2009 Dodge CARAVAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
118 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 69 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 70 of 118 complaints (59.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 50 | 42.4% |
| Engine operation | 20 | 16.9% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 9.3% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 6.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 70 |
| Air Bags | 26 |
| Engine | 17 |
| Wheels | 9 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
Electrical System: 70; Air Bags: 26; Engine: 17; Wheels: 9; Steering: 8; Service Brakes: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 5
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 49 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 23 |
| 2015 | 52 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2010: 2; 2011: 11; 2012: 7; 2013: 7; 2014: 23; 2015: 52; 2016: 9; 2017: 5; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 50 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 20 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10538517 · 2013-09-03 (September 3, 2013)
SEVERAL OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THIS, RADIO WOULD NOT COME ON,AND THEN SUDDENLY START WORKING, SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS, THE CAR WOULD NOT START RIGHT AWAY. AFTER WAITING AND SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT WOULD THEN START. MECHANIC CHECKED AND COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH BATTERY,ALTERNATOR OR STARTER. TRAVELED TO FLORIDA AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, ALL SYSTEMS WORKING, BUT LIGHT STAYED ON. WENT TO A SERVICE STATION,BUT THE LIGHT JUST WENT OUT,SO WE DIDN'T WORRY. NOW, IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY SONS BASEBALL, ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS S…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10538517 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10578544 · 2014-04-09 (April 9, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHO STATED THAT THE WIN MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT THE AFTER MARKET REMOTE STARTER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE BECAUSE OF THE WIRING BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10578544 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10475027 · 2012-09-11 (September 11, 2012)
INTERMITTENT STALLS ON CORNERING. MY WIFE WAS TURNING ONTO OUR STREET WHEN SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHE LOST ALL POWER SYSTEMS LIKE STEERING AND BRAKES. SHE WAS BARELY ABLE TO AVOID HITTING A FIRE HYDRANT AND SOME CHILDREN WHO WERE PLAYING NEAR IT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN THE LAST MONTH THAT THE VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME IDENTIFIED IN THE 2010 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND TOWN AND COUNTY (SAFETY RECALL L25). THE KEY FOB DOES NOT SIT IN THE "ON" POSITION BUT CAN OVER-TRAVEL FROM START TO A POSITION B…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10475027 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10336039 · 2010-06-13 (June 13, 2010)
2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (STOW AND GO) EXTREME HEAT AND STRONG SMELL OF OVERHEATED BRAKES COMING MOSTLY FROM REAR BRAKES. THE HEAT GENERATED IN AN AVERAGE 16 MILE DRIVE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS CAUSES ENOUGH HEAT AND STRONG BRAKE SMELL THAT YOU CAN HARDLY TOUCH THE PLASTIC HUBCAP MOUNTED ON THE STEEL WHEELS. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NEVER BEEN USED AND HAS NEVER BEEN ACTIVATED ACCIDENTALLY. THE SMELL CAN BE NOTICED ALL THE WAY AROUND THE VEHICLE FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE PARTICULARLY IN THE REAR. I AM RETIRED ASE CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10336039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10402412 · 2011-05-23 (May 23, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR BRAKES WERE DOING NINETY PERCENT OF THE WORK WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE BY THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE DUST ON THE REAR WHEEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES HAD NOT MALFUNCTIONED, HE BELIEVED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR BRAKES WERE WEARING EXTREMELY PREMATURELY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10402412 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369755 · 2010-12-09 (December 9, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES IN LESS THAN 29,000 MILES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE, THE VEHICLE SWAYED SIDE TO SIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE BUT A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING AND ALIGNMENT WAS OFF. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MECHANIC COULD FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PULLED FORWARD AND SEEMED TO LET GO WH…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10644112 · 2014-10-11 (October 11, 2014)
MY VAN IS SHIFTING VERY HARSH FROM WHAT I THINK IS 2-3 GEAR IT IS THE 62TE TRANSMISSION. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ UP ON THIS ISSUE CHRYSLER NEEDS TO FIND A FIX SO WE AS CONSUMERS ARE NOT BUYING A LEMON.......IT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE LEAVING HOME AND GET ABOUT A TENTH OF A MILE DOWN OUR SUBDIVISION STREET AND WHAM IT SLAMS INTO EITHER 2ND OR 3RD GEAR. VAN IS JUST STARTED AND COLD , BUT ALSO HAVE LET IT WARM UP TO SEE IF IT DOES THE SAME THING, AND IT DOES! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 60,925 miles reported. Look up ODI 10644112 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10638730 · 2014-09-24 (September 24, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED AND THE FUEL INJECTOR, PUMP AND MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,776. UPDATED 10/30/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE ENGINE CYLINDERS LOST COMPRESSION WHILE DRIVING CAUSING STALLING AT MID TO H…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,776 miles reported. Look up ODI 10638730 at NHTSA ↗