but could still be locked/unlocked manually. It made a buzzing noise one day then stopped opening altogether. We declined the repair because we were quoted over $3000!!!! We only have about 55,000MILES on the van. The dealership acknowledged that this is a common problem on Dodge caravans and could do nothing about it.
2016 model-year owner, NHTSA complaint 11241781
Related recalls: 18V524000 (2017–2018): A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
648 owners reported electrical system problems; the alternator / electrical repair cost calculator shows what the fix costs where you live.
Body structure
Driver's side sliding door will not unlock/open. I got to my destination and used the power button over visor to open the door and unload children. Used power button at the door to close the door after unloading children. Came out to van to go home and door would not open. The vehicle had around 42,000 miles and I had only owned the vehicle for 3 months. I bought it used from a dealer.
2018 model-year owner, NHTSA complaint 11320734
When I shut my car off and open the driver's side door there is a loud buzzing sound in the passenger side sliding door. Very annoying. I noticed there are quite a number of complaints with this problem on different websites. One person had to pay $680 to the dealership to have it repaired. It seems that this should be a recall issue. That is a lot of money.
2017 model-year owner, NHTSA complaint 11482752
None of these 434 body structure complaints is matched by a recall on these model years, so a repair is covered only by warranty or paid by the owner.
Transmission / powertrain
I reported transmission issues to the dealership at 59,500 miles in march 2023 on my 2020 Dodge Grand caravan. After inspection I was told that there was no problems found. On december 26th, 2023 at about 76000 miles my transmission catastrophically failed and required replacement, costing me $5800. There are numerous reports of transmission failure in this Model online in help forums between 50K and 90K miles.
2020 model-year owner, NHTSA complaint 11573342
Vehicle requires repair for transmission part failure at 69,000 miles. Multiple mechanics and online complaint records show transmission issues as a common problem for this make and model. Owners should not be facing a major engine repair of over $3500 when the vehicle is 5 years old and just past the power train warranty period.
2018 model-year owner, NHTSA complaint 11531803
Related recalls: 16V461000 (2015–2016): If the transmission loses hydraulic pressure, the vehicle may lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
414 owners reported transmission / powertrain problems; the transmission repair cost calculator shows what the fix costs where you live.
Dodge Grand Caravan recalls
Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for your car’s open recalls.
| Campaign | Announced | Model years | System | Risk (NHTSA's wording) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25V876000 | 2025-12-17 | 2015–2020 | Equipment Adaptive/mobility | An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury. |
| 20V278000 | 2020-05-15 | 2016–2019 | Fuel System, Gasoline | A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. |
| 19V759000 | 2019-10-24 | 2019 | Seats | If the seat strikers fail, the seat or seat belt may not adequately restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury. |
| 18V524000 | 2018-08-09 | 2017–2018 | Electrical system | A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash. |
| 18V523000 | 2018-08-09 | 2018–2019 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash. |
| 17V824000 | 2017-12-21 | 2015–2016 | Equipment / accessories | If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire. |
| 16V461000 | 2016-06-24 | 2015–2016 | Transmission / powertrain | If the transmission loses hydraulic pressure, the vehicle may lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 16V300000 | 2016-05-16 | 2016 | Seats | If the third row seatback becomes loose, it may separate from the seat frame, increasing the risk of injury. |
| 16V044000 | 2016-01-28 | 2015 | Visibility (windows, mirrors, wipers) | If the windshield dislodges during a crash, there is an increased risk of occupant injury. |
| 15V595000 | 2015-09-24 | 2016 | Latches and locks | If the hood opens while driving, the driver's vision may be obstructed, increasing the risk of a crash. |
What this data can and can't tell you
2,225 unverified owner reports, not adjusted for sales. Method.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation consumer complaint files (nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-25; NHTSA recalls database (nhtsa.gov/recalls), retrieved 2026-09-23. Model years 2015–2025. Free to cite with a link to this page.